Feb 25 - Antelope Island

Well, winter has finally arrived in Utah - temperature 1-15 degrees below normal and snow! A couple of weeks ago, we had only 169 inches of snow in the mountains; today, 240 inches! Finally!

Fortunately, last night's storm resulted in only a dusting in the valley (about a foot in the mountains) so I'm heading up to Antelope Island for a hike. Temperatures are in the mid-20s but it will be sunny and in the mid-30s today -- perfect winter weather for a hike.

I arrive on the causeway just before 8am. Part of the island is under clear/sun but the rest still under the clouds. Very pretty this morning.

It isn't until I arrive on the island that I realize that the wind is howling today -- not sure a hike is going happen -- perhaps it'll be a couple of short hikes today.

I turn onto the island and head towards the Ranch.

No animals behind the Visitor's Center but I do see a few bison near the first pull-off.

Continuing on past Frary Peak, I see 3 bison near the lake shoreline (or where it should be if there were enough water in the lake).

They are moving slowly south. I continue just a bit further when I see the rest of their herd.

A few miles later, I see another herd closer to the mountains.

They look like they are moving towards the road. I could wait...but I decide to move on.

I am coming up on the area where the bison / antelope hung out last winter. As I get closer, I see bison out there! (yea!) And as I round a hill, holy cow! there's a large herd of antelope crossing the road!!!! As I roll up, there's a small group that are still in the road. They are stopped looking down the road at me.

As another car rolls up on them from the south, they get nervous and cross to the west side road again away from the herd. They stop at the edge and I wait (as does the other car). Eventually, they turn, crossing the road again to be with their herd.

What a sight - so many Pronghorn!!!

And of course, the bison!

(So glad I didn't wait on those bison to cross.)

After taking way too many photos, I continue down to the Ranch. I bundle up and take a walk to the bird area but it's closed. So I take a quick walk down a small portion of the dirt road to see if I can find some deer.

No luck on the deer but I do find another herd of bison.

Time to head back north. I'm passing the bison / antelope area and the bison are still there but I don't see the Pronghorn. Where could they be??

I continue north and yes, those bison did cross the road.

The "missing" antelope are bothering me so I turn back south to take a closer look. I do find them, they are east of the bison now along the lake edge. Very hard to see now with out some magnification help.

I'm about to turn back north when I see a lone Pronghorn on the opposite side. He's pawing at the ground try to uncover something to eat. Pretty cool to watch.

He moves a bit south before laying down in the sun!

Again, time to move north. I pass the few herds of bison

before arriving at the Frary Peak lower parking. (The road to the main parking is closed - 23% grade, snow, ice.....). Walking up to the main parking is one of my short hikes for today. The road is a mix of snow, ice and clear - and in the wind, cold! But I find a few birds

and rabbit tracks.

I reach the main parking and make my way thru the snow to a rocky viewpoint. Lots of rabbit tracks in the snow. (I manage to scare up one and watch him hop away.! And the views are wonderful!

I try to make it a bit further but I stop to watch a rabbit enjoy the sunshine!!

Time to head back to the car and continue on to Bison Point (small hike #2).

As I head up to Bison Point, there are a few bison below on the road to White Rock.

I park and enjoy the view south of White Rock Bay and then I head up to Bison Point. The trail is hard to find as most of it is covered in wind-blown snow drifts. So I just head up the hill on the clearest ground there is.

Seeing Chukkar, rabbit and smaller animals tracks up the hill.

Once out of the wind, the packed trail becomes more visible but the last little stretch to the top, well, I get to blaze the trails thru the drifts.

All worth the effort when I reach the top.

I head north to the rock outcropping. Tons of Chukkar tracks and they have to be fresh as it's pretty windy up here.

As I turn, I see a flock of Chukkars crossing some rocks.

Unfortunately, there's another person on top and he scares them and they fly off.

Time to head down.

Back in my car, I head near the beach -- these guys looked too cute this morning.

I continue around the Visitor's Center where see 2 bison down by the marina. 

Time to head home. Awesome day!

Feb 17 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

Sunny morning with highs expected near 50. But it's a seasonally "cool" morning with temps in the high 20s. Heading out to enjoy the last warm day before a winter storm/cold front rolls thru early Sunday morning. (Predicted to dump near 2 feet of snow in the mountains (yea!) and a few inches in the valley and then plummet temps in the teens for highs -- winter is finally returning.)

Antelope Island is once again my destination and the Sentry Trail is my plan as I hiked White Rock the last time I was there. But I'm just not feeling Sentry Trail today -- it'll be a last minute decision.

It's sunny and 30 degrees when I arrive on the island around 8:30am. As I arrive on the island, I see a couple of bison up behind the Visitor's Center. And then as I head down the island towards the Ranch, I see several other herds of 3-5 bison (including one under the White Rock Trail's ridge) and one bigger herd under Frary Peak.

As I arrive at the Ranch, whether decision to hike Sentry Peak is automatically made for me as there is a large herd of bison in the meadow near the trail -- no Sentry Trail for me.

I turn around and head back north up the island. I'm still looking for animals and while my head is turned, a flock of Chukkars decided to cross the road in front of my car. Luckily, I see them in time to stop and then watch them finish crossing and scurry away.

