- Joined
- Dec 23, 2013
- Messages
- 3,761
This weekends hike took us along the Van Cott Ridge. With temperatures rising this weekend, getting close to 80 degrees, this was easily our warmest hike of the year so far. I was expecting the foothills to be covered with blooming arrowleaf balsamroot, but it looks like they are still a few days away from covering the hillsides The blooming flowers we did encounter were common storksbill, a few galceir lilies, spring beauties, and some desert alyssum.
As we made our way east along the ridge, there was still some snow to contend with, and some fields were deep enough that we had to posthole for short distance, but nothing too bad.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120518-0f3d7ae1a6b0c60a713bbad46a15439d.jpg)
Magpie
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120522-2d605cb9a2b951271a45de5af32a6b74.jpg)
Leaving the city behind
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120519-8ff0c5bdde0894c0a61dcf4068b3babc.jpg)
Spring Parsley
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120520-cea2198ec865568f79f0cdbda15109c4.jpg)
Common storksbill
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120521-12710711a8c93a3812699df5238ebee9.jpg)
We saw a total of three arrowleaf balsamroot plants blooming
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120523-fdce6dae19b2abd42e78ca37a6896ad5.jpg)
The Avenues Twin Peaks
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120524-c829bc801aca11ca25f0fdfd1ea8ffd1.jpg)
A lot of snow on Lone Peak
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120525-f9241ca93d4ffcc337efb8d87aa94dc6.jpg)
Not sure what to make of this, located across Dry Canyon. I probably need to go check
it out some day.
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120526-20a1fdc35c01b60ba5da0f73d3ecf2b4.jpg)
Red harvester ants were busy today
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120527-6c9a428392acc52a3c22e29a075a73bd.jpg)
A robin sits still for me, with Black Mountain Ridge in the background
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120528-1317dc1c94aecbadc5ebe17f53158e60.jpg)
We just saw a handful of glacier lilies, which was surprising as I expected to see more
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120529-4b4c32ce8aa9ae0abbab3b4d72130fa5.jpg)
A couple of hawks soring above us
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120530-b670ab9393e30ab1e932ae45a8ca0dab.jpg)
Black Mountain Ridge, and below the Van Cott Ridge
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120531-3cd1c07d9a7dca376885629c53728b7e.jpg)
The second of three arrowleaf balsamroot plants that were blooming
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120532-0de23fa775c0de9c268d646a8b233f17.jpg)
Heading east along the Van Cott Ridge
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120547-48e8637a758a26c1daed6e840daea841.jpg)
Spring Beauty
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120534-3e4747dbca8355b27386181ea129bd2e.jpg)
Progressing slowly east along the ridge
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120535-606bee1c02325cabb4c4aee039fab9bb.jpg)
we're heading to that high point in the distance. Beyond that, the snow was begining to get a little too deep for my liking
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120536-1147809f90543b6346cc713d5e3241ab.jpg)
Hefty boy is sinking in
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120537-5997fc1492e18303cf29c7afd24423ec.jpg)
A fly joins us for a light lunch at our turnaround point
![21b.jpg 21b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120538-85a984901959539ef1876cb248f94169.jpg)
All along the ridge was the strong smell of onion. Sniffing to confirm.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120539-3f95d55f68c2998e6100ae9896987aa3.jpg)
Shot at our lunch break and turnaround point
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120540-516c3fdace852004f9b51315aee9746a.jpg)
Utah elk are pretty sharp.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120541-cdc6a7e0121e7e2e8fb696fdc2e395d2.jpg)
Snail shell on our way back down
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120542-eafd154dd0e5e74c03ee6d8230cbbe92.jpg)
Large deposits of elk droppings
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120543-c24ca9a6581ab90918aa24dbeb0ce29f.jpg)
Ladybug
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120544-c7a4fecebd9a9d4726906f80b2c5cb5f.jpg)
Heading back to the city
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120545-2865f558511a889648bb10a6a594d28c.jpg)
Desert alyssum
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120546-ac371e5f15f28c81dd4fee52538b04db.jpg)
15 rounds with no knockouts. Okay @Rockskipper, you're the judge, who wins the decision? Scatman or Rabbitbrush?
