A trail, a river and some red bugs

Posted on December 13, 2018 by dinajohnston

Across the street from Lisa Falls is one of the entrances to the Little Cottonwood Canyon Trail. We only did a short hike since it was getting close to lunch and we were already hungry.

We came across a river with a little bit of water flowing so we followed it for a while.

A short video of the water coming down the rocks.

We saw these red bugs all along the trail but I couldn’t find any info on them. Does anyone know what they are? They were everywhere.

More from our hike in Little Cottonwood Canyon in October.

SkyWatch Friday

No donut at Donut Falls

Posted on November 20, 2018 by dinajohnston

We headed out early in the morning driving through Cottonwood Canyon. Our destination was Donut Falls. It was an easy mile and half hike up the mountain and the weather was cool. We took our time, stopping to take pictures along the way. The trees were beautiful and we saw only a few other people. I had read that during the summer months the trail has traffic jams with so many people so I’m glad we were there in the fall.

We should have known there would be very little water at the falls due to the drought but it was still worth the hike. We didn’t feel like sloshing through the water to get to the cave that has the hole where the water comes through so no donut fall shots. We worked up an appetite and headed back to Park City for a late lunch.

A quick video of the wind blowing through the trees along the trail.

Linking to Wednesday Around the World.

A quiet walk on the trail.

Posted on August 30, 2018 by dinajohnston

Plants along the trail at Circle B Bar Reserve in mid May.

Not as up close as it looks. They were swimming out in the lake.

It’s rare now to have quiet time on the trail here. Even early in the morning there are usually a lot of people out. I was there in mid May on a rare Friday off and it had been raining off and on. I got sprinkled on a few times but at least it wasn’t hot.

SkyWatch Friday

On the trail at Circle B Bar Reserve

Posted on May 22, 2018 by dinajohnston

The squirrels were busy grooming and eating.

Plants along the trail.

Roadblock on the trail. I was almost all the way down Marsh Rabbit Run trail when I saw this. My choices were to sit and wait and see if he moves or turn around and go back. I sat down on trail for about 15 minutes when a park ranger came from the other side of the trail in a cart and spooked the gator off the trail. The park ranger said he slept there for over 2 hours the day before. I probably would have given up and turned around after half an hour if the ranger hadn’t come by. That little moorhen was not as close as it looks in the shot. He was busy preening and ignoring the gator.

Linking to Wednesday Around the World

Getting there early

Posted on March 29, 2018 by dinajohnston

I got to Circle B Bar Reserve just after the sun came up but it was hiding behind the fog. There were a few people already there but the crowds don’t usually come until closer to lunchtime. I love it when it’s so quiet. Only the birds and ducks were making noise.

The fog was really thick this particular morning in early January. It did not burn off until I was leaving.

Bald cypress trees in the middle of the lake. All of these were taken with my phone.

SkyWatch Friday

Whistlers in the fog

Posted on March 10, 2018 by dinajohnston

I realized after standing there for a while on the trail and watching the black bellied whistling ducks flying around in circles what they were doing. The groups of juveniles would take off together and fly around in a small circle and land back in the marsh near their parents. They were practicing for that flight back up north in the spring. They would all whistle together as they flew around me and landed. It was fun to watch them in the early morning fog.

Lots of activity the morning I was there in early January. I hadn’t seen that many whistlers together in the marsh in a long time. They were all very busy feeding and flying around. There were a few young ones left that still had their pin feathers in. I hope some of them stay over through the spring. I miss hearing that whistling sound when they are not here at Circle B Bar Reserve.