July 31 - Catherine and Sunset Passes (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading up to view the wildflowers of the Albion Basin today. The big Wildflower Festival for Little Cottonwood Canyon was this week-end so there should be some good flower viewing.

Sunny morning with highs in the mid-90s in the afternoon. When I arrive at the parking lot for my trail, it's still in the low 60s - beautiful!

Lots of flowers as expected but there's also still snow on Devil's Castle which is pretty cool since the last two summers, the snow was long gone.

The trail to Catherine's Pass is only around 1 mile and 800 ft; climbing to 10,200 ft.

The lower part of the trail is filled with flowers -- lots of buckwheat, paintbrush and others.

But it's shady still on this part of the trail so it'll look much better on the way back.

Near the foot bridge still water flowing on the trail - a little rock hopping required to keep the shoes dry. And then up thru the flowers to the big meadow.

I arrive at the meadow

tons of hummingbirds flying, nectaring, and chasing each other. I get buzzed many many times by fast moving hummers.

At the end of the meadow, there's another wet area with Elephant Head and Shooting Star blooming.

And then the uphill above the meadow

and thru more  flowers continue up to the Pass. There's no one here this morning (but plenty of cars in the lot). I stop only briefly -- there are Frits flying -- before continuing up. As I climb higher, there are less flowers. Peak season has not yet arrived above 10,000 ft yet. There are White Paintbrush along the trail but that's about it.

I stop at the first view point

before continuing to the top. There are some flowers here

but still not at full bloom (lots of buds - give it a week or two).

I do find a Painted Lady and some Frits flying up here.

I continue along towards Devils Castle but I have to turn around due to an appointment this afternoon.

But I do stop for a quick break watching a Ground Squirrel have a morning snack.

And I take one last look down on Catherine Lake and Lake Mary before heading all the way down.

As I pass thru the flowers again (in the sun this time), they are still not at their peak -- lots of buds still. Just means I have to come back.

Passing thru the meadow, the hummers are still zipping around like crazy!

There are more Frits flying now as the sun has reached the flowers. But I just can't catch up with them. :(

Back near that foot bridge, I see a Chipmunk.

Although I whine that the flowers are not at peak, there's absolutely no doubt, they're are still fabulous!!!!

Great day!

July 30 - Mormon Trail

Time to checkout the butterflies on the Mormon Trail today. It's been 28 days since I've been there and back then the place was hopping with Northern Checkerspots and the Frits were just starting to fly. Well, it's kinda the end of "peak" butterfly season so let's see what's left.

I arrive close to 9am and I'm the only one in the parking lot! Yea!! (This is what I used to experience up until last year. I like!)

The front part is still extremely green and lush - I have to use my feet to find the trail. And with the morning dew, my pants are pretty wet before I make it out the other end. :) Lots of birds singing and zipping around in there; I manage to catch sight of a Yellow Warbler.

As I walk, most of the flowers are fading but there are still some "prime" patches with Fleabane, Asters, Goldenrod, White Yarrow.

One of the first flyers I see is a late season one; the Woodland Skipper.

Also lots of Wood Nymphs

and Frits -- especially the large bright beautiful Great Spangled Frit.

Seeing lots of males of the species but do catch sight of the equally beautiful female (4 total) today but unfortunately, they just don't want to nectar or bask.

But I see Callipe and Zerene Frits too.

Lots of bird activity along the main trail today - especially at the start as I scare up a whole flock of robins (including fledglings). I also get scared by a very large hawk as it takes off above me -- such a wonderful bird - boy, is he big!! Wish I had been looking up before I scared him off.

As I cross the foot bridge before the pond/camp, several water bugs leaving a great shadows in the water.

At the start of the meadow, there are so many Frits flying!!! Awesome to see!

Seeing other flyers as well including West Coast Lady, the Swallowtail trio (Western, Two-tailed, and Pale), Mylitta Crescents, Weidenmeyer's Admirals, Cabbage White, Common Checkered Skipper,

Clouded Sulphers, Purplish Copper, Blue Copper, Northern Checkerspot, and Mustard White.

