The heat wave continues. Was already in the upper-70s (F) when dog and I headed up the trail, and the high temp reached (by one report) 106°. (Possibly a record.) Our hike was a quick one, but we weren’t alone up there.
I refer to a few squirrels and dragonflies—and more than a few birds.
Not many more than a few. But a nice surprise in the form of an appearance up near the Monarch Quarry of my second-ever Ash-throated Flycatcher.
The high tomorrow is supposed to cool down into the 90s tomorrow. Ahhh.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:15 a.m. (8:15 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Up early again this morning for a hike (mostly) in the mountain shade. (The forecast was for a high of 100° (F) or more, and the weather gods delivered.) A pleasant hike, too. Few active bird species, and few individuals—who could blame ’em?—but a comely female grosbeak posed for a photo.
The day’s highlight? Before we headed up this morning, I happened to spy a pair of Bullock’s Orioles chowing down on fruit from a tree in the neighbors’ yard. Only the third and fourth orioles of the season.
Warmer day coming tomorrow. Perhaps we’ll get up there even earlier.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:11 a.m. (8:11 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Dog and I started early, what with a hot day forecast. Sure enough it was cloudless, but here on the east side of the basin, we’ve got the mountain shade early—and a little bit of a breeze kept things about room temperature on our way up to the ridge, where I decided we could climb for a change.
And climb we did. Had plenty of water for Jack, and most of the hike was in shadow. (The sunny spots were a little toasty.) Quite a few birds out early—I figure they didn’t want to have to brave the afternoon heat. Which, by the way, reached 100° (F). (Tomorrow’s supposed to get to 101°, and the day after 102°.)
It’ll be a drought-ravaged year here in the west, but still we’ll go out hiking. (Early.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:03 a.m. (8:03 MDT), I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
