My Utah Adventure 2025

 Another sunny and 90 degree day. Note: it only cooled to 75 degrees last night so it is starting warm. It's an off-Friday but I'm debating where to go. I decide to take a longer hike today up the Morman Trail as it flat and should be quiet. But as I start to drive off, the sky is thick with clouds and possible rain. Well, to get to the Morman Trail, it's a ride on a dirt; I think I'll pass. That has me heading to Lambs Canyon. Call it a redemption hike from Monday but I'm really not mentally ready for it. I arrive and there's some early risers out already. It's already 73 degrees here and very cloudy. I start up the trail and quickly have 2nd thoughts of hiking it. But I decide to go forward.  Soon I meet a guy on his way down. I pass by a guy going extremely slow. He has a bow/arrow and is looking at everything. I later find out that this was his 1st time on this trail. I'm still on the lowest trail and coming up to a log stump. I look ahead and see a ...

Sunny with a high around 90 degrees. Decide to take an after work hike up Lambs Canyon. Things continue to dry and die along the trail in just week. We can definitely use some rain. Even the ripe Thimbleberries are tiny and withering. There are flowers hanging on: asters, yellow composites, a few Geraniums (and others of course). I'm struggling today though. I've hiked when it's been hotter out. Perhaps the lack of "green" is making the trail hotter (I am hiking in the sun) or it just could be the fact I only got 4 hours of sleep.  I am seeing a few Woodland Skipper along the way. When I get to the corner of another switchback (the one with the log "chair") I decide to call it quits. Not what I was expecting to do but it's done. Sadly, didn't make it to meadow today. On the way back I see a Hoary Comma which is quite the surprise and a good ending. Good day (still beats going to the gym). So waiting for cooler temperature - I got spoiled by my tr...

 Sunny day with temps in the high 80s. Heading to hike the Mormon Trail in several weeks. Not expecting much for butterflies as the season is about over AND we are in a drought. Arrive around 8:30 and start up the trail. Surprised that in entry trail isn't overgrown the trail; I can actually see it which has not be the case in recent years. Trail is very dry as one would expect. Very few asters but lots of yellow flowers in patches. The bird action is way down; actually very quiet except a hawk that was doing a lot of squawking. I've ran into him before. But the chipmunks are busy. Surprised to a Woodland Skipper so early in the trail.  And he was followed by a CO Hairstreak. On entry to the meadow, I find a very beaten Zerene Frit (saw a couple of them today). And on the Thistle, a couple of female Great Spangled Frits. And a Hunt's Bumblebee. And bunch of Woodland Skippers. Oh, a Yellow Sulphur too! Ran into a bow hunter in the meadow. It's the first day of Elk season...

 Sunny day with temps in the mid-90s today. Heading up to Twin Lakes again today. I leave early to beat the construction crowds and arrive around 8am. Thankfully, not many people here yet. No deer or moose as I head to the trailhead. But there's a bunch of people watching something... oh! it's beavers!!! I reach the TH and start heading up. The Lilies are all but gone this week. I reach the switchback and there's an elderly guy with camera watching for Pika. We chat for a while. His name is Bill and he's 84 years old. I believe I met him 4 years ago climbing up to Twin Lakes when there was still 3+ feet of snow on the ground in Spring. We came from different directions and met at the Lake. It was his 80th birthday - small world sometimes.  I do see a couple of Pika. I continue up to the dam. No deer or butterflies today but there are more flowers coming up like Bluebells, Wallflower, and Paintbrush to name a few. But there's a Marmot in a rock hole and he's look...

