July 15 - Lofty Loop (Uintas)

Heading east to the Uintas Mountains to beat the heat in the SL valley. The plan is to hike the 4.4 miles Lofty Loop Trail - one of my favorites. The hike climbs 950 ft to Lofty Lake (elevation of 10,800 ft).

The drive along the windy Mirror Lake Hwy is uneventful except for a couple of Sandhill Cranes I pass near the road.

I head directly to the trail head trying to get an early-sh start. Just trying to beat the crowds.

It's sunny and 60 degrees at the Pass Lake Trail head at I start in the counter-clockwise direction around 8:30. (Counter-clockwise is steeper but gets you to the lake faster.)

The trail heads through pine forest.

The dappled sunlight shines on many flowers including a Purple Daisy, a few Paintbrush, and lots of Parrot's Beak.

Looking good!

I reach the first lake, Picturesque Lake. This is a small lake.

And then continue on to the larger Scout Lake (aptly named for the Boy Scout camp on the other shore). Lovely flowers along the shore.

After passing Scout Peak, the trail leaves the forest into a more rocky terrain. This is where majority of the elevation is gained.

I stop several times to look around because the views just keep getting better the higher I climb.

And to spy on a chipmunk.

Before I crest and start heading over to Lofty Lake, I have to take once last look behind me at Hayden Peak.

Then it's a short flat walk through some pine (the mosquitoes are buzzing here) and then I get my first view of Lofty Lake.

Then it's down hill to the lake. Along the way, I hear a Pika but cannot find him.

There doesn't seem to be any one at the lake - although I do hear voices. (The voices are a scout troop hidden in the trees. I watch them leave while I rest at the lake.)

Tons of flowers along the shore line including the same Purple Daisies from the forest and Bistort.

The lake is crystal clear as one would expect from a high elevation lake.

I head along the shoreline to the opposite end. Then head over to the opposite shore as there's a nice boulder with my name of it.

From the boulder, I watch Frits, Whites and bright yellow Scudder's Sulphurs fly and a hummingbird nectar on Paintbrush.

I also see a peach-colored Paintbrush - stands out among all the red ones.

After a bit, it's time to finish the hike - majority of the mileage is yet to come.

After passing the lake, I make my way through another flower filled meadow.

where I find a very battered Two-banded Skipper

.
From here it's the switchbacks that have the most amazing views of the valley and Cutthroat Lake below.

I pass through yet another flower-filled meadow (with not many butterflies - must be past peak season)  where Elephant Head

and Mountain Gentian are blooming.

and then start the long rocky downhill descent to Kamas Lake. Got to watch the footing here - lots of ways to twist an ankle or worst.

I reach a very beautiful Kamas Lake

Passing behind the dam

where a Purplish Copper is hanging out.

And once again continuing the downhill descent.

Trying to watch my footing and the flowers but I slip up (literally) and roll my ankle. Ouch! Fortunately, I can stand and walk (gingerly) - it's a long and slow ~1.5 miles back to the trail head. Down the rest of the hill and then east along Reid's Meadow -- featuring Bald Mountain (left) and Reid's Peak (right).

And a Purplish Frit.

Thankfully back at my car, it's time to end a perfect day (minus the rolled ankle).

On the way back down the Mirror Lake Hwy, I'm behind 5 other cars when a deer waits for those 5 cars to pass and walks across the road right in front of mine. Good thing I have new brakes!

My hiking is unfortunately on hold for a week or two (hopefully not more). Dr found no new breaks on the very swollen, bruised and hurting left side of my ankle (only old ones). But they did find what could be a fracture on the right side. But without any pain and swelling on that side, they've chose to treat as bad sprain for now. Here's hoping for just a bad sprain. Now I have to find something to entertain myself on the next couple of week-ends. :)

July 13 - Broads Fork (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading out to hike one of my favorite hikes in the Wasatch this morning - Broads Forks.

The trail head sits about 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon at the S-turn. The trail shares parking with the far more popular (and crowded) Lake Blanche trail. No there's no lake at the end just a meadow but it's pretty awesome!

It's another sunny day with highs in the upper-90s yet again (and no rain in sight).

Wake early to beat the heat and am pleasantly surprised when I see a temperature of 66 degrees at 5:30. That's awesome as it's been almost 80 degrees all week at the same time.