The pond is full of dragonfly life this morning.

I continue by the pond - my goal is my usual turn around point at around 3.25 miles. The typical muddy section are dry - as expected. There are some sections with good butterfly activity and others that are pretty dead.

At one point, I hear something moving quickly thru the trees to my left -- lots of branches breaking and leaf crunching. I turn and see something large and brown moving quickly. I stop dead in my tracks - I think it's a moose! The sound stops and I move around the trail (and a little off it) to try and get a view of the animal but find nothing. At least it was running away from me instead of at me! Not sure if it was a moose, deer, or elk but something was there.

One of my "really good" finds of the day, happens between the 2-3 mile mark. It's a small butterfly landed on a leaf. With a quick look, it's a Hairstreak (maybe a Western Tailed Blue, but unlikely because I hadn't seen any Blues today). On closer review when I get home, it's a Sylvan Hairstreak!

I also find my first Mourning Cloak in months!!

The Coneflowers have their golden crowns now!

I'm surprised when I arrive at an early season tiny creek crossing and still find it flowing - that's awesome! (May be an even better butterfly & flower year in 2018 -- keeping my fingers crossed!)

And the one afterwards has water as well.

I reach my turnaround point and head back. At the pond,

I find "really good" find #2 of the day: a Ruddy Copper.

And further along, I spot my final "really good" find of the day: the Coral Hairstreak (I see 2 of them)!!

All total, 22 butterflies today - I'll take that! Good day!

July 26 - Sawtooth Mts to Antelope Island

Well, I've really completed the hikes I came for (except the ones that require streams crossing), so instead of poking around the smaller hikes, I'm heading home this morning. A bit disappointing but I came, I saw (I liked), and I hiked -- all is good. (Besides, I brought clouds and rain to Sun Valley and I'm sure they appreciate it.)

It's a cloudy morning once again and in the upper 50s. Pretty socked in with clouds that look as if it can pour any minute. I'm heading a different and shorter way home heading southeast from Challis. Beautiful ranch country (cows, old leaning wooden buildings, etc)! And mountains (some with snow on them), canyons, and a river. Too bad it's dark with clouds.

But on top of one of those old wooden building, it a beautiful Bald Eagle! Can't beat that!

After about 2 hours of clouds and rain (just before I get to the Utah border), the sun shines!! (But there are tons of clouds building.)

I make a stop at Antelope Island (it's on my way) to see what's still out in the brutally hot summer we've had so far. (June was 7 degrees above normal and July is definitely way above normal.)

It's around 12:30 when I arrive. Very dry both the vegetation and the lake beds. In the spots of water are plenty of gulls and Avocets

And a few other shore birds.

Oh, the water is calm and a mirror of the islands and the clouds! Awesome!

I reach the island and head slowly down to the ranch. Before I even get to the fence line I see a Pronghorn on the water side. Nope there are two with bison behind.

I continue down the island - only a few scattered bison here and there.

A bit further down, I see another lone pronghorn not far from the road.

Still further along, I notice something that looks like an animal laying on the lake bed. It's a bison who didn't make it thru the summer. :( I'm surprised the coyotes haven't found it yet.

A little further along, I stop for a single bison crossing the road.

But the rest of the bison herd is not around. (They've got a secret spot to beat the heat.)

I reach the Ranch and turn around and head back up the island. I can't find any of the 3 Pronghorn but I do see a new bison laying down that I had missed earlier.

And I pull off to get a photo of a view I've never snapped a picture of. And below me, is a bison!!

Just a few 100 yards down the road, I stop for yet another lone bison crossing.

Then it's time to head over to the west side of the island and nothing moving over here either. Just lovely views.

Time to head home.

Good day!

July 25 - Bench Lakes (Sawtooth Mts)

Still in Idaho and today's hike is to Bench Lakes. The trail starts at Redfish Lake and travels 8 miles (round-trip) gaining 1225 ft of elevation. Redfish Lake is at 6547 ft which makes Bench Lakes at roughly 7775 ft.

