Feb 3 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

Heading out to Antelope Island this morning. It's already 47 degrees and cloudy when I leave around 8:30. But as has been the case most of the week, there is clearing to the north (yea!).

I arrive on the island and it's already a busy day on the island; I can tell because I had to wait behind 4 cars at the pay station. Guess everyone is out enjoying this wonderful Saturday morning.

I decide to bypass the trip down to the Ranch today and head directly to the trail.

As I near Bison Point, I see a few bison on the north side of Bison Point. I'll see them on my drive out after my hike.

Approaching the White Rock Trail, I see many, many cars already in the parking lots (both horse parking and the normal parking). Most cars I've ever seen! I'll soon be a part of the pack of humans on the trail.

I gear up and start my hike. I'm in blue sky but there is dappled sunlight because clouds are moving through.

There are a few bison far off to the east as I work my way through the lower parts. Lots of runners and bikers this morning on the trail.

I work my way around in my normal clockwise direction - no coyote, deer or pronghorn in view.

I do find another group of bison in the distance even further out then the others.

Before long, I arrive over White Rock meadow. I see a group of bison near the inner loop trail (can't tell if they will be a problem for me) but there is one bison moving towards the ridge which will be an issue. And his buddy which is a bit behind him but moving.

I make my way down to the ridge. Mr. Bison is now on the trail ahead of me. 

I can't see his buddy (or the other bison). Just hoping a group of bikers don't scare them up towards the ridge and me!

I stay on the ridge slowly approaching the bison. I'm hoping for some bikers to fly by and encourage him to move but none are coming (and Buddy bison has also arrived on the ridge). There's no way around them so I turn right short-cutting down to the inner loop trail below me. The other bison in the group are farther south and pose no danger.

Even though two of them show-off for me but wallowing on the ground.

Free from the bison, I continue around the inner loop but now I'm finally in full sun!!! (But a partially cloudy meadow.)

Along the way, I notice lone bison in the middle of the meadow - probably part of the herd I just went around -- who are now standing on the ridge!

I'm almost to the west side of the island when I notice some animals up on a hill. Not bison, not pronghorn and for some reason I get excited thinking they are bighorn sheep. I guess it's just wishful thinking as it's the wrong habitat but they are deer. I count 7 and it looks like a bachelor herd. There may be a couple of doe or they are just button bucks. Pretty exciting!

Also, I see my first sign of Spring -- a beetle!!

I continue back to my car. On the way out, I pass those bison under Bison Point and also see a lone bison drawing lots of attention behind the Visitor's Center.

On the drive out along the causeway, I get a short escort by a hawk; he has a white bar at the base of his tail so I think he's a Northern Harrier.

Nice ending to a wonderful hike.

(Oh yea, definitely busy day at the park, there's at least 20 cars waiting to get through the pay station and more coming!!)