Sept 5 - Mormon Pioneer Trail

Just a short hike after a tough work week (definitely the fresh air). The Pioneer Trail is the destination -- needed something kinda flat because of a sore knee.

The drive up Parley's Canyon is definitely getting colorful as more and more trees start to change. Mostly pops of red and oranges from the Maples so far.

When I start driving down the dirt road to the trailhead, the grasses are browning/yellowing and in addition to the red/oranges of the Maples, the willows/cottonwoods/aspen are starting to turn yellow. It's not an all out color change -- just in spots.

Beautiful day - sunny and a cool 72 at the trailhead.

The TH was empty as I started about noon. I wasn't planning on going to the end, only a couple of miles.

At the start of the "real" trail there are several bflies flying and nectaring on the asters and yellow composites: coppers, field crescents, woodland skippers and a Small Wood Nymph. But the bflies are in a flying and chasing mood today (i.e., hard to get good views)

I see this really cool seedhead - its purple and spiky 1/2in ball. Just a single plant and I have no idea what it is.

Not a lot of blooming plants - but the flower blooms are being replaced by colorful tree/shrub leaves. The maples (although not many) are really beautiful.

See a Western Tailed Blue shaking his little tail. He's missing the upper tip of both wings but he's flying fine. Lots on Woodland Skipper zipping a bout.

I see one Frit  and a little further down the trail, a pretty beaten Great Spangled Frit.

I arrive at the large meadow of the Pioneer Camp. The grasses (and plants) are pretty dry and brown. Tons of large brown grasshoppers along the trail - I'm hoping to avoid one flying in my mouth. :)

I see a Mylitta Crescent.

There is one spot of red above the meadow in a sea of still green leaves.

The wispy white clouds look interesting.

I get to the pond and quickly notice that there are not many dragonflies out. I do see a Darner (blue) and a Red Meadowhawk. I only see about 4-5 flying around as their season comes to an end.

I also notice 3 trails down to the pond. I'm wondering if these are new animal trails as there weren't here several weeks ago (and I don't ever remember seeing them before). The one trail goes up the hillside. I also find an area where the grasses are all flatten -- perhaps a animal bed. Hmmm...makes me want to come out here really early in the morning to see if these are deer or moose.

There's a Satyr Comma and Pearl Crescent flying near the pond.

I continue past the pond to about the 2 mile mark before turning back.

All day I watched bflies chasing each other, even different species of bflies and finally I see 2 Woodland Skippers sharing nectar from a single flower.

As always, good day!