July 9 - Lofty Lake and Butterflying near Highline Trail Parking Lot

Another sunny day with highs near 104 today.

I need a break from the heat so I'm heading up Mirror Lake Hwy to hike to Lofty Lake and the do some butterflying around the Highline Trail parking (and maybe Murdock Mt - I would love to see a Magdelena Alpine and Rockslide Checkerspots again).

I leave home between 7:30 and 8. Not my super early day but I want the sun to rise for the butterflies.

Easy drive.

I stop at the Provo River Falls first. With extreme drought in most of Utah and the heat, I'm expecting a trickle of water. Boy, am I surprised to the what I call a normal Falls. (That's awesome!)

I'm expecting the lakes to be extremely low as well and as I pass each one, I'm so surprised that there's a lot of water. Sure there's a "beach" but it's little and hey, I've seen it so much worse. Again, good news!

I arrive at the Pass Lake Trailhead and there's a good number of cars already but still plenty of openings. 

It's already 64 degrees (wow) but there's hardly any mosquitoes - awesome!

I start up the trail counterclockwise after I learned from my 1st trip. 

Lots of flowers are blooming - Heart-leafed Arnica, Bistort, White Yarrow, White Geranium, Paintbrush, Sickletop Lousewort,

just to name a few. Oh, and many Glacier Lily seedpods.

See a chipmunk on my walk to the first lakes.

And I'm seeing Scudder's Sulphur and Purplish Frits flying - but none posing for pictures this morning. :(

Soon I reach the edge of a lake and go down for a peek for butterflies - nothing.

I move on to Scout Lake and when there's a trail available to the lake, I head down to check out the flowers and look for butterflies. 

At the lake, I find Shooting Stars and Elephanthead.

and I see a Lesser Frit and Scudder's Sulphur. Again, no photo ops.

After the lake, the trail really starts to climb. First continuing thru the forest and then up between Lofty and Scout Peaks on the rocks and boulders. As soon as I reach the rocks,  I start seeing Milbert's Tortoiseshells - many of them.

I continue up and stop several times to enjoy the views and a Parry's Primrose.

When I reach the high point of the trail, I'm surprised by 3 CA Tortoiseshells flying in circles.

And the CA Tortoiseshells continue in good numbers to the lake.

Oh, and the lake looks awesome! (No one there!)

I stop for a Pika sighting on my way.

The few muddy areas all have CA Tortoiseshells in them.

When I'm about in the middle of the lake, I find an Lupine Blue!

Then at the far I end I try to chase down a Scudder's Sulphur and a lesser Frit without success.

As I round the end of the lake, I see a Two-Banded Skipper.

Once on the far corner of the lake, I see an area that is a Spring pond. I decide to venture over to see if I can maybe find some butterflies. I do find plenty of CA Tortoiseshells but no other flyers.

On the other side of this dry pond is an opening in the short trees. I decide to go over and see what I might by overlooking. Wow! It's Kamas Lake below - incredible!

On my way back, I'm thinking I might go up this Talus slope and see if I can find a Magdelana Alpine; it should be their habitat. There are open areas of "grass" which makes this easier for me.

There are CA and Milberts Tortoiseshells flying these slopes but hey, there's a Maggy. But she lands where I can't see or get to. But she flies again but no luck.

I continue up for 50-100 feet until I come out above Lofty Lake. I have a long ways up to get to the peak but hey, I'm here! I look for flyers and find a Zephyr Comma (aka Hoary).

Time to head back. On the way down, I see another Maggy but never can catch up.

Back at the lake, I find a rock and take a break. Such a beautiful day.

After a bit, I make my way back to the other side and start up the lake. When I reach the end, I see something I never thought I'd see on the trail - a Rockslide Checkerspot!!!

Makes my day!

A bit farther down the trail, is another. I also see a couple more as I head down the rocky slopes 

to Scout Lake. 

Jackpot!

Time to head for the car.

---------------------------------

Back at the  car, I drive north to the Highline Trail parking lot. There's usually lots of flowers in the area for me to check for butterflies.

I arrive and again I'm surprised that the little Spring pond that nicely frames Hayden still has water.

I start to wander. In my wandering, I find:
Mormon Frit
Scudder's Sulphur
Milbert's Tortoiseshells

CA Tortoiseshells

and a Relict Frit (I thought it was a Purplish until I looked at the photo!)

Oh, and a cute little moth.



I also see an Orange Skipper and a Blue but never caught up with either.

In the area was also a Kildeer (not) faking an injury to keep me away from her babies.

I'm pretty tanked at this point and I've seen a Maggy and Rockslide Checkerspots so I'll pass on exploring Murdock Peak.

Awesome day!

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