Aug 17 - Lake Solitude - Twin Lakes Loop

Heading out after work to hike to the Lake Solitude / Twin Lakes Loop. Sunny day and we're back near 90s (after 2 wonderfully cool (low/mid 80s) days).

When I arrive, there are some storms trying to get brewing but thankfully, they are to the east; but it's still partly cloudy.

As I head around Silver Lake, the meadow is tall and turn yellow - Fall is on it's way in the mountains.

Lots of dragonflies zipping around the lake.

I head up to Lake Solitude thru the now fading flowers. Mostly Asters now but there are some good spots with Paintbrush, Lupine, and Horsemint (and other flowers too).

The Thimbleberries are almost ready too!

I'm see a few Frits and Paintbrush flying.

When I arrive at the rock slide, there's a Marmot sitting on the rocks (only my 2nd sighting of the year).

I reach Silver Lake.

There's a male Mallard on the lake.

I make my way down the side of the lake to the road (aka trail). Before I reach it, I see a few Ruddy Coppers - males and females.

And a Frits.

(Pretty productive spot!!)

As I make my way up and up above Lake Solitude.

I see a few more Ruddy Coppers and Frits.

Half way up, I see a Stellar Jay.

Still climbing.  hey, they've put a picnic table along the trail! (Have to work hard to use that table.)

I reach the ridge over Twin Lakes

And then head to my perch for dinner.

Then it's time to head down. As I come down, I see a brown flyer in among the Asters. I have to stop to see what it is --- it's a moth.

I see Painted Ladies and Blue Coppers

And guess what, more Frits on the way down.

Lots of flowers still blooming in certain areas (other areas are fading).

And a chubby cheeked chipmunk - definitely getting ready for winter.

I reach the dam -- lake is still full and there's still no beach. But the water is no longer flowing thru the overflow chutes. And the baby fish are still near the overflow. Tons of them -- I think the number is increasing. What will they do as the lake continues to drop?!

I head down thru the flowers and soon I'm standing over Silver Lake.

Checking for Marmots and Pika on the rocks. I hear and spot 2 Pika.

But still no Marmots. There were quite a few out here last year -- maybe after a normal 600 inches of snow after two poor years knocked their numbers down a lot. :(

On the way back to Silver Lake, I see chipmunks, squirrels and a Snowshoe Hare!

And when I'm almost at the lake, there's a female deer crossing the trail. She gives me a good look while standing in the middle of the trail before crossing into the forest. I continue a step when a fawn (still will spots) starts to cross.

She sees me and quickly bounces across followed closely by fawn #2. Fun!

Great day!

Aug 11 - Mormon Pioneer Trail

Well today I'm heading over to the Mormon Pioneer Trail to search for female Great Spangled Frittillaries. The males have been flying for a few weeks now so the females should be in full force by now. (Last week when I was here, I did see a few females but they were not very photogenic.) Just note: I'm interested in the females because they look very different than the males but are just as gorgeous!

Had some rain showers early this morning and a stretch of rain clouds still exists heading east. I leave around 8:30 because to the west, south and north it's clear so no more rain is on the way; at least for this morning/early afternoon.

I drive up Parley's Canyon toward Park City in the clouds and a few sprinkles (and some lightening in the distance) but after exiting at Jeremy's Ranch, there's nothing but blue sky - except the sun is still in the storm clouds.

I arrive at in the parking lot and it's still cloudy but 72 degrees. Not expecting many butterflies due to the lack of sun, but the sun will be out and so will the butterflies.

I start up the trail - many of the flowers and the vegetation is drying up. But there are still some yarrow, asters,

goldenrod

and many yellow composites still flowering.

I'm not that far on the trail when I'm surprised by a male Great Spangled Frit basking on the trail - just waiting for the sun.

And a few steps later, I can see my shadow - yea!

Many critters moving around in the brush today -- birds, squirrels, snakes (yes one crosses the trail in front of me). I even see a squirrel peeking out of a hollow tree chirping at me.

Lots of Woodland Skippers flying - tons of them!!

