My Utah Adventure 2026

 Partly cloudy day with temps in the mid-70s (and chance of showers in the PM). Could have went to the mountains but the chance for a hike on Antelope Island in August is too good to be true. Heading to the Island to walk up to Beacon Hill!! I'm excited! I arrive at the at exactly 7am. It's 63 degrees with a light wind and cloudy. It appears the sun make come out along the hike; hopefully after I get to the base of Beacon Hill though as most of the short climb will be complete. I debate about cruising the Island for critters but head directly for the TH. I like hiking in cloudy weather; I'm going with it. I the only car in the lot as I start off. It's very dry (as normal) and brown. Very few flowers at this time but the buds are there so they are coming soon. I scare up a few large dragonflies on the way out of the Pit (and along the rest of the trail as well). When I get out, no bison to seen so it's an easy trek. Nice to be back again! As I'm approaching the n...

 It was a sunny day with highs in the mid-90s but when I left work it was cloudy up with a chance of storms. The mountains had a 30-50% and today, I will take a gamble and head up for a afterwork hike to Lake Solitude. Storm clouds all the way up to Brighton but raincoat in backpack I'm off. Car says 80degrees when I set up and it feels good especially with no sun. I make my way around towards the trail. No moose hanging out within sight. I cross the footbridge and just pass an elderly couple before reaching the pier and there's a big bull moose standing on the trail chomping on vegetation.  Well, that was a quick hike. The old man was kidding with me to get closer and get a better but no I'm good. I watch for a short bit and backtrail around the other side of the lake to the trailhead. As I come back to the TH, I find the moose now barely in the water still having dinner.  People have gone past him and are watching from the pier. Now I'm not feeling Lake Solitude. I ha...

 Sunny day with highs reaching 100 degrees (again). Heading up BCC to hike up Millie Lift to Twin Lakes and then over to Lake Mary, Dog Lake and perhaps farther. Quiet drive up BCC but when I reach the Millie Lift it's blocked off due to construction. They have part of the parking lot dug up, big construction machines everywhere - darn Ski companies! :( Guess I'm going Willow Lake today. I arrive and there looks like there are some folks camping and perhaps one group/person hiking; perfect. It's in the mid-50s and the sun is still coming up over the mountains when I start. The flowers are definitely gone; just a few Asters here and there. Birds are not out yet. Just a nice cool morning walk and soon I'm at the meadow. I stop just before entering the aspens again for a look. I reach the lake and through the trees is looks pretty empty. I head to the other side. As I do I scare up a bunch of birds including some bluebirds. They deserve a stop to watch. When I reach the la...

 Well it''s warming up again with a high of 99 today and excessive heat warning thru the weekend. So I'm heading up into the mountains and hopefully so shade by hiking from Silver Lake to Lake Solitude and back. I arrive just after 3pm. It's around 80 degrees and sunning. Parking lot has spots (yea) as people are starting to leave now. It's smoky out but far better than the valley (Spokane Fire). I walk out to the meadow and boy is it dry; things are fading fast. Hardly any flowers left around the lake and Silver Lake is low and not so pretty, at least for a Utahan. I make my way to the trail and start up. The flowers have all be faded. There's a few Paintbrush and Yellow Composite and Yarrow but pretty gone. Quiet walk. No birds chirping, squirrels or chipmunks chirping but I do see a few. I also find Woodpecker by listening and searching. Soon I'm at Lake Solitude; she's pretty low as well. No ducks today! I start to the other side of the lake as I wan...

 Finally a cooler day (temps in the upper 80s), time to head out to hike Lambs Canyon to the top!!! Arrive just after 3pm and only 1 car in the lot and those folks are sitting on the footbridge. I have the trail all to  myself! But first, I'm greeted by a worn Weidemeyer's Admiral at the muddy area next to the parking area (One of 3 for the day). Nice start! Flowers are pretty much gone but in small spots there are bloomers. And I find small flowery spot that is "full" of butterflies. "Full" is relative but there are several species flying here but one, a blue butterfly with marking catches my eye. I need to a get photo of him because I can't image what he can be. It's hard to keep track of him with a Blue Copper  and a couple of Blue-ish Sylvan Hairstreaks on wing but success! It's a Melissa Blue sp annetta (a Melissa Blue that resembles a Northern Blue)! I've only see these a few times all at higher elevations. So fun! (Confirmed ID). They ...

 Sunny day with temps in the 100s again today. Heading out to the Mormon Trail to see what's left. Last time I was there, it was pretty depressing butterfly-wise but the Great Spangled Frits were flying. Let's see if they still are. I arrive after 8am. Sunny and mid-60s. Wonderfully cool; glad I came. Even drier than before; not much blooming alongside the trail except Yarrow, a Yellow Composite and a few Asters/Fleabane. Pretty bleak. But I see a Woodland Skipper pretty earlier so my optimism is a little higher now. It's still early and the trail is mostly in the shade. Birds are pretty quiet this morning. There are bumblebees are so snap some pix. As I near the meadow, I start seeing Great Spangled Frits; both males and females. They seem to be doing quite well for such a dry year.  There is at least one other Frit species flying today as well. Oh yea, I see a Weidenmeyers Admiral! When I enter the meadow, I stop to watch a large hawk fly thru. I've seen hawks in this...