July 24 - Bridal Veil Falls (Sawtooth Mts, Idaho)

I'm heading up to the Sawtooth Mts in Idaho; never been there before but have always wanted to go, so today is the day!!

Actually headed up to Hailey ID last night (cuts 4.5 hrs off the drive). Drove thru one fire burnt area (recent this year); the fire retardant streaks the highway in two spots; the northern most protecting a the south end of a town.

But there's still lots of smoke ahead. The fire is in the hills east of Hailey. As I enter the town, I pass one burn area on top of a foothill that was stopped from cresting the top by retardant and then another still burning. Sure hope it stays away from the town!

Today as I leave Hailey, it's a bit cloudy and looking like rain -- hoping it burns off soon. The drive from Hailey to Ketchum was quite busy but once arriving in Ketchum, traffic became very light (just commuter traffic to Ketchum).

The drive to the Sawtooths is wonderful! Lots of big dry grass hills, meadows, ranch land, etc - awesome! Then comes the climb and a curvy road with lots of great (cloudy) views. But once on the other side, there's sun and great craggy mountain peaks.

The only animals I see are cows, except the one deer that was standing right in the middle of the highway and then bounced off into the meadow as I slammed on my brakes.

I do stop at a Mt Goat viewing area. There's those stationary viewfinders (binocs) - one is setup for kids (so it's too low); the other, well I still have to be on my knees to check out the peaks. :) No goats.

My first stop is the Titus Lake trail; an "easy" 3 mile round-tripper. (Lots of Lupine, Yarrow and Buckwheat blooming here.) I park, start and quickly lose the trail due to fallen logs, etc. I try to find it but without success so onward I go. But the views are nice!

My goal today is to hike the Alpine Creek Meadows trail (easy, 6.2 miles RT). I reach my turn and then head towards Alturas Lake. My instructions state that the trail head is at the end of the road. I pass Alturas Lake - actually I make a quick stop for a peek. Beautiful!

And proceed down the road. I reach the end of the pavement with no signs indicating any trail nearby. The gravel road is at first 2 lanes and then goes to one lane. I'm a bit nervous as have no idea how much longer I'll be on this road. On a positive note, I do see a coyote in a meadow as I drive by.

After a little bit, I decide to turn around - guess it pays to do the homework before heading to a trail.

At this point I just want to find a trail so I continue north stopping at Redfish Lake. Bench Lakes is on my list to hike. I stop at the lake now I can finally see the Sawtooth Peaks!!

Unfortunately, there's clouds over these peaks and a 40% chance of rain. So I'll leave this trail for another day.

So onward to the town of Stanley and to Bridal Veil Falls. This is a 7.9 mile trail (350 elevation). Still cloudy with peeks of sun.

Things start off good with this wonderful flower (I think it's a Mariposa Lilty)!!

Lots of them (on most of the trail). Also along the road, butterflies!! Mormon Frits (I think)

and Small Wood Nymphs.

I reach the actual trail which transitions between forests to meadows the entire trail.

Some of the meadows were earlier this spring/summer wet meadows and still are witness this frog I found.

Quite a few chipmunks running around. Can't tell if there are two species or just adults vs juveniles as some of large and fat and others smaller and skinny.

Lots of butterflies - Field Crescents, Boisduval's Blue, Lilac Bordered Coppers,

and two species I haven't seen in quite some some: Edith Coppers

and Mariposa Coppers.

At around 2 miles, I reach the uphill portion of the trail.

Here I start seeing California Tortoiseshell flying.

And I can hear the flowing water of the creek below me.

I pass Lady Face falls (I'll get that on the way back) and continue to Bridal Veil. But, soon there's a 40 ft wide creek in my way. :( There's a guy there trying to find a way around because it's 1-2 feet deep and flowing (not swiftly) but still moving. We can't find a way around so he just plows through. But I'm turning around. Maybe I'm playing it to safe but just living for another day.

On the way back, I look for Lady Face Falls. It's a bit hard to find in spot due to fallen trees, rocks, etc but it eventually leads to an edge of a canyon. I can hear the Falls roaring but I have absolutely no view as it's a canyon.

I head up a foot path a little further but still no views. I know there's a way to a view (I've seen photos on the internet) but I'm just not finding it today. Back to the main trail.

There's definitely more sunshine on the way back and even more butterflies. While still heading downhill thru the woods, I see another CA Tortoiseshell, a Milbert's Tortoiseshell and a flash of a Green Hairsteak -- not sure of the species but it's a green hairstreak.

Back in the meadows, many more butterflies out flying. Including a few new ones for the day including a Pale Crescent, Clouded Sulphur and a Pacific Fritillary.

I didn't know they flew in Idaho!! (I've only see them once and that was in the Redwoods of California.)

Before I get to my car, I find a very popular flower with Frits and Small Wood Nymphs on it.

And a Policecar Moth.

When I get back to my car, I find a shady spot for lunch and I continue on my way with a stop at the Stanley Lake overlook.

And then my drive up the Salmon River Scenic Drive up to Challis Idaho. And the drive is incredible as it winds through a canyon along the Salmon River.

Pretty calm river but it does have it's spots of rapids which is why there are lots of rafts and kayaks in the water.

I make one stop at this "intersection" of water.

And the East Fork Rec area.

Fantastic drive! (Probably why it's a Scenic Byway). I'll be on it for the next few days.

Even though things didn't go as planned, it was still a fantastic day!

