My Utah Adventure 2026

 Absolute beautiful day (sun and in the 70s) and I can't wait to hike up Lambs Canyon after work. I arrive around 3:30. Two cars in the lot and one of those car's folks are just returning. I meet the other car on the 1st stretch of trail. I have the entire trail to myself! I'm seeing WTB flying. In fact I stop to take a photo of two and look up and there's a Mourning Cloak perched in front of me!! I also see the 1st Northern Checkerspots of the season and a Duskywing. I assume it's just a RMD but on further review, it's a Sleepy Duskywing (score!). I continue higher and I'm seeing Parnassian. Seems like they are the only flyer doing well this year (besides the Blues). Also see a Comma and Frit  (unknown species). Flowers like Geraniums are in bloom but not as prolific as prior years due to lack of snowfall/rain. Again I stop at the meadow. This time, I have no good reason; next time I head up to the top!! Quiet return trip. Very surprised that I meet no one ...

 Early morning to beat the Saturday crowds. I was on the road by 6:15am and it worked great as I almost had empty ride up the canyon (at least from Mill D South). THs are surprisingly not full at this time (but that will change). I catch a glimpse of a Bull Moose feeding behind some of the cabins. Yea! I arrive at Silver Lake with the parking lot pretty empty, sun still rising and temps in the 50s. And no moose in sight. :( The plan is just to Lake Solitude and then up to the Silver Lake switchback to look for Pika. I walk counter-clockwise to the TH.  The Glacier Lilies that were here (and blooming) last week have faded; didn't see one in bloom. But new flowers coming up: Bluebells, Waterleaf, Balsamroot, Solomons Seal and many others. Still far away from full bloom but definitely filling in. No deer or moose along the trail today. But Bumblebees are out!! The snowpiles I crossed last week are gone. Soon I'm at the Lake - again full and pretty. Tempted to continue up but no t...

 Sunny day, low 80s and Lambs Canyon is officially open. YEA! (It opened on the 1st). I was planning a hike after work to Desolation Trail but when I saw Lambs was open, that was the clear choice. Arrived sometime before 3:30 to an empty parking lot- can't get much better than that! I checked the mud puddle and found a few Northern Crescents and that was it. Not what I expected but it is what it is. I start up the ever greening trail. Heart-leafed Arnicas are blooming, as are Solomon Seal, Geranium, Strawberrys, etc. Trail is dry (go figure) and there's still water running down the creek. Seeing Blues but its actually pretty dead. My plan is to go only to the meadow today. Got to start slow. And it's a quiet trip other than a few birds and squirrels/chipmunks. I do see some orange flyer - thinking Frits - but they don't stop. I see a Duskywing and the surprises of the day, Clodius Parnassians (a couple of them). There are couple more trees to climb over than the last ti...

 Sunny day (in the morning) with a high in the mid-70s. Today I am heading up to Twin Lake via the Millie Express trail. I have my spikes in pack but I'm hoping the snow that blocked my path last time will be melted (or mostly melted). Beautiful morning! Again a low traffic morning in BCC - sure wish it would stay this way the entire summer. No critter sightings on the drive and I'm the only car at the lift. It's sunny and in the upper 40s. Lots of snow has melted. The trail up to Lake Mary was 90% snow last time; today about 10% (maybe Sunday?!) The falls at the start of the trail is flowing less than before and the trail is dry. Still lots of Marmots running all up and down the trail. The big snow piles are gone and only 2 smaller sections of snow remaining both easy to go around. Lots of birds singing. I see a male Western Tanager early on - very exciting bird to see!! Also finding lots of Glacier Lilies especially in the newly snow areas. Also finding a few Ballon Flowe...

 Mostly cloudy day with temps in the low 80s. I'm getting an early start to hike up to Lake Solitude today. Maybe (if clear) I'll head up to above Twin Lakes; but the goal is Lake Solitude. I have my spikes with me just in case. I leave my house just after 6:30. Worked for me last week and hopefully will today; hoping for a clear drive and to beat crowds.  And surprise it worked again. I followed no one and there were only a few cars in the lot. Wish it would be that way all summer but the tourists are coming (unfortunately). It's in the low 40s and the sun is not over the mountains. Pretty weird sight to Silver Lake without ice/snow in May. I guess there is snow on the far side but it's not in my path today. No moose, no beaver; just some Mallards on the lake. Trail is dry around Silver Lake is dry to the TH.  I didn't miss the Glacier Lilies this year; they are just starting to bloom. Bluebells are coming up and all the other flowers including Spring Beauty. I...

 Sunny day with temps in the low 70s. It's a short work day, so today I'm hiking the Little Cottonwood Creek Trail. It'll be for the 1st time this year and probably the last. Not that it's bad; it was my staple when I moved here. There are just other options due to the lack snowfall. I arrive just before noon and I'm surprised that the parking is almost full. I was expecting this later in the day but this year? It's a popular bike trail but today I ran into lots of folks on their way down from hike. Perhaps it was a morning meet-up. Trail is dry (as expected) and not many flowers. I see Salsify, Wild Onion,  Dandelions but not much happening. Water is not running at the parking lot but it is higher up the trail. I do see a Northern Crescent on my trek from the parking lot to the actual trail at the water facility. And yes, there is water flowing at the facility; it's just not making it down stream. I arrive at the bridge with the water flowing nicely. And I ...