My Utah Adventure 2026

 Sunny day with temps in the low 60s. Heading to hike the Desolation Trail today. Haven't done this trail since last Spring. Usually hike this one alot in the Spring but for some reason didn't last year. Need to change as it's trail. Arrive around 1pm; it's in the upper 50s in the canyon.  I was hoping I didn't miss the Glacier Lilies and very quickly saw that I didn't. The lower parts of the trail, they are nearing bloom out but still plentiful higher up. I also find blooming OregonGrape, VA Waterleaf but the Heartleaf Arnica is almost ready to bloom. I also quickly find a well worn CA Tortoiseshell before I even start the actual trail. Lots of green rising from the trail. As I climb higher, I find Ragwort, Arrowleaf Balsamroot (in bloom), Spring Beautys, Larkspur, Woodstar etc.  I looked for Steers Head but could not find it. I also missed Yellow Bells. :( I'm also seeing some butterflies including Painted Ladies, a couple of Juba Skippers (1st of the year...

Sunny day with highs near 70. It's about 60 degrees and 11:30 what I take off for my walk up Lambs Canyon Road. Absolutely a beautiful day! Unfortunately, with the freezing temps the last few days and rain/snow, the road is not very active today. I see a few RM Duskywing, a couple Azures, CA Tortoiseshells, some Orangetip and Mylitta Crescents. Oh, and Painted Lady; definitely the most active flyer. Sadly, even the mud puddles were basically empty. :( Thought about walking the trail but decided not too. Despite the lack of flyers, it's a good day!

Big cold front rolled thru about mid-day yesterday. Looking from the windows at worked it looked like snow blizzard with temps starting around 60 to dropping to 35 by noon. Even had to brush snowy slush of my windows to head home. The good news is 1) we got enough mountain snow to break the 300in mark!! Still 200 inches shy of normal and 23 inches shy of NOT breaking the record for lowest snowfull but its something. 2) the freezing temps allow me to hike Antelope Island today despite the bitey bugs; they won't be active today. I arrive just after 8am and still about 35 degrees and sunny! Crossing the causeway, I stop a lone coyote on the Farmington Bay. He was trotting along until I stopped. Fun stuff! A bit farther down the causeway, Coyote #2 runs across the road in front me. I stop thinking he'd just onto the Salt Flats but he disappeared under the road somewhere. Disappointed but quite the start to my day!! I reach the Island and decide to loop around the north side of the ...

 Partly sunny day with temps in the 50s. As I start walking the road, it's sunny and there are more Forget-me-knots in bloom. It's a quick start for butterflies, seeing an Anise Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, an orange flash of a Mylitta Crescent and Azures almost immediately.  However, it dies down quickly as the clouds roll in. Up to the TH, I see a couple of CA Tortoisehells, Painted Ladies and lots of Dotted Mouths. The muddy area at the TH is sadly missing butterflies thanks to the clouds. I decide to not walk the trail today. On the return, it get sunny in the same spot it was sunny at the start and I see some Azures and Mourning Cloak.

 Happy Easter! Sunny day with the temps back in the mid-60s. Heading up to walk the Lambs Canyon road to see what butterflies might be left after the 2feet of mountain snow and below freezing temps. Park City high elevations got around foot so I'm thinking Lambs Canyon road got 3-5 inches. I arrive just after noon. It's sunny with temps in the mid-50s. The road is clear at the start (yea!). I'm also seeing the first forget-me-knots of the year!! Also the OregonGrape is blooming and the Bisquitroot is about to bloom. It's really greening up now. Guess all the rain helped moved things along. My fears are relieved quickly when I reach the snowmobile pull-out and see a couple of Azures. Continuing up, I find a few Mylitta Crescents and CA Tortoiseshells and Mourning Cloaks. Last time I was here, I saw Mourning Cloak; today, at least 6. But CA Tortoieshell numbers are down. They are overwinter-ers so it's more likely the end of a cycle. Also see more of the Spotted Moths...

 Partly sunny day with highs in the mid-40s. Yep, the 70s have exited Utah finally and we have more seasonable temps thanks to two storms that brought over 2 feet of snow to the mountains. A little too late, but we'll take it. (Still under 300 inches for the year.) Thought I had my last hike at Antelope Island until Fall because the biting gnats emerged last week but thanks for the colder temperatures which I'm hoping will knock them back, I'm heading up today to hike up to Beacon Hill (and hopefully find some little reds as they are reportedly being born now). I get an early start to get up there while it's still cold. It's in the mid-30s when I arrive. No activity along the causeway more there are more cars than normal due to a bike and running races today. I reach the Island and there are no bison behind the VC. Today I decide to drive down to the Ranch in an attempt to find the bison. They could still be another the White Rock Trail as they have been for months ...

Sunny day and another possible record-breaking temperature day. Antelope Island is now out of the question as I saw reports of the little biters flying so I'm heading up Lambs Canyon and portion of the trail; hoping to get to the meadow. I arrive just before 9am and it's still in the 40s. The road is mostly in the shade but there are small portions that are in the sun. Plants are starting to burst thru the soil as I'm seeing Geraniums, Arrowleaf and the Oregon Grape has buds now. Quiet walk to the TH. No flyers just sounds of the creek and some early birds. I cross the bridge and face a small amount of ice and then it's clear trail. I won't say mud but not dry either. Here I also see Geraniums and Strawberries popping up. I see many piles of Moose scat looking fresh along the trail so I'm keeping my eyes scanning. There are also tracks (both moose and deer). I can hear woodpeckers doing their thing. No leaves yet on the aspen. There's still snow where the cr...

