It's a nice cool morning in the low 60s at the trailhead. There's already 4 cars in the small parking area at around 9:30. So I start off on my 1500ft, almost 2mile trek up the canyon --- and I'm looking for moose.
It seems that the flowers are behind this time last season -- I just remember more variety (but again there was more snow this winter). There's a lot of green but not much flowering other than the dandelions, waterleaf, larkspur and the purple Virginia Bowers.
Looks like the forest service has done a bunch of clearing since winter -- lots of trees/brush cut. Maybe they're trying to open the trail up a little. Personally, I already like it.
I see a bunch of blues flying (Spring Azures) and a couple of Juba Skippers.
I'm following some pretty fresh moose tracks. The hoof prints are at least 6" deep into the mud in some spots. The moose in this canyon do like following the trail, lots of scat -- some looks fresh. I'm looking for that moose.
As I get higher, I reach the snow -- it hasn't melted because it doesn't get a lot of sunlight (it's in the shadows). The Satyr Commas are flying here and above --- probably their early Spring season now. I see a Brown Elfin on a flowering plant. And a little further up, a Margined White.
I finally get higher enough that parts of the trail are still snow covered. I really don't like these parts - wouldn't be bad if there was not a drop-off ... but there is. Not that I'm going to fall to my death but it would be an interesting slide thru snow and mud. So a little light stepping in prior tracks. I did slip in one section and started to slide into a slope of mud but was able to put my hand into the snow to stop the slide (that snow is coooold). The snowy trail was on-n-off for about the last 300 ft in elevation (1/2 mile).
But when I came out into the clearing - wow!! At beautiful view of SLC and the Orriquhs Mts to the west.
And some snowy peaks to the South.
There were 3 people coming down a little hill to the right. I've seen people going up it before, just didn't know where it went. So I asked them (they, like I, moved to SLC last year -- small world). They told me they just went up to the top of the hill. It goes further on some unofficial, perhaps animal trail, but they stopped. Said it was worth the trip. So I went up. Its probably on 50ft higher and a 10 minute walk through the aspen and vegetation. There's moose scat along the way -- I'm still looking for one.
When to the top there are tons of Glacier Lilies in full-bloom,
also Spring Beautys. The view is to the North/Northeast down into Lamb's Canyon and beyond. Beautiful wooded valley! I climb a little higher through the trees. I'm now just high enough to see yet another snowy peak to the south.
Glad I took this little side trip up the hill!!!
Now its just downhill to the parking area.
On the way down (still in the snowy part), a man going up asks if I saw the moose. Said it was a young male just off-trail; there were 3 deer as well. Grrrr! I knew I was following one!
Well there are a few more butterflies out now -- a little warmer and a little sunnier. They're mostly in the muddy spots - Northern Cloudywing and Rocky Mt Duskywing along with the Azures.
When I get to the bottom, I check the muddy spot near the parking area (always a good bfly spot). There are Azures, Western Tailed Blues, an Anise Swallowtail, Northern Cloudywing, Rocky Mt Duskywing, Sleepy Duskwings, and Dreamy Duskywing -- and a Mylitta Crescent zipping a bout. Also flying is a yellow Swallowtail (it's either a Western or 2-tailed -- can't tell the different when flying).
Great day!!!
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