I arrive at the trail head (6200 ft) around 7:30 - temp is 70 degrees - going to be a much cooler hike than I expected! I like!

I start up the trail; this one will wake you up pretty quickly as it climbs through a fir/spruce forest for 1.25 miles gaining 1300 feet prior reaching a bridge crossing over a creek. The trail is thankfully in the morning shade on the west side of the mountain.

I pass some patches of flowers in the forest openings. Perhaps they'll have some bflies on them on my way down.

It's just a quiet walk through the forest.

Finally, I can hear the creek and then get my first views at a little rest/cool-off stop on the trail.

Continuing on, a couple of folks heading down pass me. They were camping near the Broads Fork meadow and had a moose near their tent. Cool, perhaps it'll still be around when I get there.

A bit more climbing and I arrive at the bridge crossing the creek.

Half way to my destination!! (Just another 3/4 mile and 900 ft to go - topping off at an elevation of 8400 ft.)

Once crossing the creek, I exit the forest and start moving through a meadows and aspen groves for the rest of the trip. (The meadows provide a nice somewhat flat stretch to catch my breathe before heading higher. Not to mention flowers, bees, butterflies to look at.)

I climb a bit more and enter the 1st smaller meadow. It's still in the shade but I can see plenty of pink from the horse mint. I see my destination ahead around that rock slide.

In lesser numbers are Paintbrush, and Yellow composites and bushes.

I do see a Two-tailed Swallowtail nectaring in a patch of sun.

And a few 8-Spotted Skimmer Dragonflies. This one is a female.

The meadow is great because the vegetation overhangs the trail. Love how that feels against my legs and love just following the trail not using my sight.

But its relatively quick moving through the meadow and then back to the uphill trek. Here I'm swallowed in vegetation that is taller than I am - just moving up hill.

At one point, I scare up two grouse -- scared the stuffing out of me!!!

Along the way, I pass 2 older guys who ask me about the trail - more than 1/2 way there. (The one guy hasn't been on this trail in more than 25 years. Welcome back!)

I get another break from the climb by enter the 2nd and larger meadow. This one has a little sunlight but it too is a quick move through and back once again to climbing.

I know I'm getting close to my destination when I finally pass the rock cliff.

Finally, I arrive at the Broads Fork meadow!! Yea!

And this is why I come here - simply love the view!!

I could continue up to those peak - only another 3000+ feet requiring scrambling, boulder hopping, route finding, all well above my skill level. Very happy with the meadow.

I head over the left side of the meadow where there is a beaver pond. Some years, there will be water and others, well, it's just a mud hole.

Along the way, I enjoy the view down on Big Cottonwood Canyon

and the Sego Lily (only find two)

Not many butterflies out yet as it's only 9:15 but I do find a couple of Frits

and a Lilac Bordered Copper.

As I move left and get closer to the creek, there are more blooming flowers. Again mostly horse mint.

I approach the creek crossing cautiously because I have seen a moose at the beaver pond before - don't want to startle one. There's no official foot bridge to cross just a pile of nicely placed logs.

I'm on the other side and move closer to the pond.

No moose but there is water and a family of Mallards which move out of my sight. And a shorebird

with her chick.

Time to move to the far right side of the meadow. After crossing back thru the meadow, I start up the right side trail. I'm seeing a few more butterflies now - Blue Copper

more Lilac Bordered Coppers and one of my favorites the "ghostly" Rocky Mt Parnassian. (It has almost translucent wings tips.)

I continue to where I normally stop above another pond. Definitely, cloudy over the mountains now.

I search for moose and finding none. I take a break here watching clouds move in from the east.

After a bit, it's time to head back. As I head back through the flowers to the main trail. I'm wondering where those 2 guys are - they should be here by now. Fortunately, a little further down the trail, I see them -- they did make it!!

I stop to talk to them again. The guy who hadn't been here in 25 years was very happy to see the area again. (And surprised that the beaver pond still existed.) I leave them to explore as when I leave, it's all theirs!!

Back on the main trail, it's time to head down.

First through the aspen groves and then a large meadow. I stop to watch 2 Stellar Jays who are making a bunch noise. And seemingly chasing a smaller bird. Not sure what is happening.