I also see a few Small Wood Nymphs too!

And the Frits - many, many flying! Mostly male Great Spangled Frits!

And I believe the others are Northwestern Frits.

All the Frits really like the Thistles that are blooming now.

A find some Milkweed (the flowers are slowing fading) and check for Monarch caterpillars but find nothing.

I'm seeing female Great Spangled Frit -- scaring 6 of them up as I walk by. The 7th finally lands in the creek bed. But flies when I move for a better view. (Maybe I'll have better luck in the Camp's meadow.).

Along the way to the meadow, I also see a Coral Hairstreak

Two tailed and Western Swallowtails, Weidenmeyer's Admirals, a Mylitta Crescent,

a Field Crescent, a Painted Lady,

Mustard Whites, and a few Clouded Sulphers. Not bad for the end of the season!

I finally reach the meadow and an area with Thistles -- there are so many Frits here!!

And 2 females Great Spangled Frit - they are so awesome!!

I then make my way to the pond -- where I find another female!

I reached my goal of the day but I continue down the trail picking up Common Checkered Skippers.

I have to mention the grasshoppers -- the big ones -- particularly this orange one.

When it flies, it is black, white, and orange! Wonderful!

After a little over 2 miles, I decide to turn back -- it's the end of the season, just not many bflys flying - except for the Frits and Woodland Skippers!

On the way back, I see a Lilac Bordered Copper and, at the pond,

Ruddy Copper.

As I exit the meadow, I find a Satyr Comma. The first one in quite some time.

I reach the end of the trail and am surprised my a Melissa Blue

and another Ruddy Copper.

Awesome day!

Aug 6 - Twin Lake Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading out on one last hike with my nephew who is heading back to the Midwest to return to college.

Supposed to be a great day with mostly sunny skies in the upper-80s - cooler in the mountains of course.

The original plan is to hike up to Catherine's Pass in the Albion Basin. We arrive at at the summer road entrance around 7:45am and were told that the lots were probably already full - 80 cars passed thru the gate; there's only 40 spots. Darn! (And quite amazing!)

Time for Plan B - drive back down Little Cottonwood Canyon and then up Big Cottonwood Canyon to hike up to Twin Lakes.

It's amazing that when we arrive, there were hardly any cars in the Silver Lake parking lot -- I guess they were all up Little Cottonwood Canyon! (All the better for us!)

We pack  and head past Silver Lake to the actual trail. Meadow is green and tall. Lake looks wonderful as always.

We head directly to  Lake Solitude thru the flowers and the woods stopping only watch a Pika with a mouthful of green vegetation scampered over some boulders alongside the trail. (Looks of squirrels and chipmunks running around the forest this morning.)

We arrive a Lake Solitude; we have it all to ourselves.

Then we head up the big hill that leads over Twin Lakes. Many butterflies flying - all Frits!

We're almost to the top when we here another Pika and stop to look for it. We never find the Pika but we do find a chipmunk on the rocks. The chipmunk is chirping and the funny thing is that he only chirps when he wags his tail. Pretty cute!

Soon we reach the ridge above the lake and then move to my "secret spot" for a break! Beautiful day!

We decide head down to the lake and then take the trail alongside the lake to the opposite side. Down we go thru masses of flowers!

We head on top of the dam. The lake is still very full and the little fish are still near the overflow.

See a California Tortoiseshell flying around the lake as well as Frits.

We then head down the trail to the other side. Always a pretty neat walk but even more interesting now since the water is right next to the trail in spots - there's usually a beach by this time of year.

Lots of flowers!

Along the way, I see a few Blue Coppers flying.

I see our lunch spot just ahead.

Awesome spot!

Here I  see a Weidenmeyer's Admiral and Mourning Cloak.

Time to head back to the dam and when there play with the fish (with shadows) one last time before heading down.

(Did I mention this whole time, we basically had the lake to ourselves? I'm sure that will change as we head down -- it's the afternoon.)

And it did - lots of folks coming up now!!