 I then head over to the White Rock Trail. No animals in the meadow behind the Visitor's Center but as I near the road to Bison Point, I see a lone Pronghorn near the intersection.

I stop to watch as he trots across the road and continues moving across the meadow. Nice!

As I approach the White Rock, there a several bison not far from the parking area.

The parking area is almost full at 9am -- lots of bikers and runners today. (I'm although not many yet, the horse riders will be arriving soon I'm sure.)

I make my way in a clockwise direction along the trail. I can see bison in the distance to the southwest. Not sure where they are with respect to the trail but with the traffic this morning, I'm pretty sure they won't be an issue.

I also see/hear a Horned Lark singing out his song.

(Boy will he be surprised when the snow and cold returns Monday/Tuesday!)

I reach the top of the switchbacks and continue around. I pass those bison without issue as they are pretty far from the trail.

There are a few that are in the sagebrush (so closer) but still not an issue.

It's not long before I arrive over the White Rock meadow. I see 4 bison below in the meadow and a few far in the distance near the bay.

I start my way down to the ridge - we so need water! The bay is so dry.

Hey, I see signs of Spring!! Several very small Spring Parsley plants in bloom

and a Redstem Stork's Bill.

They are only present in the short section coming down to the ridge!!

Crossing the ridge I find the 2 bison I saw earlier on my way to the Ranch.

And then I work my way around the inner loop.

Just about half way thru the inner loop, I see two Pronghorn high on the slopes!

And as I near the west side, there's a flock of blackbirds soaring overhead. (Just don't fly above me please!)

I complete the hike and it's time to head home. But first, I have to checkout the lone Pronghorn that's at the base of Bison Point.

Good day! (Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!)

Feb 9 - White Pine Lake Trail (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Another day near 60 so I'm heading into the mountains to enjoy some snow and to hike up towards White Pine Lake. There's absolutely no chance I'll get to the lake as it's around 4.5 miles away as safe to assume this late in the season that somewhere well before the end, the man-made trail thru the snow will end. I'll go as far as there's a "safe" trail.

On my way to the canyon, I see a car ahead of me pull off the side of the road. Curious, I look to the left to see a large brown hawk/golden eagle (???) "walking" into the sagebrush! I would have stopped if it not for the long line of cars behind me.

I arrive at the trail head around 9 am. There's only a few cars in the parking lot this morning (but lots of cars continuing up the canyon to the ski resorts).

The trail is snow packed (as expected at 7600ft) and, in spots, a bit icy. (Glad I'm wearing my micro spikes.) It's already in the mid-40s as I start off. The sky is blue and the sun is up - unfortunately, I'm in the shade as the sun is still behind the mountains.

It's not long when I arrive at the footbridge to cross the creek. There's less than a foot of packed snow on the bridge (last time I did this hike in the winter, the snow was almost as high as the bridge's handrails). But it's still very much looks like winter.

After crossing the bridge, it's about 1 mile to another creek.

It's at this creek where White Pine trail branches off from the Red Pine trail. Today, the creek is covered in snow - just a couple of holes with flowing water. The normal Red Pine trail actually goes up a bit up the trail to a bridge to cross the creek but trail goes right over the creek.

Time to continue on the White Rock trail which continues the uphill ascent up 4 switchbacks. The trail is still snow packed, wide and easy to walk. At the end of the first switchback (500 ft of gain) is an overlook down the canyon toward the Salt Lake valley -- looking good this morning.

I head up switchback 2 and 3. When I'm completing the 3rd, I meet my first human of the day; a lady skiing down the trail. I continue up the 4th (and final)

 and as I near the end, I get a glimpse of the mountains ahead.

After completing the switchbacks, the trail levels off and heads through the woods (only peeks of the mountains).

The trail is still snow packed and easy walking. Along the way, I get "yelled" at by several squirrels.

Soon I finally exit the trees into a wonderful meadow surrounded by tall snowy peaks. (2 miles - 800ft gain)

I continue through enjoying the sights.

Once through the meadow, the trail (now just a small snowshoe path) turns left. I follow; it's much softer as it's not well traveled. I follow along sinking a few inches with each step (sometimes to my knees). The path heads back into the trees and then starts thru some shrubs. This is where I decided to turn around. A little too shady for me; I'm not even sure how much farther this person got - lots of branches.

I head back to the meadow for one last shot. I step off the trail a few steps to get around some of the dead tree branches.

On my way back to the trail, I realize that although we haven't had a lot of snow this year, we still have had 150 inches (and there's still a 50 inch base at the resorts) and if you step in the wrong place, the snow will eat your leg up to your hip! Or in my case, as I try to maneuver myself out (while keeping my camera dry), it'll eat both legs. Buried in snow and feeling a little helpless, I manage to get my camera (still dry) back in the bag.  And then get myself back on my feet with the only damage to my pride and an extremely cold, wet, frozen, and painful right hand. My winter is now complete! (Happens at least once a winter.)

I continue up the trail just a bit when I decide to head a path a single skier made thru the meadow to get a better look at the peaks. I'm prepared to fall thru again but manage to stay on top. (whew!)

Time to head home with a great view leading my way.

Incredible day!!