I see more butterfly activity on the way down seeing Northern Checkerspots,

Weidenmeyer's Admiral

 (this one didn't budge as I past within inches of him - must have been some good nectar)

Russet Skipperling

more Two-tailed Swallowtails and a California Tortoiseshell. I also see unID'd Duskywing and Nymph (both small brown butterflies).

After the footbridge, I see a Mormon and Great Spangled Frits.

Awesome day!!

July 8 - Twin Lake Pass (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny and another day in the mid-90s predicted.

Heading up to Twin Lakes Pass this morning. Planning on starting at Silver Lake, passing Lake Solitude, up to the Pass and then returning the Twin Lake trail. The trail is somewhere between 5-6 miles with an elevation gain of 1260 ft to 9960 ft.

When I arrive at the Silver Lake parking lot around 8:30, the parking is about full but that's because 1/4 of the parking lot is blocked off for some reason. Many people with their fishing gear heading out.

Very lush and green with the Iris in bloom

as I start out heading in the counter-clockwise direction to the Lake Solitude trail head. Lots of birds singing and flitting a bout.

I cross the foot bridge - nice clear water this morning and continue around the side of the lake

to the trail head.

(This is my first trip to Lake Solitude this year as well so there will be lots of new stuff to see.)

I reach the trail head and take the right trail heading to Lake Solitude. The trail is mostly through an aspen grove on the western side of a mountain but there are patches of sun light.

In the first sunny section is full of yellow composites, pink geraniums and some horsemint - a very happy place.

The other typically sunny patches, still in the shade as I pass thru, have just a few flowers in bloom (lupine, paintbrush, white columbine, tall Jacob's Ladder, etc).

I do see a couple of 2-tailed Swallowtails as I pass through the forest edges.

In 1.5 miles I reach Lake Solitude.

Then continue around the right side of the lake reaching a ski cat road that I'll take all the way to a spot above Twin Lakes.

As I walk, I see some Lilac bordered Coppers flying.

And some small pockets of incredible blooms.

And some chipmunks getting their exercise.

Up, up I go until reaching that spot above Twin Lakes and I'm greeted thankfully by a cool wind. Feels so good!

I turn right and start heading to the obscure trail leading to the Pass.

Lot's of flowers in bloom. The plan is to not look for butterflies here on my way up but a small yellowish flyer catches my eye as Sulphurs are typically bigger than this one. I watch it as it almost lands many times but is at least staying in the same area. Then a flash of orange on a wing tip catches my eye. It's a female Orangetip!!

They, unlike the male who is white, have a yellowish tinge. What a surprise - I thought they'd be done flying by now!

I continue up the trail until I reach the trail to the Pass. They've done a bit of trail maintenance and it's much easier to find. I climb the small hill. The trail from here to the pass has very little elevation change.

Well, I do spend a good deal of time around Twin Lakes especially for after works hikes but only hike to Twin Lakes Pass once a year typically in the Fall with the 1st snowfall. So when I start walking to the Pass and see so many flowers - Wow! Gotta love those mountain flowers!!

Let's say it's a very slow walk through nature's garden. The smell is incredible! Love the buzzing of the busy little bees. I'm see some Blue butterflies - probably Boisduval's Blue, a few Frits, a Parnassian and White but no one is stopping to nectar on any of those beautiful flowers. :(

Except a little green Western Green Hairstreak.

Quite a few of them flying today.

I can't forget Twin Lakes down below. She's looking beautiful.

I look for moose but can't find one down there but I'll continue to look as I get closer to the Pass.

I reach the Pass, check out the Little Cottonwood side where I can see all the way to the Salt Lake Valley

And take a short break. Such a beautiful, colorful day!

Then darn the bad luck, I get to go back through all those wonderful flowers!

Several Clark's Nutcracker on the way. They are making a bunch of noise.

Back on the "normal" trail, I head down to Twin Lakes. Funny, that the flowers nearing the dam are less prolific than the ones above -- must be the sunnier location up top.

At the dam

I don't spend much time here -- too many people -- and then work my way down the rest of the hill to the switchback over Silver Lake. (See a Weidenmeyer's Admiral just before reaching the switchback.)

Again, no Pika on the switchback. Last year, the Marmots disappeared; this year, it appears the Pika may have too. :(

Then it's back down to Silver Lake and my car.

Incredible day!