My Utah Adventure 2026

 Cloudy but in the mid-60s today. Finished out my 40 hours before 2pm so heading out for a hike. Thought last week was my last trip to Twin Lakes but the slow really didn't come thru so heading up this afternoon. Color still fair in the lower canyon but just a bunch of naked trees up higher. Parked at the Millie Lift because I didn't want to head to Lake Solitude or basically take the Millie Lift trail most of the way from Silver Lake. Lots of construction activity at the lift but head up anyway. Trail/road far muddier than I expected but there was a lot rain and some snow this past week-end. Definitely my last trip of the year. Waterfall at the start is just dumping water right now. No flowers, just a lot of brown veg and naked trails. Quiet other than work ATVs heading up and down past me.  No deer or moose though at one point heard a pika. My plan was to head over to cross under the dam but I found where all the ATVs were heading, near the dam. I started to cross but saw a ...

Partly sunny day with highs near 70 degrees. Decided to take the day off to do a hike before more rain/snow come in. I wavered between White Pine, Antelope Island and Lambs Canyon. Lambs Canyon won since I still have not completed the hike this season. Note I tried to hike this on Monday but they were doing controlled burns and the small parking lot was filled with 2 fire trucks so today is the day. There's still fires smoldering but way better than Monday.  When I arrive just after 8am, there is only one car in the lot. Should be a peaceful day hopefully. Lots of leaves down on the trail but the bushes are still in Fall color and patches of Aspen. Very hard to find a flower still in bloom but I manage to find a couple of White Geraniums, 1 Pink and a few Yellow Composites hanging on. Early on, I spot 3 does on the left side of the canyon; they try to hide but I still find. I know at the sighting that I'm doing the right hike today. Moving up the canyon a ways, I see a dark bro...

 Sunny day with temps near 60 degrees. Tropical Storm Rachel blew thru Sun-Wed leaving us with our first real mountain snow of the year. Depending on the elevation, a dusting to a foot. Today, I'm going to explore that snow heading up to my perch; yes, I'm making it today! Easy drive up. The storm knocked off a majority of the Fall leaves but there are still patches of color. Don't really see snow from the road until I reach Solitude. Starting to look nice. Silver Lake parking was pretty empty the morning. It's it the upper 30s and very windy. I start off around the lake and it looks very different from a week ago; snow on peaks and far less color. No moose or deer that I can see. I stop at the pier and the water is definitely higher than just a week ago; guess that's what 4-5inches of rain/snow will do. The trail around the lake clear except one icy patch and so it the trail to Lake Solitude. There's snow along the trail but mostly clear with a few icy/snow-pac...

 Sunny day with temps in the low 80s. Took a vacation to hike and my choice wasn't too different than a normal week-end; Lake Solitude. (Just can't make myself do anything different.) This is probably the end of the Fall mountain colors as we have a big rain storm coming so taking my last shot. On the drive up BCC, I get a quick look at the back-end of a moose in the woods as I drive up the canyon. There are still good colors BUT a good chunk of leaves have already fallen.  Quite a few cars already at Willow Lake; I should have gone up after work this week; oh well. I arrive at Silver Lake and still plenty of spots open. It's in the low 50s with sunny still not over the peak. The Fall view is still good but definitely fading. I make my way to the TH with no moose or deer in sight. I start up the trail; quiet trip as I meet only one person on her way back. But before that, I do see 2 deer (doe) feeding in the woods.  Otherwise, there are chipmunks and squirrels running aro...

 Sunny day with highs in the low 80s. It's a 55 degree morning so heading up to Antelope Island to hike Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill. Easy drive up despite being a Saturday. No critters along the causeway except a N. Harrier gliding west along the causeway. When I arrive on the Island, I head straight to the TH passing a couple/three bison near the lakebed. When I pull into the parking lot. I see a small group (5-6) bison on the hill near the TH. They are grazing slowly toward the trail so I need another plan. I'll get to Beacon Hill from the White Rock Trail. It's longer and more elevation but it's a go! I head over to the new trail. There is a herd of bison in the meadow before the parking. Not many people hiking/biking yet but there sure is a bunch of horse trailers. I gear up and start along the trail. As I'm walking the flattish section before the hill, I spot a lone Pronghorn on the other side of the fence. Sweet! Then it's up the hill, passing a Pink flower ...

 Sunny day with highs near 80. Very undecided on the hike today but ultimately decided to go to Lake Solitude and maybe upwards. Arrive 7:30 and surprised that the canyon is not very busy yet. But it's early and the sun has not yet come up all the way. It's in the low 40s Colors look brighter than last week; probably the peak.  I head around the lake and no moose/deer to be seen so I start my trek to Lake Solitude. Quiet morning and I'm taking it slow just to enjoy the colors. I spot 3 deer below me at the lift (yea). And I spot my only flower of the day; a geranium still in full bloom. At the large rockslide, I hear Pika but can't one. At Lake Solitude, no critters to be seen. Not heading up above Twin Lakes today; I feel the urge to poop. Darn because I feel good today about getting to my perch. But priorities. I do loop around the lake though before heading back. Back at Silver Lake, a person points out 3 deer on the far side of the lake. That make 6 for the day! Goo...