Aug 25 - Cecret Lake to Germania Pass (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day and mid-90s predicted today.

My original plan was to hike Red Pine Lake; it's a crowded trail (and a packed trail head) which makes it perfect for an off Friday. But I just wasn't feeling it this morning.

So I'm still heading up Little Cottonwood Canyon all the way to the end of the summer road to hike up to Cecret Lake (3/4 mile & 420 ft) and then up to Germania Pass (another mile and 700ft to an elevation of 10,500ft).

I get an early'sh start arriving at the trail head around 7:45am. (A good number of folks parked already for the Catherine's Pass trail but only 2 cars in the lot for Cecret Lake. Nice!)

It's not so sunny here right now as there are many big clouds blocking out the sun but they should eventually move on. (hopefully) It's in the low 60s - perfect weather!

Before I even start up the trail, I spot 2 deer in a meadow - male and female.

Great start; especially since other than a white ermine, I don't think I've ever seen deer or moose on this trail!

I start up the trail; still lots of flowers still blooming - paintbrush, lupine, asters, white paintbrush etc -- looking quite pretty!

And there's still water flowing in the small creeks - pretty surprising for late August, but that's what happens when a "normal" snowfall occurs. I even find some yellow Monkey flower near some water.

Devil's Castle is looking pretty awesome too! (There's still even a bit of snow up there!)

As I break out into the sun, the scenery is pretty awesome!

I reach the hill and the switchbacks, I take my time to enjoy the flowers and the views!

Lots of Clark's Nutcrackers flying around today.

I reach the top of the hill and turn the corner to head to the lake...oh crap! There's a moose!!

He's big guy! Standing just off the trail, he's eating and although he flinches when I react, he keeps right on eating. (yea!)

I can't get by him on the trail, so I head up the rocks keeping my distance but he just doesn't care and enters the taller vegetation - I can only see the tips of his antlers.

I stay on the rocks because I know there's a lady and her little boy not too far behind me. I just want to tell her so she can give the moose a wide berth which I do. Her little boy tells me that's the second moose they saw today. Shoot, somehow I missed the first one! (Probably paying too much attention to the two deer.)

Now I can enjoy the lake. (Hey, there's only 4 people here including myself - it's quiet and perfect!) The lake is clear and calm with Sugarloaf Peak towering over.

(A little low but that's expected.)

Before I move on, I take one last look at the moose.

As I work my way around Cecret Lake (elevation 9220), I find Baneberry

And another berry.

On the other side, equally wonderful views.

Time to head up to Germania Pass (10,500 ft). I follow a trail on the other side that heads up the rocky slopes on the far side. Heading up, gives a great bird's eye view of the lake.

Along the way, I find a chipmunk.

A brilliant patch of Scarlet flowers.

and a bee hive! (Not messing with that!!)

And just before reaching to top, I see the moose on the other side of the lake in the open. I take a seat on the rocks to check him out. At first, he's standing. Then he lays down.

Well, it's time to get off these rocks! At the top,

I head thru a wet meadow (not so wet now, but still lots of marsh marigold plants around) and towards the ski lift.

I can continue to the road and walk the road to the top but I choose to head straight up the mountain on a steep trail. (I need the cardio!) The flowers are good though. (The Collin Lift up to my left.)

Lots of bees enjoying their nectar.

As I near the end of my trail (I still have more climbing to do but the trail ends due to reconstruction efforts higher up), I spot a Marmot scurrying in the rocks ahead of me. (I think that's the second one I've seen all summer.)

My trail ends so I have no choice but to head over and take the road up. Doesn't matter because everywhere I look is so incredible!!! I pass a wet area and there are still Elephant head flower in bloom!

As I continue, I find a fat cheeked chipmunk - just getting ready for winter.

It's not long before I arrive at the ski lift at the top of Collins Gulch (10,400 ft) where I have good views of Mt Superior (and down).

The Albion Basin.

Over to Devils Castle, Sugarloaf Peak and my destination Germania Pass.

Time to finish this hike so up the road I go. Lots of flowers.

(There's even White Columbine below.)

And there's butterflies out! I find Painted Ladies, Ruddy Coppers (both male and female) and Blue Coppers. This is a Blue Copper and female Ruddy.

Mormon Frits

and Rocky Mt Parnassians!

