Also, there's a chance I might see a Mountain Goat as the DNR has a viewing day on Saturday - the time is good! The goats come down from the high country during the winter and are sometimes viewable from the mouth of the canyon. It'll be like finding a needle in a haystack I'm sure but its a worth a shot.
Mostly sunny day with puffy clouds and rain showers around; highs in the low 70s.
I'm hoping the lower parking is finally open but unfortunately it's not; so I need to drive up the canyon a few miles to the upper small lot.
But first I stop at the Park-n-Ride at the mouth of the canyon to scan the rock slopes for goats; I didn't find any so I head up the canyon to the upper parking.
I arrive and I head down the hill towards the main trail thru the woods -- love the smell of fresh pine!
Even though there are lots of clouds passing, it's sunny out now. I cross the main trail and start down towards the creek. I didn't get too far when I see Butterflies!!!! There are 2 Satyr Commas. They eventually find each other and chase each other in circles very high into the sky - so nice to see the "dance" again!
I see another Comma as I make it to the creek. The water is flowing pretty fast and loud enough to drown out the cars on the road.
The Spring melt has started! (But the trail is not a running stream yet; but that will be coming soon.)
I see a few Commas flying around the creek.
Not much snow around anymore, but the Spring flowers are not around yet.
On my way back to the main trail, I see those 2 commas again - still dancing in the air. :)
I head downhill first. Along the way, the sun is out and then it disappears over and over again.
Other than the sounds of the creek, the forest is quiet - no bird or squirrel sightings.
I do see some elk/moose scat.
I'm looking along the mountain faces for white dots but finding no goats today.
I've got a good knack for scaring up a few Commas today - many times, they'll just circle around and land basically in the same place - not today. :(
I see also see 2 Mourning Cloaks; they look very fresh!
I make it to the 3rd bridge and my turn around point.
Time to head back.
On the way back, I see a few moths flying -- a white one and a black one with dots. The black one is the same species as I saw while hiking Grandeur Peak the other day. They, like the butterflies, aren't stopping long enough for a decent look.
I also see one lizard poking out from behind a rock.
I get back to the trail to the parking lot but pass it by to head to the end of the trail. Again I scare up a Comma basking on the trail and he's gone - so frustrating!
I arrive at the end of the trail. Last time I was here, I was standing on snow higher than the 3ft high concrete walls; today, the only snow around is near the concrete ruin across the stream. The old building looks like it had a very rough winter.
I make last one stop down by the creek before heading home.
Lovely day!
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