Albion Basin is at the end of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Access is by a summer road which opened only a week or so ago. It's a mountain basin and when summer comes it's supposed to be a rock star for mountain flowers. I went last year but it was after the peak of bloom. The Alta Flower Festival is July 25-27 this year so I'm just a week early. But today is as good as any to see what's blooming.
Yes, I can get to Catherine's Pass from Big Cottonwood Canyon (Brighton Ski Resort) but today is all about flowers. There are no lakes on this trail, just mountains and peaks to see.
The dirt/gravel road winds its way up a mountain. The wildlife is supposed to be pretty good up here too. Last year I saw several deer on my ride.
I'm looking for wildlife as I drive up and see a Blazer pulled off to the side of the road. As I get closer, I can see a camera hanging out the car window and, on the road, a lady holding onto a leash with a dog that's in the flower barking up a storm and trying to race uphill. I'm thinking maybe a moose but after stopping my car, I see a single coyote not too far up the hill -- perfectly blended into the landscape (and the shade of mountain). The coyote is just sitting in the flowers
barking and howling back at the dog.
It's pretty interesting to watch -- the coyote seemingly calm and the dog below going crazy.
The coyote barks and howls. This went on for several minutes before the dog owner decided it was time to continue the walk and leave the coyote alone.
When they left, the coyote got up and trotted a few paces after them but stopped and continued to howl off and on. Very interesting and fun to watch.
I continue up the road and watch a marmot cross the road into the vegetation -- the morning is starting off right!
There are a few cars in the parking lot already but still mostly empty. It's about 50 degrees but sunny out as I start the trail. At the start of the trail, there is lupine, a white/pink Gilia, a deep blue penstemon, blue flax, paintbrush, a couple of species of buckwheat (yellow or cream flowers), cinquefoils, daisys/sunflowers, and many more -- but they are sporadic perhaps because the terrain is dry/pebbly. I'm sure the flowers will fill-in as I go higher.
And I climb. Its about 900 ft in a 1.5 miles to Catherine's Pass (that beats 1500ft in 2.5 miles if I left from Brighton).
As I get a little further down, the flowers do start filling in as Geraniums, Mountains Bluebells, Tall Bluebells, Mints, Towering Jacob's Ladder, Nuthall's Flaxflower, Green Gentian (or Elkweed) and Asters are added to the ever growing flower list.(I've really learned my flower's today since I've found a Forest Service Albion Basin flower list -- very helpful, yea!)
I see a bird with a red cap and wings -- it's a Cassin's Finch (a mountain finch).
I ask a man coming the opposite direction if he saw any moose and he tells me to go about 100ft and look down into the valley, there should be two. And sure enough, two moose!!!! They are walking towards the forest below. Both are young males, one with a little set antlers and the other with little knobs. But they are walking together.
They even stop a couple of times to butt heads.
Preparing themselves when they are older. I just watch them slowly walk across the grassy patch and disappear into the woods. My 1st moose in Albion Basin!!!!
I come across a wet area and there are Elephant's head, Bog Orchid, CO Columbine, Western Columbine (yellow flower) and lots of Hellebore (still not in bloom).
And the flowers just continue on up towards the Pass. In the meadows, up the mountain sides, everywhere I look. Pretty impressive - and its just starting - lots of plants without blooms yet.
As I finally come up to Catherine's Pass, I see a hummingbird perched on a tree branch. But he doesn't stay long.
The Pass is beautiful even with the sun still not even close to its peak. All the snow is gone now, just all green and the colors of flowers.
After take a short rest, I continue on up towards Sunset Pass; I want to see the portion of the Great Western Trail I was on last time.
The Sulpher Paintbrush is still blooming -- funny that it's red paintbrush down from the Catherine's Pass and yellow above the Pass. (Checking the flower book, Sulpher Paintbrush likes exposed slopes which is definitely where I'm finding them.)
When I get to Sunset Pass, the view is snow-free.
I see a Variable Checkerspot which surprises me as I'm well over 10,000 ft.
I find a Blue in the meadow nectaring on an Aster.
Time to head back down. I decide to head down to Catherine's Lake. Curious if there's any butterflies flying.
Same flowers everywhere. I stop by the lake for a rest and I'm surrounded by flowers.
I find a Fireweed Plant, it has buds. That's be pretty when they start to bloom - all that pink.
I leave the lake and walk down the trail a little bit and finally see this little moth I've been tracking all morning long -- it flies like a bfly, it nectars like a bfly --- but it's this beautiful little moth!
Time to head back up to the Pass and then back down to my car -- and I can enjoy all the flowers in full sun (coming up, many were in the shade).
I get to the big meadow and see hummingbirds!! There are 2 nectaring on the Red Paintbrush. One quickly flies off but I got some good views of the other -- I think its a Female Broad-tailed Hummer. Pretty exciting!
I'm seeing a few Frits but they're flying. And as I get down further, lots of Parnassians. I counted twelve.
Super day -- can't beat it when there is a coyote and two moose and a marmot involved. Then add all the wonderful flowers.
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