 Sunny and low 60s (finally a break from the record heat). Heading up to walk Lambs Canyon Road to see what's flying. I'm expecting the Anglewings but with the warm weather who knows. I arrive just after noon. I can't find any of the usual Spring flowers/plants like Forget-me-knots, violets, etc yet. The road all the way to the trail head is melted; pure pavement. Earliest I've even seen this in my 13 years in Utah. I've seeing CA Tortoishells; lots of them today. Also see a 3 Mourning Cloaks and a few Hoary Commas. There is still water and mud near the TH but normal levels for Spring. I also hear some bird commotion and look up to see a Red-tailed hawk flying by; fun! But the surprises for the day were 3 Orangetips and 2 Spring Azures and 1 Mylitta Crescent. All about a month earlier and sadly there are no nectar sources them other than the salts in the mud. Very fun to see them but I can't image that it bodes well for them and the rest of the butterfly season ...

 It's an off-Friday, sunny and heading for record-high temps again today (upper 70s). Heading to Antelope Island to hike to Beacon Hill. When I arrive at the gate, it's in the low 50s. No activity along the causeway other than the shorebird populations are growing especially the Avocets. I arrive on the Island and head around the north side of the Island to see if the Burrowing Owls are back behind the VC. There are bison on the north side of the VC but no Burrowing Owls yet. But I do see some Chukkars! I also check to see if that big herd of bison that has been hanging around all winter is still around and if so, if they're impede my hike to Beacon Hill. And I believe I see lots of little bison dots in the distance and it does not appear that Beacon Hill from the Gravel Pit will be possible. So I'm heading to hike the White Rock Loop (and to be honest, I'm not sure I'll be able to get thru on White Rock either). Not many cars yet in the lot; I gear up and take ...

 Sunny day with highs near 70 degrees - Crazy for March!! Heading up after work to do a hike not in my normal rotation; the Emigration Canyon Ridge. I've done this hike a few times during Covid but not since. Returning today for something, hopefully dry and has a chance of flowers and butterflies (maybe). I arrive around, lace up and literally start up trail as I'm climbing foothills. There's snow to the south on the mountains and to the north on the tippy top of what I think is Big Mountain but snow-free elsewhere. The hike starts with a very short but steep hike up the 1st hill. Sadly the only flowers I see are Spring Parsley. But it's makes sense is early March! Once I reach the top, the view is awesome! And I see 3 White butterflies chasing each other. Hot dog! First flyers of the new year!! Sadly, none stop long enough to a photo but they are mostly likely Checkered Whites. Then it's downhill and then up another hill where I find another White flyer!! Scanning ...

 Happy Birthday to me! 61 years old - time sure flies! Taking the day off and heading up to Antelope Island. Left later than normal due to lingering rain but the weather says Antelope Island has sun, unlike the Salt Lake Valley so here's hoping. On the drive north, yes the skies are clearing - yea! I arrive at the gate around 9am to mostly sunny skies for the northern quarter of the Island. I'm surprised to see a Bald Eagle on the Salt Lake!! I thought they be gone as it's March. And another Bald Eagle a bit further down the road. And he's closer to the road which is sweet. I decide to go around the northern part of the Island to get a view of where that big bison herd is and as I reach the parking lot on the northwest end, I see Bald Eagle #3 perched on some rocks. Awesome!! The area behind the VC is void of critter but the campground, there are a number of them most at the Camp Hosts cabin. It doesn't look like there are bison where I'm heading so I head for t...

Sunny day with temps near 60 degrees. Heading out to Antelope Island to hike to Beacon Hill. Quiet drive. At the gate, I see a big hawk just inside the gate. Looks like he has a catch but I could not stop as I went by to quickly. And turning around not and option because he was close to the road and I'm sure he would have flew. No heron this morning. I reach the Island and there are bison behind the VC. And a bunny crossing the road!!! I head directly the Gravel Pit TH but stop for 2 Pronghorn just before the fence. They are on top of the ridge and very hard to see. I reach the Gravel Pit TH and it's 8:30 and there are at least 10 cars already. I know it's Saturday but Wow! I also notice and good sized herd of bison on the peak. They are right now not something I have to deal with but if the move ... Also, there's another herd on the ridge above the trail. I'd hike right them. Again, not a worry for now but on the return... I decide to try White Rock. Wow! The parki...

 Heading out to hike Lambs Canyon this afternoon. It's sunny so why not! I arrive with spikes but the road is already 1/2 road melted. I shouldn't be surprised but still surprising as it's just almost March and it looks like mid-April. About 1/2 way up the road, I finally reach packed snow and ice but the walking is not bad. Hoping to see some Anglewing but no luck today. I did see some moose track and scat. I reach the TH and head back. Good day!

 Another mostly sunny day with temps in the mid-50s.  Heading to Antelope Island to hike Gravel Pit/Beacon Hill (do need to break this habit). A few hawks on the drive up. I arrive at this gate and actually had to wait in-line. It's around 8:30; why??!! Lots of people with large cameras and scopes along the causeway; maybe there is some bird that was spotted. Nearing the Island I see 2 Bald Eagles flying. One lands and I stop but before I could get a shot, it was flying again. I reach the Island and head directly to the TH. There are a few bison behind the VC this morning. At the TH, there 2 cars parked (one at the same time as me). I gear and head out only to realize there is a herd of bison along the trail thru the Gravel Pit. I get back in the car and head to the White Rock trail on the west side. (The needed motivation to hike something different.) I see a Chukkar crossing the road as I leave. On the west side, there are a few bison behind the VC and near Bison Point but t...