May 4 - Mormon Pioneer Trail

Another day near 80 today -- partly cloudy skies. Spent yesterday afternoon planting 24 plants in my backyard (there was just mulch and no color) so today its time to stretch the legs and check out the changes on the Mormon Trail.

Was here about a month ago and made it about 1.5miles before snow turned me back. Well driving to the parking lot, the snow that was around then is gone and its getting greener.

There were 3 cars in the lot when I arrived. Three guys all going for a bike ride. This is a tough ride of bikers (lots of obstacles) so they must be good.

The creek is definitely lowwe at the bottom -- and now pretty confined within its banks but still moving. Parts of the trail that were a stream a month ago are just muddy. No detour required. I don't think that will be the same for the bigger trail/creek merges.

I can tell I'm at a higher elevation because on the Little Cottonwood trail the other day, the Oregon Grape was in full bloom (and some past bloom); but here the Oregon Grape only has yellow buds. I'm seeing Painted Ladies here too -- they must be having a good year because I don't remember seeing many at all last year -- or perhaps I'm just on the trail early enough to see them. (I end up seeing at least 7 today.)

Sure enough the 2 big trail/creek intersection are still flooded. I have to maneuver my way over rocks, logs, etc to get around.

Many bflys today. There are Anise Swallowtails nectaring, Spring Azures (little flyng spots of bright blue), Mourning Cloaks, a Mylitta Crescent and of course plenty of male Sara Orangetips. I'm not sure if its because of the partly sunny skies but they are all landing/nectaring.

There are some "first of the season" bflys, the Sleepy Duskywing

and Rocky Mountain Duskywing. A few Large Marbles (very aptly named for their marble-like outer wing).

And the Silvery Blues are now flying - and they are silvery blue when they fly -- makes they distinguishable from the Spring Azure.

As far as flowers below there are yellow and purple violets in bloom, mountain bluebells

and lots of yellow flowers.

There's no snow around except high above. The log I had to crawl under into the snow; I just had to crawl under this time. On the other side (where all the snow was less than a month ago), was a early spring wild flower bloom -- Spring Beauties,

Yellow Bells

and Glacier Lilies!!

So pretty.

Nothing much happening at the camp -- no ducks, no bflies zipping around. I go past and am now further than I was in April. The trail is still very mucky in spots. The beaver dam's waterfall is still flowing but is not was wide (and fast as before). But there's still plenty of water behind it.

A more stream/trails crossings now --- kinda excepted that. Some were a little complicated to find a way around and stay dry. But I kept going and I'm passing snow melt pond after pond (they look like those high-end Infinity Pools but in nature)

 I'm figuring that at some point, a pond it what will stop me today.

Seeing lots of moose scat and track in this area -- no moose though. :(

Finally get to a point I'm seeing snow near the trail again. And there a creek/trail flood to get across. Not quite sure how to get around. I try going up there the pines but they are too thick. The other side with all the willows and small trees doesn't look like a choice either. So I cross 2 logs to get me further and one step in the mud to peak around the corner and see there's rocks on the other side to get me across. So I can continue.

But in front of me is a snow melt pond. I can see the other side of the trail about 30-40 ft away but only water in between.

Going thru the pines is not a good option. And its a pond with a creek running out of it, so going around the other side is not an option either. This is definitely the end of the road for me today. (Even if I made it across, I'm seeing a bunch of snow and that would've ended my day.) Made it about 2.5 miles (about a mile further than last time).

As I was working myself out, I stopped to wait for a couple that were coming along the rocks. They were out for a jog. They asked if that's the end of the trail for today, said it was for me and headed off.

I started to feel like a wimp for not continuing when the joggers hadn't come back and passed me, but while I stopped to grab my lunch from my pack a little further down the trail, they finally came jogging by --- I'm not a wimp!!!

There were less bflys on the way back. Did see 2 female Sara Orangetips and got a good look at the outer wings of one of them.

I was about to start my last creek crossing when I saw a beautiful fresh Field Crescent (the 1st of the year)!

The bikers passed me by at the 1/2 mile mark. I'm wondering if they made it thru the pond and to the top. And I had my chance to ask as they were still in the parking lot when I got back. No, they didn't make it to the top -- too much snow. Not sure where they were the whole time --- probably blazing their own trails thru the valley.

Great day!!