July 27 - Lake Solitude - Twin Lakes Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading up to see the summer flowers at Twin Lakes today. (Last week was the annual Wildflower Festival in Big Cottonwood Canyon, so they have to be a peak right now.)

I arrive to sunny skies and 71 degrees at around 10am. Perfect day!

The meadow is very green, lush and still wet; lots of heavy rains the last few days.

I head directly to the trail head (counter-clockwise).

I see a few Blue butterflies flitting around the meadow.

At the foot bridge, there is a Mom Mallard and only one fluffy baby duckling.

Lake is looking wonderful today!

The trail is a bit muddy this morning and in fact, there's a little stream running down from the higher slopes. I enter the aspen grove which has many flowers in bloom!

I'm scanning the forest for deer or moose but not seeing any. But there are a good number of butterflies (mostly Frits) flying.

At one point, I hear what sounds like a loud grunt. I look around but find only 2 people heading towards me. I pull off the trail to let them by. As soon as they pass, the guys says "There's a moose!". I turn around and sure enough there's a large male moose!

Can't believe I missed him! (He's standing not 20ft off the trail.)

A little further long, I reach a trail maintenance crew. They are re-routing the trail -- which is a good thing because now the trail is a gradual uphill all the way to Lake Solitude (and less rocky). And still lots of flowers to view. (Including a Weidenmeyer's Admiral.)

I arrive a Lake Solitude.

Many people here -- looks like a women's walking group. I pass them by, cross the foot bridge and start my way up to the ridge above Twin Lakes.

Along the way I see many Frits

as well as the wonderfully bright orange Ruddy Copper. (I see 3 of them.)

Hey, there's still a patch of snow up here!

When I reach the ridge, I head over to my favorite spot. Still snow on the mountains!

The lakes are still very full (and it's almost August - pretty amazing).

Time to head down thru tons of wildflowers (and a surprising low number of butterflies - I do add a Milbert's Tortoiseshell).

I reach the Lake; still not much of a beach.

And there's water still going over the overflow slots. In the calm waters by the overflow are tons of little fish (probably trout). I can change their direction by moving my shadow -- it's kinda fun!

Time to head down thru more flowers!!!

Nearing the bottom, I see several Blue Coppers.

And several Lilac Bordered Coppers.

Soon I reach the switchback over Silver Lake and start looking for Marmots and Pika. I only find one Pika today.

Awesome day!

July 22 - Francis Peak (Butterflying)

Heading out this morning with a local Lep group to go butterflying atop Francis Peak. Francis Peak is around 9540ft tall and is one of the obvious peaks because of the two Radar towers (big balls) on top.

The drive is up Farmington Canyon; a narrow windy dirt road with steep drop-offs. Definitely not my favorite type of road (death grip on the steering wheel) but I want to get to the top and its one of the only ways.

There are several cars in our caravan; I'm number 3 which is perfect because I concentrate only on the two cars in front me as we head up the 10+ miles and close to 4000 ft in elevation.

We make one stop before the peak to check for butterflies but they are really not flying yet (it's a little a bit before 10am). We do see Weidenmeyer's Admiral, a Western White, and a Hedgerow Hairstreak. (Haven't see one of these is quite some time!)

But all was not lost at this stop as a 3rd/4th instar Two-tailed Swallowtail caterpillar is found. This one is ready to molt.

And on the same plant, a 1st instar Two-tailed Swallowtail caterpillar is found.

We turn around after a very short walk and on the way back see what appears to be a Mormon Frit.

Time to head higher. As we continue up the road, I'm noticing more butterflies along the road but we keep heading higher up to a parking area near the top.

There's wonderful flowers (and a bit of snow) and of course, butterflies! (The view is east towards Morgan.)

And north towards the RADAR towers on Francis Peak.

I poke around the flowers near the parking ahead (just waiting for everyone to get ready) and find Blue Coppers

And a Persius Duskywing.

A male Indra Swallowtail is quickly netted and posed for photos before flying away.

The California Tortoiseshells were uncatchable today. (Nor were they stopping for photos.)

First stop was a short climb along a road to the south. Many butterflies including Callippe Frits.

and Parnassians.

The views are nice to the west.

I reach the "top" but there's still one little trail heading a bit higher thru the rocks. It's a great little walk as I see many Western Green Hairstreak. (Saw lots today everywhere I went.)

Anise Swallowtail

Small Wood Nymph, another Hedgerow Hairstreak and many Frits along that little trail.

And this Green Towhee (having his Simba moment overlooking the Salt Lake Valley).

Back down the trail but still on top, I see a Western White

and a Ringlet.

Heading back down to the parking area, I add a few more:

the California Hairstreak

and Lupine Blue.

And Anise Swallowtail caterpillar (3rd/4th instar) is located.

We group up at the parking for a caterpillar hunt to the north up around the RADAR towers. Incredible wild flowers here!!

I end up by myself heading up and make it around the towers at a saddle.

I could go higher but I don't think it'll yield any different butterflies so I head back down to the group.

Only a few left by the time I catch up with the trip leader (Todd). We have a nice talk about caterpillars and then he shows me a very tiny 1st instar Indra Swallowtail -- too hard to photo.

And the symbiotic relationship between ants and the Silvery Blue caterpillar (this caterpillar maybe an Arrowhead Blue -- too hard to tell the difference at this stage). The caterpillar secretes a sweet liquid which the ants feed on; therefore the ants protect the caterpillar from harm. Witness all the ants on the caterpillar. Pretty cool!

I get back to my car and I'm solo down the mountain -- and I survive!! (And 22 species of butterflies seen.)

Awesome day!