The drive down from Challis along the Salmon River yields an awesome find, a Bald Eagle perched on top of a tall pine tree overlooking the river. Awesome!

I passed on this hike yesterday because of building clouds (and it ended up being a mostly sunny afternoon) and ironically, when I walk out the door this morning, it's cloudy, very cloudy. Oh well, I'm hiking it anyway. Besides, clouds keep it cooler which is good as I climb to the lakes; then it can get sunny.

I get started around 8:30am. The trail starts out of the parking lot, thru bunches of lupine and white yarrow (one of the few plants still blooming).

I thought the trail would follow along the lake short but I'm heading away from the lake at first and then curving back around climbing slightly - just heading around the corner of the lake (but not near the lake). There's a wonderful flowing stream in the woods as I walk along.

Above me is a team of horses taking vacationers on a "hike" (the easy way).

Ugh! I don't want to be behind them. But I will be as I wait for the horses to pass at the trails intersection. :(

But tailing the horses is very short lived as the horses are going to Fishhook Creek. Yea!!

I enter the forest crossing that creek that I've been hearing.

The forest is quiet with only chipmunks scampering around. And thankfully, the trail is climbing - nothing too steep, just very gradual.

It takes some walking before I get a glimpse of Redfish Lake below. But the trail winds from glimpses of water to full view forest. I so love the bright green moss!

Soon I hear a lot of voices and then see a horse team stopped along the trail. Ugh! As I catch up, the horse team moves on. And then I end up literally at the back end of the horse. The guide realizes I'm there and eventually stops the caravan so I can pass. Thank you! Upward and onward!

Finally, probably close to the 3 mile mark, I reach a ridge with views of Redfish Lake

And the mountains!!!!

The trail is now flat and open which is wonderful and exciting!! But the trail has not been buggy until now so stopping to enjoy the views means getting swarmed by biting flies. Moving quickly.

I do have to stop for a wonderful Western Tanager! Such a beautiful bird and this only the second one I've ever seen.

At 3.5 miles, I reach the turn off for Bench Lakes. I turn right (heading straight ends up at the other end of the lake). This is a totally different landscape here - very green on the ground. Earlier this year, this was very wet and probably flooded by snowmelt as it follows a now dry stream bed.

I'm entering the Sawtooth Forest now so I stop to fill out a permit - day hikers and backpackers required. This is the toughest paperwork I've ever filled out as I am swarmed by flies and mosquitoes. They can have my left shoulder as it's all bitten up from yesterday anyway. I finish as quickly as possible leaving the bugs behind as I exit the forest and back into a dry meadow. And holy cow, there's those pointy mountains!!

It was a nice consistent climb to this point but it gets a little steeper as I climb several switchbacks. Even have a sliver view of the lake below.

I reach those wonderful Mariposa Lilies again!

Soon I'm on the backside of the hill I started on and then I've reached Bench Lake #1! What a view!!

There are 5 lakes (I think) so I head around the right side but the trail ends pretty quickly.

I head back and the horses are here and they've gone to the left. So I take a break where the trail hits the lake. Sure would be nice to see some blue sky but it's still beautiful without it.

Time to head back. Still love the views.

I get a surprise coming back from Bench Lakes to the main trail; despite the cloudiness all day, I see not one but two Small Wood Nymphs fluttering around.

(I see 4 of them by the time I get back to the trail head. And one additional Western Tanager!)

Awesome trail!

After lunch, the sun is starting to poke out. So I drive back to Redfish Lake for a look. And then head south 20 miles to Toxaway Lake.

(Just checking out my potential trail head for tomorrow.)

As I head back north, there's more sun and I have to stop at Redfish Lake again.

From there, I head to Stanley Lake west of town stopping at a Wildlife Overlook. No wildlife visible but a great view of this incredible landscape.

And then at Park Creek Overlook.

This area burned sometime in the recent past as there are still burtn tree skeletons around. I don't see any new tree grown but plenty of green on the forest floor - including lupine and Mariposa Lilies.

Pretty interesting marker here.

On the way back to town, I find Stanley Lake (again) and stop for a quick look.

Well, that's my day - quite nice!