Hiked to the summit from Reservoir Drive early to beat the heat, but it was sweltering (and buggy) by 8 a.m.

Highlights included many butterflies, including dozens of  Little Wood Satyrs (pic below for ID purposes)  on the Yellow Trail a few hundred yards north of the summit.

Also: dragonflies, a nicely camouflaged American toad, and a (bit smoggy) view from the summi

Said a little prayer at the shrine to the fallen hiker on the Yellow Trail.

Only got a little lost once, which is why I really liked the new sign below.

Nice hike, but could not hold a candle to the July 4th High Mountain Hike that Patty and I did two years ago -- which included finding a 700-year-old projectile point on the Red Trail. (See next post.)