Dec 22 - Road to Mormon Trail (aka Jeremy Ranch)

Took off early from work today to get a short walk in before the winter storm arrives this week-end. Heading up (out of the yucky valley air) towards Park City to walk the dirt road to the Mormon Trail (my favorite butterfly spot in the summer).

This is an easy walk as it is mostly flat thru the foothills on the Wasatch Back. Giving myself one hour to see how far I can get down the road (because is goes for miles). Also, it's not sunny and it's only in the upper 20s.

Heading up thru the foothills is very pretty - lots of snow on the north facing slope and a bit of snow on the south facing. We are definitely in need of some more snow (and it's coming soon).

I park and start down the snow packed/icy dirt road. Seems like there's probably around 6-9 inches of snow on the ground and it's really pretty.

I see a few Golden Eye and Mallard ducks in the stream as I head down the road.

Keeping my eye out for deer/elk/moose and birds - perhaps I'll get lucky.

It's really quiet out; not sure where the birds are hiding.

The views are really nice.

And I am seeing small animals track along the creek. There is a set of large animal tracks heading down from the foothills to the creeks - but just tracks, no animals to be seen.


I finally reach the part of the road that's right next to the stream, a good spot for birds last year. But absolutely nothing today. (Darn, I was hoping to see a Kingfisher; saw several when I was here last year.)

Time to head back.

I'm at the point where the stream crosses under the road to the east side and there it is - a Kingfisher!! He's flying down the east side of the creek, flies over the road, and continues flying along the stream. Well, that made my day!

Nice walk...now back down into the haze.