Several cars already in the parking area - this trail sure seems popular this year -- hardly saw anyone last year (maybe this will change once the higher elevations start opening up -- I can only hope :)).
Get to the main trail and almost immediately see a Mylitta Crescent warming itself in the sun. A little further down is an Anise Swallowtail laid out flat on the trail. I think she may have gotten run over by the biker before me but I touch her with plant leaf and she moves slightly. So I'm thinking she's still cold from the night and trying to warm up. So I leave her in peace (after I take a bunch of close-ups!).
Strawberrys are in bloom, lupine are just popping up out of the ground, larkspur, purple violets, bluebells and many other plants are blooming.
Definitely getting easier to walking -- less water and mud on the trail. The 2 flooded areas in the 1st mile are getting better but still difficult to get around. One I could rock hop across, the other required a detour through the brush and over logs still.
I see a Common Checkered Skipper (one of many today). Also flying, Large Marbles (got a great underneath shot of one!),
more Painted Ladies, Juba Skippers, Field Crescents, and Rocky Mountain Duskywing.
I get to camp -- still no dragonflies yet. The aspen trees are leafing out and are a lime green color. The beaver dam still has a waterfall, though less intense. As I continue I see my first Northern Cloudywing of the season flying among the Duskywings. Also Western-tailed Blues (a 1st for this season also). They are flying with the Spring Azures and Silvery Blues so I have to look hard to determine who is who.
The Woodland Star flowers are in bloom up here as are the little yellow buttercups and the Spring Beautys. The Glacier Lilies and Yellow Bells have faded.
I finally get to my stopping point last time --- the Spring Lake. Its actually several creeks now and there's just enough of a muddy bank (about a shoes width) and logs to get across. I might actually finally make it to the end today!!!!
Today is a good lesson in elevation today. I'm going uphill (around 1000ft in 4miles). The Glacier Lilies, yellow bells and others that are fading or faded at the lower elevation are in bloom or are about to bloom here.
Tons of Spring Beautys here too. Same goes for the bflys, I've seen Brown Elfin by the camp about a month ago, they are now flying higher up. Lots more Sara Orangetips up here --- even though they are flying below. (The progression of seasons up the mountain.)
Now that I'm in uncharted waters (not literally but maybe...) there are stream trails (again), lots of water to cross (thank goodness for well-placed rocks and logs). And I couldn't keep my feet dry today (well, the left one. Got a good dipping as it slipped off a wet rock). There's snow up here too. (Stuff that doesn't get enough sunlight.) Most of its off-trail but there's one short stretch of trail thru the snow.
I've found a tree that has been bent over by the snow.
Cant' forget the Tiger Beetles that are moving about up here. And the Milbert's Tortoiseshell.
Still some patches of snow in the meadow and the pond is full -- I can see the stream running into the pond. The trail is on a "levee" that needs to be crossed. Thank goodness for a little footbridge because the water running from the pond washed out under the footbridge -- and is roaring downhill. (Hope the footbridge doesn't get washed out.)
I stop at the bench. Lots of yellow buttercups -- they cover the side of the hill.
Just nice to stop and enjoy the birds chirping.
After lunch, its time to head back. When I get back to the camp, there is a yellow sulpher flying. I'm trying to be stealthy and sneak up on it but it flies before I get a good look. It catches the wind and its off down the valley. As I turn to head back to the trail, there's another sulpher and the wind pushes it down onto the trail. I get a look but its flopped on the ground because of the wind. And then takes off. Never saw enough of it to ID it.
I scare a snake and he moves through the grasses.
I get to a muddy area and there are some duskywings --- I catch a good look at a Dreamy Duskywing (a 1st for the year)
saw the Sleepy Duskywing last time I was here.
Now I love dogs and I get why people like to take them on the trails - if I had a dog, I would too. But there's something about being a responsible dog owner and not let the animal roam through the brush chasing and killing animals. I met over 10 dogs today -- some people had one dog, a few had 2 dogs, and 2 people had 3 dogs. Most of the dogs stayed on the trail (i.e,. good owners). Other dogs were running all over. Well I'm also most back to the parking area, when a lady and her 3 dogs pass me by (I met them further up the trail.) When I round the corner, I see 2 of the dogs in the brush and as I get closer one is picking/licking a dead large bird -- feathers are everywhere. Now I can't say that they just killed the bird but the bird wasn't there when I came through earlier -- I couldn't have missed the pile of feathers. But one of the dogs I saw today, I'm pretty sure took care of that bird --- makes me so upset.
Anyway, saw 2 additional snakes (tiny ones) the rest of the way.
All in all great -- couldn't done without the dead bird but hopefully a coyote or mountain lion will have an easy meal tonight.
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