 Mostly sunny day with temps in the mid-80s. Heading up Lambs Canyon today. May seem like an odd choice for a off-Friday but that's what I'm feeling this morning. I arrive around 8am and I get the last spot in the parking lot. I'm a bit surprised but it's summer! I gear up and start up the trail. Definitely on the path towards Fall now. The lush green vegetation is drying and taming. May have something to do with the very dry/lack of rain summer but even the Fireweed at the start is bloomed out. There are some Geraniums, Asters, Brown headed Coneflower, and lots of Goldenrod in bloom as well as a few others.  Oh and I'm surprised to see these seedheads STILL! Oh, the Thimbleberries are getting ready. Maybe I'll get to snag a few on the trip (and I get 3 berries). I see a flyer pretty quickly to my surprise - it's a CO Hairstreak!! Otherwise a quiet trip. I pass a group of ladies (which I think are the reason for all the cars) and then a lady on her way down....

 Last day of the trip. Was planning on a hike to Ridge Lakes in Lassen National Park. But my body is telling me is tired. And 1 mile 1000 ft hike that starts over 7000ft does not seem wise. So it's a super lazy morning as I kill time for arrival in Reno. I finally get started around 10am and since I've been by a very big lake (Lake Almador) all week and have only crossed it a couple times on a bridge, it's time for a visit. Heading down to the dam as it seems to be the easiest stop to connect; there an 11 mile trail that starts there. Of course, there is one-lane road construction (which kills time). I make it to the dam and it's little park.  The lake is lovely and I just cruise its shoreline. On the far end, I see some Grebes. Seems the Western and Clark's Grebe have their breeding grounds here. (So says a sign instructing folks to give them a wide berth.) I head out on the pier for a lake view. Lovely stop but it is time to move on.  If I go back the same way, I...

On my drive the Hat Creek TH, sometime soon after passing Summit Lake North, I see 2 fawn run across the road. I look for Mom and I can't see her so I start to drive very slowly. Well Mom is on the opposite side of the road from her kids and looking for them. I continue right past so they can reunite. (What a day for deer! This is 6, 7, and 8!) I arrive at the TH and there's one car. The trail is 2.8 miles and 606 ft of gain at the start of the trail. Reports have this trail as buggy but I don't put on the bug spray. The trail is thru the woods. Woods that did not burn so it's has shade which is nice. In openings, there are lots of flowers so I'm hoping for some action on the way back. The farther I go, I can hear and see a creek far below the trail; it has to be Hat Creek right. At a few points, I have to cross on a log which is fun. I see White-veined Wintergreen  and Little Prince's Pine and that Sierra lily And a Anna'a Blue butterfly (beside the CA Tort...

Final day in Lassen National Park. Technically, I still have Friday and I was planning on hiking Ridge Lakes on Friday but my body is telling me "it's enough" so I'm ready to enjoy this last day. The plan is Kings Creek and then hike from Hat Creek to Paradise Meadow. Another early start leaving the hotel at 6:30. On the drive, I see a doe munching on some leaves in the forest not far from the road. I look over and there's another doe trotting across the street. No need to slam on my brakes like the other day but definitely need to be on alert. I arrive at the Park and head directly towards Kings Creek. But along the way, I see a fawn. I stop and look from Mom but cannot find her.  I move on around a curve and there's a doe with a mouth full of leaves. I stop, roll down the window, aim the camera and then she takes off. I'm thinking that's Mom but could be just another doe. But an awesome start to the morning. I arrive at the TH around 7:30. I'm th...

It's a cloudy with a good chance of rain. Heading up to walk Manzanita Lake in the NW corner of the park instead of Kings Creek/Hat Creek to Paradise Meadow. I want sun for the Paradise Meadow hike to increase my odds of seeing some butterflies. The quickest way (not shortest) there is heading a bit east first but I forgot about the road construction AND there's blue sky. So I turn around head into the park from the SW. Again no one at the gate but it's just after 7am and I'm following 2 cars. Aghh! Thankfully, the 1st car pulls off and shortly after the 2nd car pulls off so I have clear sailing to the other end of the park. I note 1 car at Kings Creek when I pass. The road gets much easier after the Summit Lake area; it's flatter, no switchbacks and less windy. I make stop at the Crags viewpoint because it cool! Then I'm at Manzanita Lake parking. No view of the lake for here which is a surprise for me. I make my way down the trail in a counter-clockwise direct...