I'm shocked to see these as it's really late in the season but I'm seeing lots of them -- I stop counting at 15!

I'm hearing Marmots and Pikas. I keep looking along the slopes for them and then I see Marmot. He's moving along the uphill slopes.

Then I spot another just a little higher than the one I've been watching. No wait, there's another! That's three - I wonder if this is a family.

A bit further, I find another on the downhill side! (Actually, there's two of them.)

I've been wondering where all the Marmots are this year as I haven't seen many but I have my answer, they're all here! :)

Great views of the basin as I near the Pass.

Soon I reach Germania Pass (10,500) -- guess they're calling it Sugarloaf Pass now. Great views of Mt Timpanogos and the backside of Snowbird Ski resort!

I walk to the Snowbird Ski lift before taking a rest on the concrete step to the Ski Patrol building. It's a little windy and cool up here.

Time to head on down - it's much more sunny now - though there are still clouds around.

On the way down, I only hear the Marmots - I can't find them. But the grasshoppers (the large flying ones) are sure making a lot of noise!

The Frits, Coppers and Parnassians are still flying and I spot a couple of new flyers: a Callipe Frit and an Acmon Blue! (Based on the UT leps, they would call this a Lupine Blue, but the guide books do not have the Lupine Blue in UT -- seems to be a point of discussion at this time.

Funny I see all these butterflies above 10400 feet but not much of anything below.

I return the same way down the steep hill. I do find an Arctic Blue on the way down.

And soon I'm above Cecret Lake again. Definitely looking nicer with the sun out.

I look for the moose and spot him, still laying down on the other side of the lake. Will have to visit when I get down there.

Down, down I go to the lake. More people around now though not packed yet.

Once I reach the other side other side of the lake, I find the trail that will take me near the moose and it takes me past the dam

And then along the lake. I've never been on this side of the lake before.

I head over to the moose -- not getting too close -- just enough to  see him (and then use the zoom lens). Think he's sleeping.

On the way down to the parking lot, I spot a Painted Lady and Hoary Comma.

Time to head home - awesome day!

But it's not over yet - just before reaching the end of the summer road, a deer (doe) crosses the road in front of me followed by a fawn. Nope, twinkies!! Perfect ending!

Great day!

Aug 21 - Solar Eclipse Day

Well it's Solar Eclipse day today!

Swarms of people headed up to Idaho Falls over the week-end to the Totality zone. I'm content watching the 91% coverage we'll have here in Salt Lake.

Went out around 11am and couldn't tell anything was going on other than it was oddly cooler than I expected.

The 91% coverage took place at 11:33am.

Fortunately, I was able to borrow some approved glasses -- pretty cool.

An even more special treat was to see all the little tiny eclipses created by the sunlight passing thru a tree!

Great memory!

Aug 19 - Otter Creek & Koosharem Canyon

Heading out in search of the Nokomis Fritillary today. It's been on my list to see since I moved to Utah but until last week, I've never ventured out to try and find it. It flies in a place called Otter Creek which is a few miles north of Koosharem UT. (There are other places, but this seems to be the most accessible.)

Last week, I asked the local Lep folks if it was flying yet (they fly in Aug and early Sept). They said yes (only males) and then provided me with GoogleEarth photos and GPS coordinates for not only the Nokomis but also some other flyers. Note: like the Western Great Spangled Frit, the males and females are very different in appearance -- actually the Great Spangled and Nokomis Frit look somewhat alike. I'm hoping to see both but would settle for just the male.

Last Saturday, I headed down to try and find them but realized when I was about 30 minutes from the location that I forg0t the images and the GPS info. Big Oops! :(

But I traveled over 2 hours already so I continued hoping I might find something but had I no luck - basically because I just didn't know where to start. I did see a few flyers especially the Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - very exciting because I haven't see one in years.

Well this morning, armed with those images and GPS coordinates, I'm heading back - keeping my fingers crossed.

I arrive at Otter Creek just after 10am. (Elevation is around 6900 ft.) It's sunny and for the most part clear. I cruise past the location trying to locate where in this wetland (with cows nearby) I'm supposed to walk in (and park). Once I've figured that out, I park up the road and walk back to the location.

As I head off the road thru the meadow, cows are moo'ng nearby. After a few steps, I manage to startle a few ducks (that I didn't see) that are swimming in the creek. They take off with a loud noise, I jump, and the cows take off running!

