June 1 - Mormon Pioneer Trail

Normal Sat morning with too many hikes on the wish list -- today I'm going for a leg stretching ~9.6 miles and 1400ft elevation change - the Mormon Pioneer Trail. From what I've read, the hike follows the trail that was first cut by the Donner-Reed party. The Mormon pioneers also followed the route a  year later. A popular trail, it was used by the Pony Express, miners, California gold seekers, the West's original telegraph line.

This 9.6 miles took the Donner-Reed party 13 days and the Mormons 6 day. And for me, it was the longest 7.44 mile hike of my life today - 5hrs 30+ minutes. No, wagon trail, slow mules for me,...there was just too many BUTTERFLIES!!! But what a great day! Added Common Ringlet, Large Marble, Western Branded Skipper AND the most impressive (and a lifer for me), the Relict Frittilary to my 2013 list!! Hard to make progress when there are too many things to check out. :)

Add that to Blues (Silvery and Western Tailed Blues, Spring Azure), Rky Mt Duskywings, Northern Cloudywing, Brown Elfin, Sara Orangetip (yes still, and today, they were stopping - yea!), Juba Skippers, Common Checkered Skippers, Milbert's Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Mourning Clock, Anise Swallowtail, Yellow Swallowtail (unidentified), Large Yellow Sulpher (unidentified), and Satyr Comma (and possibly a Field Crescent, I just got a quick look and off it went -- and I couldn't find it nor anyone else from the family); flowers, mud puddles and fields to explore - no wonder it took so long.

Started near Jeremy Ranch at the Mormon Flat Trailhead (5945ft ele). The drive through ranchland w/ flowing streams had me hopeful that this was the type of trail I was looking for; not one that goes up a mountain but one that goes through a valley w/ sagebrush (not woodland plants). (There wasn't an option to explore the roadsides as it was all private land w/ "No trespassing" signs everywhere.)

The trailhead parking was full but not necessarily with hikers, but a group of campers -- looked like some father-son church outing. The trail goes up  Little Emigration Canyon up to Big Mountain Pass. The trail started following a nicely moving creek through the brush. Then things open up to sagebrush type vegetation. Big hills on both sides -- the left side was mostly aspen trees.

Very quickly I see a tan-orange bfly flying - a Common Ringlet.

First time this year and in UT. (I have seen this one in WI, CO, CA and WY - same species but they do have regional variations - i.e., they look different). After this section, the trail begins to follow a small, slow moving stream. Still in the aspens but following the canyon bottom - exactly what I was hoping for.

Lots of blues flying in this section. And lupine and meadowrue are just about ready to bloom. The trail is mostly a small dirt path (which at times further down the trail, becomes partially washed out or deadends into a dried creekbed. It was early on where I saw an orange frittillary.  Definitely a lesser frit -- maybe purplish but not sure they fly here. Hmmm...

(After getting home, this is a Relict Fritillary. A lifer for me! Yea! These bflys only fly in a small portion of the Rocky Mts - N Ut, Far Western ID, and the Yellowstone/Tetons areas of MT & WY.)

The trail crossed the stream several times and with that, there was lots of muddy sections to check out for bflies -- mostly blues, duskywings and the Northern Cloudywings. And I stop at each one just in case. Lots of meadows to explore as well.

The frit is flying throughout the lower part of the trail.

Lots of neat flowers too - not sure what this is but it did catch my eye.

Finally came upon a pond (there's a old beaver dam behind it).

This was one of the campsites for the Donner-Reed party. Lots of dragonflies flying -- but they're landing on plants. Hard to take pix since my camera decides to focus on the skinny plant rather than the skinny dragonfly. Can't see any fish or frogs. Will check on the way back.

Sara Orangetips still flying. Seems like a long flight season but its just that the trails are higher in elevation so the bfly start flying later in the year. And today, they are stopping (maybe because its still cool out) and I finally have time to get really good looks. :)

After the beaver dam, there are whites flying. Fortunately, one stops. It has beautiful gold marbling on the lateral side of its hindwing -- its a Large Marble. (New for the year. I've gotten a quick look at one in CA before but this time, I get a better look -- actually a couple of times.)

After the 2 mile mark (about 6300ft), plants start to transition back to some of the "normal" early spring flowers that I've been seeing: waterleaf, spring beautys, yellow violets, etc. And the Common Checkered Skippers appear -- small, white patterns bflys. They seem to be in 2 different sizes and patterns. I'm thinking the smaller one might be a different type of checkered skipper. (After getting home, they are the same species -- just a lot of variation in them.)

I also start seeing Milberts Tortoiseshells. Lots of them but just in this one section of trail. Must be the pretty good habitat (w/ hostplant) for them.

Also start seeing skippers - mostly Juba.

I come upon another pond. And the trail crosses what looks like a land dam between the pond and the stream. The pond has a bunch of grass floating on it making for some strange patterns.

There is a bench overlooking the pond. I think about stopping because I'm starving but continue to go on because I only have 1 mile to go. (I can hear & see cars now.) The trail is uphill - the steepest part of the trail. When I come to a fork in the trail, hunger wins (and I don't care what the other trailhead looks like) so I head back to the bench. Along the way I see a white bfly drop into the grass. I go off-trail to try and sneak up on it. I'm scanning for white - my eye catches yellow. By the time I react, a large sulpher (Yellow bfly) flys up and he's gone! Oh well.

I have lunch overlooking the little pond. Its a little chilly as the wind is blowing (and I'm at just over 7000 ft). I look at my watch and its taken me 3.5 hrs to get 3.7 miles - Ouch! Couldn't believe it!

On the way back, I was basically led but Mourning Cloaks (there were lots more out on my way back than the way up). I'd scare one up on the trail, he'd fly, land on the trail in front of me. I'd catch up, he'd fly, land on the trail in front of me. This was repeated for about 2 miles. This was not necessarily the same bfly the entire time but everytime I'd see one basking in the middle of the trail, I couldn't help but smile. And the cycle would repeat. :)

Saw a couple of yellow swallowtails on the way back. Couldn't ID them (I just know they weren't Anise Swallowtail). I got a really good look at a flying one as he was checking my bright orange t-shirt out as a possible nectar source. When he decided I wasn't a flower, off he went.

The gang of Milbert's Tortoiseshells were still in the same area.

When I came upon the pond, I decided to take a second shot at the dragonflies (and this time, I'd walk around the pond, checking out the flowers as well). On one flower, I saw a small patterned bfly (possibly Field Crescent) but he flew and was gone. I carefully checked the flowers as I walked around but could not find him.

Still no frogs or fish. Dragonflies still zipping around. Saw a black one with a whiteface.

The muddy spots have less bflys -- probably cause its shadier.

I finally get back to my car and its 3:30 - 5 1/2 hours -- for 7.44 miles -- that's pitiful in terms of hiking but what's the point of hiking if you're not enjoying the scenery!

Great trail - great day! Will be back for the lupine!