The 2021 Utah Adventure

 Heading out to hike the Desolation Trail this afternoon. It's sunny and near 70 degrees when I head out. I arrive at the trail head around 3pm and start up the trail. I almost immediately spot my 1st Anise Swallowtail of the year! (Yea!) At the lower switchbacks, the Avalanche Lilies are fading but the Heartleaf Arnica will be blooming soon. Oh, spot my first blooming Vetch of the season. In the woods, there's Avalanche Lilies blooming. They're not in masses as below. I do spot a CA Tortoiseshell in the woods. I also spot a Brown Elfin along the hike. All of the snow is not off the trail. But on the last switchback, there's still snow above the trail. Lots of Avalanche Lilies and Spring Beauties on the upper sections (and a few blooming Buttercups). I also spot my 1st Groundsel of the year in bloom - more to come. I arrive at the top and have it all to myself. After a short break, it's time to head down. Before I get all the way to the bottom, I see a Spring Azure....

 Cold morning (in the 30s) but sunny day forecast (but clouding up in the afternoon). Heading up to Silver Lake this morning. Yes, just to the lake; I'll head up to Twin Lakes next week weather permiting. I arrive around 7:30 and there's no cars the in lot. The temperature is in the mid-20s (brrr). There's been some melt as expected but not as much as I thought. Still can't see the boardwalk so I make my way the best path possible. I reach the footbridge (which still has snow on it) and cross. There is now open water on the right (north side) and a bit of open water on the other side. But the ice has got the melting look. I work my way around the rest of the lake;  the corner to the opposite side has the best view. Some nice ice work along the way. And completed the loop.  Funny no ducks today.  Time to head down the canyon to Willow Lake trail head. The lower section looks clear; might as well give it a shot. I'm the only at the trail head as I start up the trail. ...

 Mostly sunny, windy with temps near 50 degrees at the road entrance. Time for a walk and hopefully see a few butterflies. It's definitely a bit chilly with the wind. The Forget-me-knots are the only thing blooming all the way up the road with the most at the bottom on the canyon.  Biscuitroot is also up with a few bud here and there. And the OregonGrape is about ready to bloom. Snow is all gone but a couple of pull-outs on the west side of the road. Easy walk but no flyers :( Sad but true. Seems everything is late this year so I'm still hopeful. I did see 2 guys with bow-n-arrows coming down a steep bank to the road. I'm assuming they were Turkey hunting. I saw a little chipmunk that was making a lot of noise as I passed. I reach the trail head. The first part viewable from the road is a mix of snow and dirt. I'm tempted but I resist - in another week. Time to head down. I stop to talk to a guy off the side of the road. He's out with his son hunting deer shed (antl...

 Sunny day with temps near 80 degrees. Heading down for my yearly hike at Corner Canyon in Draper. My typical hike is X to Ghost Falls and then up to the trail head and finally around and down  X trail. It's just a big loop. When I arrive around 8am, there's a new parking lot and a bathroom! No more parking circle and a blue potta john - yea! But as I pull into the parking lot, it's full - shoot! I ask a guy in the parking lot where else can I go and started backing out to head there. But good fortunes arrived and someone pulled out - awesome! I hit the bathroom - yes, bathroom with a toilet/sink - love it! Great upgrades! I head off up the Canyon Hollow trail. The trail is dry. The Maples and Oaks are starting to leaf out; the Maples are ahead of the Oaks though. The flower of the day are the Forget-me-knots - lots of it throughout all of the wooded sections. Virginia Waterleaf is next though most of the plants are not in bloom yet. But the OregonGrape is also blooming - l...

 Sunny day with highs near 70 degrees. Heading out to Millcreek Canyon for an after work hike up the Desolation Trail. The trail has dried out from my last visit and the Solomon's Seal is coming up in the forest. Hey, I find a Spring Azure at the start of the trail! The Avalanche Lilies are fading at the bottom on the trail but just picking up steam the higher I go. Same with the Spring Beauties. The few buttercups I saw on my last trip and about gone. But Mule Ears are up and about ready to bloom, Waterleaf are up and I saw a few blooming. Oh, I found a couple Yellowbells! Tons of little brown/orange moths flying at all levels. Amazing that I found a Sheridan's Hairstreak in the mix!! (One of my favorites). On the last stretch to the top, I see a larger flyer; it has to be an Anglewing. I just can't get a good look because it's flying on the uphill side. The top is wonderful as always (and empty). Time to head down. About a 1/4 way down, I spot a larger flyer -- looks ...

 Partly sunny day with highs near 60 degrees (oh, and there's a slight chance of sprinkles). Heading up to walk around Silver Lake this morning. Ski season is over about 2 weeks now; so it's time to check things out as I haven't been in the canyon since January/early February. At the mouth of the canyon, there's lots of green as the trees are leafing out. The creek is flowing but the melt is still coming. Of course, the higher I go, the more snow I see but the north side (sun facing) is bare ground and the south side is of course, snowy. The mountains near Mill D North has patches of snow -- almost time to start Spring after work hiking. And the road for Mill D South is clear as well. I search the creek in that area but do not find any moose. At some point after Silver Fork, I find a lone more next to the road. I stop quickly parallel with her. She looks very disheveled as the winter fur is shedding.  I leave her as I spot a car coming up behind me. (I later find out be...

Part 2 of adventure is the short ~1mile (554ft) hike up the Aspen Grove Trail to the 1st waterfall (aka, Timpanogos Falls). And the start is 30 ft on the other side of my car. Yea, I'm heading directly for Mt Timp! The trail heads thru the woods initially and there's still some snow to deal with. It's no big deal because it's the ground is flat and I can skirt along on some open patches on the side. Then there's a footbridge over would should be water but there is no water. Again, I'm too early I would think. But after crossing, I spot a Sheridan's Hairstreak! Love these guys but I can't catch up. :( I also see a Mourning Cloak, Satyr Comma and a little bright blue Spring Azure!! After that point, no more butterflies. This trail has more Spring flowers emerging from the ground - looks like Bluebells and Columbine to me. There's also this huge avalanche chute and I believe has been recently used. Ahead I see what I think is my waterfall. But it soon d...