March 13 - Emigration Canyon Ridge

 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 for moose, elk or deer but only find some moose tracks in some mud.

I keep moving and finally climb a very steep hill (and I remember this one) to its top; no butterflies. The trail flattens for a little bit before it heads back down for 2 more hills. But this is my stopping point for the day as I do want to stop at Little Dell Reservoir. So I start my return.

On the way back, I see a Milbert's Tortoiseshell. And a bird chirp turns my attention to a perched Norther Flicker.

And I see that White butterfly again and it is a Checkered White!!

I avoid the decent down the 1st hill with a "calmer" decent down a side where I see Comma but I have no idea what species.

Good hike but time to head down to the reservoir for a walk down the road to the boat. Stunning!

Good day!