July 14 - Ruth Lake (Uintas)

 Sunny day with temps in the mid-90s. Heading up to the Uintas again hoping to see butterflies (but not holding my breathe) and hiking to Ruth Lake and then along Reid's Meadow on the Lofty Loop Trail.

Easy drive this morning. I see a lone deer coming out of Kamas and another somewhere after the Provo River Falls and the Pass.

Arrive a Ruth Lake trail head just after 8am. (10,100 feet)

Lots of bluebells along the parking area.

I think I'm only going to the Lake and not walking around it (or to the other side) as I want to head to the Pass Lake Trailhead before it gets to crowded as I want to walk along Reids Meadow looking for butterflies.

As I start up the trail, I quickly see Painted Lady. Surprise!

As I walk the trail, I'm seeing the start of summer flowers 


so I'm hopeful for butterflies but then it is just after 8am and the sun is really not over the mountains yet. But there are still Avalanche Lilies, Marsh Marigold and buttercups still in bloom.

Lots of running water and a few little falls.

Beautiful walk! The mosquitoes were pretty negligible which awesome because I did not bring bug spray.

Seeing damselflies and a couple of dragonflies.

I reach the 1st lake. I find some orchids and Shooting Stars. and stop briefly on the other side.

And then continue to Ruth Lake. 

Scanning for trout but not seeing any.

There are many people here and it looks like most have spent the night. So I stop and never make it to the other side.

I take a brief stop and start my way back. 

On the return I see a Hoary Comma.

Back at car at 9:15am.

Nice start to the day; onto the Pass Lake Trailhead.


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