It's actually a beautiful morning. The storm has cleared the air and once I get into the sun, the remaining clouds and partial blue sky is incredible. And it's already 46 degrees out -- can't beat that in January! (But although I love the temperatures, we really need the cold and a lot of snow!)
Crossing the causeway, looks of open water on the Salt Lake side and still frozen water on the Bay side. I see plenty of ducks this morning but since there is a lot of open water, they are far out onto the water.
Once on the island, I head south to the Ranch. The north end of the island is sunny and slowly getting clear to the south. I'm hoping by the time I get to the Ranch, it's sunny there too.
No animals behind the Visitor's Center and surprise, I finally see a few bison before Frary Peak!!
No other animals until the "usual" spot around the Frary Homestead - the bison still sticking around here. Once I see these animals, I'm assuming that the bison that have been around the Sentry Trail will be still there - so I was totally surprised when I roll up on the ranch, the bison are gone!!! I can actually hike the Sentry Trail today!
I park at the Ranch and start my hike in sunny skies and temps at 46 degrees which is crazy as I'm usually looking for Bald Eagles that have come down from Idaho to escape the cold but it's not cold and no snow to be seen other than the upside down snow cones of our Wasatch Mt range.
I start up the road to the trail. Seeing lots of bison tracks in the mud. Scanning for deer and anything moving but seeing nothing.
I reach the Sentry Trail and make my way towards Mushroom Springs. Not finding and animals in the big meadow but wonderful views as I head up to the long switchback.
As I complete the first "up" portion and reach the switchback, I see a small herd of bison in the distance on a mountain - just little dots.
I'm seeing lots of antelope tracks and scat in the sand but not seeing any animals.
As I cross the switchback, there's a good sized herd below and in the distance.
As I climb the last section, the tracks are now all bison - will I see some when I reach the top?
I finally on the ridge and yes, there are bison up here in the distance behind Sentry Peak. Some standing and some laying down.
Guess I won't be doing the loop today because even though those bison are in the distance, I've walked this trail enough to know that they are not that far from the trail. But, I can walk to get a closer view. :)
So across the ridge I go with the bison clearly ahead of me. But at one point, I lose sight of them. I continue cautiously as I don't want to accidentally get to close. I pull off the trail off to try to catch a glimpse of them and yes, they are still a safe distance ahead so I continue. I'm now getting really close to Sentry Peak so I go off the trail again and I see them as I peer behind some rocks. They certainly know I'm there as they are now all standing and looking at me.
I still feel like I'm a safe distance so I stand and watch. But then they start to scramble kinda in my direction.
So I turn and scramble back in the other direction! (Not sure if they are moving towards me or down hill but I'm not waiting to find out!)
I keep looking behind me but it seems that the bison did take off down the mountain -- at least I think because I couldn't find them.
Time to head back the same way I came up. I haven't been down this part of the trail so it's fresh and new for me (and pretty too)!
I'm back to the start of the trail and heading back to the Ranch when I see a Horned Lark.
Back at the Ranch, I decide to look for the Great Horned Owls. And success! I find the one owl in the same spot against the tree as the several times before. However, this time, its facing north (prior times it was facing south) and looking around. When I approached, it turned it's head towards me!!
I follow the trail around the tree and under the owl. It's watching me. :)
Time to head back north up the island. Along the way, I see movement through the grasses - it's a coyote running south.
Awesome day!!
