June 3 - Lambs Canyon Trail

 Sunny day with a high of 74 degrees. Absolutely beautiful out! So good, I left work at 2:30 to hike up Lambs Canyon trail. (And yes, the road opened yesterday!!)

I arrive around 3:30 and check out the parking lot. Still not much flying. Saw RMD and a Northern Crescent. 

Also saw flying a Two-tailed and Pale Swallowtail.

I start up the trail and the Virgin Bowers, Solomon's Seal and Heartleaf Arnica are still blooming. I also find Geraniums starting to bloom (just starting).

The veg is getting taller and now brushing against my legs. The Thimbleberrys have buds forming.

The stream is flowing but slower than last week and it's really quiet out. 

Along the trail I'm finding many Blues. I find WTB and Azures.

At one point along the water I see 3 orange flyers; two are the same species and the other is different. In my brain the 2 are Relict Frits. I've not seen them this early here (usually around July 4th) but then I've only seen them twice here. And they are flying on the Mormon Trail. Unfortunately, I never get a good look at them. :( But the other orange guy is my 1st Field Crescent on the year.

Onward and upward, I add Orangetips.

Oh, the Baneberry is blooming!

And the White Columbine!

Again I stop at the Pine tree falling just before the meadow. Why? I'm not sure just felt right.

And it pays off on the way down as I see a Smooth Green Snake laying across the trail!! How exciting! Never knew a green snake existed in Utah. It's not federally endangered BUT is considered uncommon in Utah and is on the state's sensitive species list. How cool is that!





A couple of years ago I had the same experience on this trail with a Rubber Boa. I'm not a snake person but way cool! (So glad I turned around when I did!)

Awesome hike!

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