Only one duck remains -- he's either brave or not so smart.

But, at least I don't have to worry about the cows watching me.

I'm in the meadow where I could find the Common Wood Nymph. Saw plenty when I lived in the Midwest but this one is a Utah subspecies. And possibly a Bronze Copper - this would be a lifer for me if I find one but I was told that their flight might be done already.

The meadow is weird to walk in (this a wetland that is somewhat dry now) - very bumpy and uneven. Lots of dragonflies and grasshoppers moving around.

I find this wonder blue flower in the meadow.

As I'm walking around, I see a Nokomis (male) fly by! Yea! And then a female - double yea! But they're flying so I keep walking.

I'm finding quite a few Common Checkered Skippers flying and then I see a large brown flyer - it's the Common Wood Nymph!!!

I continue looking especially around the blooming thistles (although most of them are bloomed out by now). Then I find a Copper flying. Really excited that they're still flying!! I only get views of the top side and after getting home, this appears to be a Purplish Copper (they fly in wetlands as well).

(I'll just have to return next year but a few weeks earlier.)

I've ran out of new territory here so I head back to the road. The Nokomis is also suppose to fly on the other side of the road so I head over. It's a lot more wet here so I only walk for a bit with no sightings. So I decide to try the meadow still on this side of the road but on the other side of the creek. Back to the road and then to the meadow on the other side of the creek. Well, there are Nokomis on this side because I scare one up as I enter the meadow. He just flies and flies. :(

I wander around (more wet here) but the two Frits I see just keep flying. Time to look in the last stop.

I cross the road again and head a bit south before entering the meadow again. I head towards the edges where the sagebrush is for easier walking and then I find the "honey-hole". Several Nokomis flying and nectaring on the Thistles -- so exciting!! They are both males (Lifer #1.)

(Definitely not the 50 they saw over a week ago but maybe 4. One would have been good enough for me!)

After watching for a bit, I continue to move along the edge hoping to see a female. And there she is! Awesome!

This one doesn't stay long so I continue down towards the fence where I find yet another female!

Happiness!!

Well, awesome day so far but it's time to head 5 miles south to Koosharem Canyon to look for more butterflies.

On the way back to my car, there a doe above the road. She sees me and runs across the road, hops a fence and is gone!

Koosharem Canyon is 9 miles of dirt road heading up hill. I have a few GPS coordinates for a few flyers and a GoogleMap Image with flags of where to find some of the target species like Mead's Wood Nymphs, Canyonland Satyrs, Pine Whites, Behr Hairstreaks.

But before I continue too far, I stop for some Sulphurs on the Rocky Mt Bee Plant. They're Queen Alexandra's Sulphurs!!

There's also a hummingbird at the Bee Plant sharing it with the Sulphur.

Continuing on, I pass the Mead's Wood Nymph area and head up to the Canyonland Satyr spot because there are storm clouds building.

I find the spot

and before I even start a tiny foot path heading uphill, I stop - it's a Great Basin Wood Nymph! (Unexpected Lifer #2)

Soon I see the Canyonland Satyrs!! (Lifer #3)

There are several flying around and I have only walked 30 ft along the foot path! Never thought butterflying could be so easy!

I continue up the road to the Behr's Hairstreak area. I stop and walk around along the road -- no butterflies.

I've had such a successful day so far, I decide to just turn around and head back to the Mead's area

On the way down, I'm looking for White butterflies flying as they could be the Pine White but nothing.

I do stop at some large yellow flowering plants as I see a large brown butterfly. I get out and try to track it down which I do - another Great Basin Wood Nymph!

I also spot a small Western Branded Skipper.

I continue down to the Mead's spot. There I stop and start walking around looking at the yellow composite flowers. Just finding a few more Western Branded Skippers.

I'm about ready to turn around when I see a brown flyer low to the ground -- it's a Mead's Wood Nymph! (Lifer #4!!)

It flies but I catch up to it again and manage to get close with the macro!!

Can't believe I've seen everything I hoped to see today. Incredible day! So glad I came back!

I make one final stop at the Koosharem Reservoir to grab my sandwich from my cooler. There I find a Painted Lady and a Hummingbird Moth.

Perfect ending to an incredible successful day!