It's Friday, I should be heading into the mountains but I just got back on the red-eye from Fairbanks Alaska mid-morning yesterday so I'm looking for something "easier". Little Cottonwood Creek is still over 6 miles and 1000 ft but it is easy.
I get started just after 9:30am as I get started up the trail. Quickly see a lizard while on the asphalt trail leading from the parking lot.
Pretty dry out (as I expected) but there are some purple flowers blooming and of course, it's Thistle time!
I see a small orange flyer -- I'm assuming it's a Mylitta Crescent but there are plenty of other options. Hoping I'll see one stopped.
Lots of birds singing this morning but the only ones I see are the Robin.
And the raspberries are forming - I find one red one.
It's not long before I get my first view of the Falls. Actually surprised the amount of water still flowing.
I continue of the bridge and start the upward climb thru the woods.
Seeing a couple of 2-tailed Swallowtails flying.
Soon I reach the spot where an old concrete picnic structure existed. It has over the years become covered in graffiti and became a spot for drug activity. The week-end before I left, crews from the Little Cottonwood Foundation (and others) had a volunteer day to clean things up. I wanted to volunteer but I had too many other things to do (and wanted to do). As I approach
After seeing the site, kudos to everyone involved in the clean-up. The old concrete building is gone - just an empty bare site. They've done some vegetative reconstruction and have it is blocked off. Wonderful!
Finding a few columbine in bloom as I continue and a small section of Liver-leaf Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia) - so says my brand new, new released Wildflowers of the Cottonwood Canyons guide.
Hey, the Thimbleberries are forming too! (No red ones yet.)
I continue upward passing over a few muddle sections of trail, the footbridge, the bridge before the water wheel and finally the water wheel. I stop at the water wheel -- just like watching the water flow.
Continuing on I see a couple of Fritillaries - I think Zerene (maybe)
and a Taxiles Skipper (male) - first one of the year!!
before reaching the trail to the upper parking lot.
Just one more short uphill section before reaching the upper building. And before I know it, I'm there.
I was going to take a break but there are several people resting so I start down - I'll stop farther down hill and head over to the creek seeing a Cabbage White along the way.
After a bit of a break,
I continue down. Along the way, I see a Russet Skipperling (1st one of the year!)
a big bright orange male Great Spangled Frit - this is one I can ID - and he is beautiful!
a couple of very fresh California Tortoiseshells
and a very old and battered Mourning Cloak. (Boy, his wing edges are all but gone.)
I also see a couple of Duskywings or Cloudywings flying.
Well that was the perfect hike - great day!
