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!
