April 30 - Lambs Canyon Rd

 Sunny day with a high near 80 today. 

Heading up to hike Lambs Canyon Rd today to see what butterflies are flying now. When I was there a couple of weeks ago, I only saw a few Commas (unknown species).

I arrive just before 10am.  It's around 60 degrees. Yea, the parking is now clear as is about the 50-75 yards of the road. From there, the snow probably is over 2-3 feet spots. But there are a couple of very small openings in the snow. 

Right from the start I start seeing CA Tortoiseshells. They are seem to be moving down canyon (i.e., towards my car).

I also see a Mourning Cloak resting on one of the snowmobile black covers.

The creek is moving very fast (would be interesting in the middle of the afternoon when temps peak) but not flooding. 

As I head up, there is plenty of elk/moose scat on the road.

Pretty quiet bird-wise. Perhaps they are getting drowned out by the sounds of the roaring creek. 

The landscape varies depending on the directionality of the slope in relation for sunshine. There are clear, patchy and fully covered areas.

Nearing the trailhead, there was a mudslide that is covering the road with mud and tree debris. Thankfully, it did not make it to the water. That would have caused massive flooding.

There's a nice/path over the slide area and then it's onto the trailhead. (14 CA Tortoiseshells and 5 Mourning Cloaks.)

Much different scene then last time as the stuck truck, although still buried in snow, is much more uncovered. The pit toilet is now accessible despite snow still on the roof.

The trail appears hardpacked at the start and I'm tempting to walk it until it opens open (< 1/4m). I have my spikes in my pack but there is no where to sit to put them on. And there are 3 other people (a couple and a x-country skier) at the trailhead. And I'm no sitting on  the snow - wet butt. Since I cannot get them on, after our conversation, I start back downhill.

Sun has been shining on the snow, so on the way down, I'm sinking a little more but nothing bad.

I see more M. Cloaks and CA Tortoiseshells and a Satyr Comma!!!

Almost to my car.

Nice walk!

But it's not over with yet. I'm heading over to Little Dell reservoir now to check out the water levels. They been pushing water from Mountain Dell, thru Little Dell and down into SLC since March. The Water Managers were pulsing water down from the reservoirs last week causing Sugarhouse Park to close to vehicle traffic as it is now serving as a flood retention basin. I've been here almost 10 years and never knew Sugarhouse Park was designed to do that. And it is definitely doing that now.

The snow is all but melted on the way to Little Dell. I see a Turkey Vulture fly over my car (red head and all)!!!

Plenty of cars in the lot at around 11:30am. I'm just here for a peek and yes, the water is low.

Great day!