As we head down, a guy tells us that there is a big male moose a little ways down the hill. He's laying in the woods. Cool!! (My nephew hadn't seen a moose yet.)

We go to where they guy said - behind the ski markers. We look around but can't find the moose. As we start heading back down, another guy (on his way) up tells us were to find the moose.

A little further down, we spot the moose in the woods; he's a big guy! He's hard to see in the shade. So we continue further down where there's a crowd of people standing on the trail. Still can't see him from the trail so we walk about 10 feet off trail and there he is!!!

Time to leave this big guy alone and continue down. As we cross the ridge over Silver Lake,

we look for Pika and Marmot but nothing. We do see large vegetation piles collected by a Pika.

Wonderful day!!

Aug 3 - Lofty Lake Loop (Uintas Mountains)

Heading over to the Uintas Mountains today to hike the Lofty Loop Trail checking out the flowers and hopefully some butterflies - though it may be a little late for butterflies.

I hiked up to Lofty Lake a few weeks ago; there was still snow on one section of the trail so I did an out-n-back hike. Today, I'm doing the full loop - need to get to the meadows between Kamas Lake and the switchbacks.

Another near 100 degree for the Salt Lake valley today -- only supposed to be in the mid/upper 60s where I'm heading (helps to be above 10,000 ft).

Easy drive except having to stop for a deer (doe) feeding right at the side of the road. I slowed, she raised her head and watched me drive by. Just like it's supposed to happen!

Lots of folks already at some of the lakes this morning as I pass thru. When I arrive at the Pass Lake Trail head, there's only a few cars (and no mosquitoes - yea!!)

I head off in the counter-clockwise direction up thru the woods. Plenty of flowers still around - Asters, Yarrows, Fleabane, Paintbrush, and these new ones - Sickletop Lousewort

And Harebells - lots of Harebells!!

I pass by Picturesque lake

And then the bigger Scout Lake.

I continue up the trail watching all the flowers for bflies. At one point, I finally see a small flyer - it's a Purplish Copper!!!

I continue to climb reaching the rocky section of the trail - no snow!! Now I start seeing some flyers -- all Milbert's Tortoiseshell!

Great views as always!

I complete the climb and I have my first views of Lofty Lake!!

On my way down to the lake, I see a Pika. He's on the move so hard to keep up with but he does finally stop.

The flowers around the lake are wonderful!

There's Bistort, Shooting Star (in spots) and Mountain Gentian.

I make my way to the other side to a large rock on the opposite for a break.

Time to move on thru the flowers to the downhill section with expansive and wonderful views!

Once down the switchbacks, I make way down a little further to a large boulder to look down below (a Lion King moment).

Now its down, down, down to the meadow - lots of Elephant head still blooming.

I go off trail hoping to scare some butterflies up. I do manage to find a Mormon Frit, a Painted Lady and an Arctic Blue.

(and a bright Yellow Sulphers)

There's tons of flowers but most of the butterflies have already flew for the season. :(

I continue thru the meadow and get my first glimpse of Mt Baldy and Reids Peak.

Down, down I go to Kamas Lake which looks wonderful!

Then more down, stopping to enjoy another Purplish Copper.

Passing a couple of ephemeral ponds still with water along the way.

And then finally down to level ground and Reids Meadow - Mt Baldy and Reids Peak.

The rest of the trip is paralleling the meadow. At one particularly flowery spot, I see another Mormon Frit, another Purplish Copper and a Common Checkered Skipper. (Still have Milbert's Tortoiseshells flying.)

I keep seeing these Sulphers and finally catch up with one perched on a flower. He has a slight greenish lower wing - unfortunately, because of the sun (and a picky camera) I can't get a good picture. But there's another Sulpher (almost white) on a flower behind it. The yellow sulpher soon finds the White one and harasses it.

Then they both taking off high into the air swirling around. After a bit, the white one lands on a flower for a moment. Before being chased yet again. Then they both disappear. (I believe these are Scudder's Sulphers.)

Lots of little creeks still flowing down to the meadow to step over on the way back.

Awesome day!