May 25 - Lamb Canyon

Heading to Lamb's Canyon today for a 1.75 (1540ft elevation change to just over 8000ft) mile hike to the Millcreek overlook (and the reverse hike back out). Lamb's Canyon is an exit or two away from Park City off HWY 80. And it is listed as a good bfly spot :) The trailhead is about 1.5miles from the exit. The road goes uphill and follows a stream. The west-facing hillside has numerous blooming flowers - yellow, purple, forget-me-knots, bluebells - fabulous. (And there are butterflies about even though the sun isn't high enough in the sky to soak the area in sunlight -- that's a good sign.)

The parking for the trailhead is small - only 5-6 cars, so I park on the road. The trail starts by crossing a bridge over the creek (there's supposed to be native cutthroat trout in that creek - but I don't see any). The trail starts with a series of switchbacks through a woods of Douglas Fir, aspens and other pines. Pretty shading. But there is one purple flower blooming - its a vine. I looks like a clematis (its really a Western Virgin's Bower).

The sounds of the creek (not the main one as that continues up the road) and small streams continue much of the way up the trail. There are openings of sunlight and with those openings, there are butterflies, mostly blues (combination of Silvery, Spring Azures, and Western Tailed Blues) and the Sara Orangetips and flowers.

The trail is a bit rustic (I like that) as there was at least 4 spots that I had to climb over a fallen tree.

Moose definitely like this trail as I see large hook prints and moose scat in many locations. The further up I go I start to see waterleaf, bluebells, and other plants that I've been seeing this Spring.

Lots of Mourning Cloaks on this trail!

I get a surprise on the trail by a small brown-reddish bfly. Its an elfin -- the only elfin I know that flies in UT in the Desert Elfin -- this cannot be a Desert Elfin, totally wrong habitat. Looks like a Brown Elfin. (I checked when I got home, the Brown Elfin does fly in a very small portion of northern UT -- I was in that portion today. Definitely redder than the ones in WI -- perhaps its just fresher.)

About a mile in, there are patches of snow. And with the snow, strangely, the Commas appear. (Never got a good ID on them but pretty sure based on past experiences, they are a combination of Satyr and Hoary Commas.) Pretty strange (and cool) to see these butterflies flying over the snow.

Not a lot of good views from the trail as it is in the canyon and thick woods. But I like it!

The further up, the more snow -- the snow is in the areas that don't get a lot of lights -- everything else is snowfree. Finally, the trail, in parts, is covered in snow. So slippery, careful crossing is required in spots. This is all the way to the top.

At the top, to the left is a field on snow,

 to the right and to the front is snow-free, aspens, and lots of plants that are not quite blooming yet.  There are mountains a lot of snow on them visible.

This is the Millcreek viewpoint (my destination for today) and there is a nice view of SLC in the distance.

I stop for lunch and can smell the bergamot plants (minty) and see columbine and lots of others. Boy, will this look great in a few weeks! I also see the Orangetips and I finally get a photo - thanks to a gusty wind that knocked the bfly to the ground (I'll take it).

The return trip was a bit lighter as the sun was up high so the forest wasn't as dark. Which means more bfly activity. The commas were still flying -- and over the snow. The Mourning Cloaks were even more abundant. I got to watch 2 in aerial combat; swirling around each other going up, up, up higher than one of the Douglas Fir trees. Can't beat for entertainment!

After the hike, I went looking for bflys. Behind the parking area was a great spot -- Mylitta Crescents, Spring Whites, Sara Orangetips, Juba Skippers all dancing around.

Then there was an area along side the road that was wet or filled with water. Perfect bfly spot. Saw Rky Mt Duskwing, Blues, Sleepy Duskwing and I finally got my photo of the Anise Swallowtail (Yea!).

 I walked further down the road for about 1/2 miles checking for bflys. Then came back and drove up the road until it dead-ends. The area up the road opened up, the stream was in full view and not in trees. There were hillsides of flowers (like the lower section) -- can't wait to see these when the summer bflys start flying.

I really liked this trail -- I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was its solitude (not a lot of people, no bikers); perhaps it was flowers/bflys, the snow; perhaps it was the potential for a great flower season... I just liked it and will be back.