The End.
As we made our way east along the ridge, there was still some snow to contend with, and some fields were deep enough that we had to posthole for short distance, but nothing too bad.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120518-0f3d7ae1a6b0c60a713bbad46a15439d.jpg)
Magpie
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120522-2d605cb9a2b951271a45de5af32a6b74.jpg)
Leaving the city behind
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120519-8ff0c5bdde0894c0a61dcf4068b3babc.jpg)
Spring Parsley
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120520-cea2198ec865568f79f0cdbda15109c4.jpg)
Common storksbill
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120521-12710711a8c93a3812699df5238ebee9.jpg)
We saw a total of three arrowleaf balsamroot plants blooming
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120523-fdce6dae19b2abd42e78ca37a6896ad5.jpg)
The Avenues Twin Peaks
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120524-c829bc801aca11ca25f0fdfd1ea8ffd1.jpg)
A lot of snow on Lone Peak
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120525-f9241ca93d4ffcc337efb8d87aa94dc6.jpg)
Not sure what to make of this, located across Dry Canyon. I probably need to go check
it out some day.
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120526-20a1fdc35c01b60ba5da0f73d3ecf2b4.jpg)
Red harvester ants were busy today
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120527-6c9a428392acc52a3c22e29a075a73bd.jpg)
A robin sits still for me, with Black Mountain Ridge in the background
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120528-1317dc1c94aecbadc5ebe17f53158e60.jpg)
We just saw a handful of glacier lilies, which was surprising as I expected to see more
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120529-4b4c32ce8aa9ae0abbab3b4d72130fa5.jpg)
A couple of hawks soring above us
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120530-b670ab9393e30ab1e932ae45a8ca0dab.jpg)
Black Mountain Ridge, and below the Van Cott Ridge
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120531-3cd1c07d9a7dca376885629c53728b7e.jpg)
The second of three arrowleaf balsamroot plants that were blooming
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120532-0de23fa775c0de9c268d646a8b233f17.jpg)
Heading east along the Van Cott Ridge
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120547-48e8637a758a26c1daed6e840daea841.jpg)
Spring Beauty
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120534-3e4747dbca8355b27386181ea129bd2e.jpg)
Progressing slowly east along the ridge
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120535-606bee1c02325cabb4c4aee039fab9bb.jpg)
we're heading to that high point in the distance. Beyond that, the snow was begining to get a little too deep for my liking
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120536-1147809f90543b6346cc713d5e3241ab.jpg)
Hefty boy is sinking in
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120537-5997fc1492e18303cf29c7afd24423ec.jpg)
A fly joins us for a light lunch at our turnaround point
![21b.jpg 21b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120538-85a984901959539ef1876cb248f94169.jpg)
All along the ridge was the strong smell of onion. Sniffing to confirm.
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120539-3f95d55f68c2998e6100ae9896987aa3.jpg)
Shot at our lunch break and turnaround point
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120540-516c3fdace852004f9b51315aee9746a.jpg)
Utah elk are pretty sharp.
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120541-cdc6a7e0121e7e2e8fb696fdc2e395d2.jpg)
Snail shell on our way back down
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120542-eafd154dd0e5e74c03ee6d8230cbbe92.jpg)
Large deposits of elk droppings
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120543-c24ca9a6581ab90918aa24dbeb0ce29f.jpg)
Ladybug
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120544-c7a4fecebd9a9d4726906f80b2c5cb5f.jpg)
Heading back to the city
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120545-2865f558511a889648bb10a6a594d28c.jpg)
Desert alyssum
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/120/120546-ac371e5f15f28c81dd4fee52538b04db.jpg)
15 rounds with no knockouts. Okay @Rockskipper, you're the judge, who wins the decision? Scatman or Rabbitbrush?
The End.
Last edited: