Nov 16 - Mill D South and Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day with temps finally exiting the 40s and heading for a high around 50 degrees. (Finally some November temperatures!) Heading up to the Cardiff Mine (Mill D South Trail). It's a mid-elevation trail starting at ~7500ft so I'm not anticipating much snow - well, there may be some near the mine. But I'm going there to see the snowy mountains anyway.

Not much snow heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon, simply because we haven't much. Just lots of brown and some dusting of snow the higher I go.

I arrive at the trail head around 10 am. The road to the trail is closed, so I start the about 1/4 mile walk up the paved road to the trail. The creek at the start of the trail is still ice free.

The road is mostly clear but in the shadier sections, it's packed snow. The mountains in my view are snow-free other than the one in the distance to the east towards the Brighton Ski Resort.

It's very quiet out; I only see one Chickadee hopping thru a pine trees. I'm looking for deer and moose. I find what looks like a moose (maybe elk) track in the snow.

As I pass the closed campground, I see a lone doe. I lose her in the trees but she pops back out briefly

before disappearing again.

I reach the final stretch along a dirt road and I finally see a snowy Mt Reynolds. I'll be walking far beneath her peak.

At the trail head, I turn right to cross the stream. There's a lone squirrel in the middle of the snow-packed road. He disappears into the woods as I approach.

The stream is flowing as the sun finally makes it over the mountains.

Time to start heading up hill thru the pine trees.

The trail is dusted with snow in spots and packed snow in others - easy going.

I reach the point in the trail where a small stream flows downhill along the east side of the trail. The stream is icy and snow covered but I can still hear the water flowing below.

I continue up higher until Ugh! The trail is covered in ice!

This portion of trail, even in the summer, is wet so I could see a bit of ice but this is thick! (I was thinking about taking YakTrax this morning but unfortunately, only thinking, not taking action.)

I look for a way thru - the left side is the creek and right side is uphill. I find some luck on the far right but then I reach the spot that looks shiny and slick. I take one step, slip and land on my butt. Oops!

I make a half attempt at getting up but decide since my day is done here, I might as well, slide down on the ice on my backside - it's so much easier.

Then I take my cold, somewhat wet backside and head back downhill. If only I had the YakTrak (spikes would have been even better), I could have made it past that one section and continue. :(
I will remember them next time I'm here.

On the way back to my car, I see another deer (a buck) moving along the power lines.

I didn't make it to the mine, but I'm still happy to be in the cold fresh air, see two deer and a squirrel!

Instead of heading home, I decide to continue up the canyon to Silver Lake - I'm half way there anyway. I know I'll need the YakTrak to make it up to (more so down from) Twin Lakes so my plan is just to walk around Silver Lake. I'm also going to check if the trail is still open to Twin Lakes - Brighton just opened for skiing yesterday so I'm sure the trail will be closing soon.

I reach Silver Lake - lots of cars in the parking lot but they are mostly construction folks still building the Silver Lake bathroom.

I head out past the Visitor's Center. I only see one group of people at the lake. It's quiet, sunny and in the mid-20s. Actually there is a noise, it's the snow making machines at Brighton. I can see the snow being made.

I head counter-clockwise around the trail.

At the foot bridge, I look for trout in the open water but see none.

I do see bubbles being made by the flowing water - pretty cool.

Farther along the shore, I do see one trout enjoying the warm sun in the shallow water.

I reach the side trail for Twin Lakes and its open. I decide to head up to the switchback to check for Pika. The trail is snow packed. Hopefully I won't regret not having Yak Trax on the way down. :)

As I near the switchback, I'm listening and looking for Pika. And I see one basking on a large rock!!

I start along the switchback and I see another on the downhill side.

I get about 1/2 way across the switchback just to have a good look at the lake below.

And it's time to turn around and head back.

I see another Pika in the rocks just off the trail. This guy is fun to watch. He goes from basking in the sun, hiding in the rocks and then popping back out in the snow just off the trail

and diving into the snow (snow flying up in the air sometimes),

circling in the snow

then back in the rocks and to his perch. I just watch as he does this several times. I'm not sure what he's digging for - perhaps stored leaves. And then he disappears.

As I walk past his rock, this is what I see where he was digging. I'm still not sure what he was doing!

A bit farther, I see another Pika on the upside of the trail (probably the same guy I spotted when I first reached the switchback).

I'm watching him when I hear another Pika chirp. He's off to the right just inside the trees. After he chirps, the  guy on the rock goes off calling continuously for about 20 seconds - eh eh eh eh eh......

Not a clue why but it was a pretty cool experience (and funny too)!

I head back down hill (not much slipping) and reach Silver Lake again. I continue around the lake to finish my day.

Definitely, not the day I was originally planned but still a pretty incredible day!

Nov 10 - Mirror Lake and Ruth Lake (Uintas Mountains)

Heading into the Uintas today for one last time this year. Need to take advantage of the opportunity since the road still being open due to the lack of snowfall this year. My plan is to hike to Ruth Lake. I usually go there in the Fall when the lake is frozen. This time, I expect a little bit of snow as well. I'm also hoping to get to Mirror Lake but that depends if the road heading down to the lake is open.

I head off just after 8am. It's supposed to be sunny today but it's pretty cloudy as I head up Parley's Canyon towards Park City. Sure hope it clears out.

Travel up the Mirror Lake highway is just brown with lots of naked aspen (and other) trees. No cows or deer along the road this morning.

When I arrive at my first stop, the Provo River Falls, it's still cloudy (bits of sun peaking thru) and in the upper 20s - brrr!

There's just a bit of snow on the ground at this elevation. The trail is snow packed and icy in spots as I head down to the viewpoint near the Falls.

When I was here a month or so ago, there was very little water coming over the Falls. I'm not expecting much for an icy falls so I am surprised what I see.

(Definitely, looked better in past years but I'll take it.)

Onward and upward towards Bald Mt Pass (10,759ft). The snow coverage widens as I near the pass but its still probably 6 inches or less. I have hope for a Mirror Lake visit!

I reach the pass and start down hill until I reach the Mirror Lake turn. I'm a bit surprised that the road is clear at the top. I'm heading down!! Just the top of the road is clear of snow. The rest is snow packed and slick but I safely reach the parking lot below. It's just after 9am (a crisp 21 degrees and mostly sunny) and I have this snow covered wonderland to myself! How great it is!

The lake is frozen (of course) and snow covered in spots.

I start clockwise around the lake. It's so quiet all I hear are my shoes crunching in the snow covered trail. I just soak in the moment (and the sun) as I make my way around the lake.

Tons of tiny animals tracks in the snow all around the lake. Some are fresher than others.

I'm surprised that there are some tiny streams still flowing into the lake but some are flowing under ice.

Finally on the other side, I get views of Bald Mt and Reids Peak.

And I finally hear a squirrel - never find him though.

When I reach my car, there is another group at the lake sledding down one of the inclines and one car coming down the hill. Time to continue down the road to the Ruth Lake parking.

I arrive to an empty parking lot, gear up and start up the snowy trail thru the forest.

Just a couple of inches of snow on the ground. Travel is easy as many people have already packed down the trail.

Again it is very quiet - but in addition to my crunching footsteps, there's a wind blowing.

A great trip looking back at wonderful views of Hayden Peak

passing snowy meadows

the 1st snow covered lake with more tracks

all before reaching Ruth Lake. She too is frozen and snow covered except the one corner.

I work my way around the lake until Hayden Peak comes into view. There I find a rock and take a break in the warmth of the sun.

At one point, I here a noise and turn to find a Clark's Nutcracker. He's moving through several of the pine trees looking for seeds this morning.

After a bit, it's time to start heading back.

Awesome day!

Nov 3 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

Heading back up to Antelope Island to hike the Sentry Trail for this first time since Spring!!

Sunny day with temperatures heading into the mid-50s.

When I arrive on the causeway, it's sunny and 42 degrees. As I cross, I'm looking for the coyote or coyotes I've seen along the north side over the last 3 weeks. Three weeks ago, I saw a single coyote trotting east toward the "main" land. Last week, I saw another on the north side laying and grooming and he had a broken tooth. Not sure if the 2 sightings are of the same coyote (now with an injury) or perhaps a female/male pair or just individuals. But I have my open looking for either.

Going across, I can't notice the flat water with great reflections!

I'm about ready to cross the bridge and less than a mile for the island. I've basically given up hope I'll see the coyote but when on the other side bridge, there he is trotting towards the island!

Unfortunately, I can only see the left side of the face (the broken tooth is on the right side). I pull ahead of him hoping to get a glance. I stop but unfortunately, this coyote is skittish and turns and heads back east. The good thing is I get a glimpse his right face and he is not the coyote with the broken tooth (yea!) Maybe there is a pair with a home range along the causeway!

I'm on the island now and heading south to the Ranch. I see 2 bison on the ridge behind the Visitor's Center and a couple more just a bit farther down the road.

Today is bison physical day so the vast majority of the bison are still in the corrals. I've seen the physicals a couple of times now. Fun time and a great chance to see how powerful this guys really are - they don't like the physicals - lots of banging and bulging eyes!

I'm not visiting today, just heading south to the Sentry trail looking for critters along the way.

I near Frary Peak passing the mountain side near the White Rock ridge. Last week, I saw a small herd of Pronghorn on the slopes. And, yea, they are still here today!

There's also a single bison a bit south of the Pronghorn.

South of Frary Peak, I roll up on a lone female deer near the road. Her ears are up. I watch her cross the road behind my car and disappear into the grasses.

I bit farther down the road, I see a big buck in the trees.

Still farther along, I see small dark and not moving on the dry lake bed. It's just out of place and worth checking out. And good thing I did; it's a coyote laying down!!

The remaining drive to the Ranch, I see just a couple additional bison.

I make a pit stop at the Ranch to check out the Great Horned Owls. I haven't seen one in several weeks. Maybe today my luck will change. Several people are heading out of the woods with large cameras and more heading in. I take the trail south and quickly find one of the owls high in a tree. Looks great with the yellow leaves!

I try to get a good angle for a view of its face but just too many leaves/branches in the way. I look for the mate with no luck. But I finally see an owl again!

On the way out, I stop to talk to the DNR guy. He says when he arrived earlier, there was a female deer with a large buck. They moved south. I look for them in the grasses on my way to the Sentry Peak trail head but do not see them.

Time to start up the Sentry Trail. I'm excited as it's been months since I've walked this trail. There will be no bison but there's always a chance for deer or Pronghorn. And I look for them as I walk up and past Mushroom Springs. Only seeing a few dragonflies

and grasshoppers and lots of green Tiger Beetles.

I start up the first uphill section to the first switchback and start across. So quiet this morning.

At the end of the switchback, it's time to start the final climb to the ridge - Sentry Peak is to my left.

I'm probably about half way up when I look above and find a small herd of Pronghorn!

At first they don't see me, but is doesn't take long before all eyes are upon me.

(Seeing animals from the car is great but seeing them when you're off on a trail, it's so awesome!)

They run off south towards Sentry Peak as I continue to climb to the ridge. I'm hoping to see them again when I get on top.

I stop just before the ridge to take a look back down towards the Ranch and a very dry Farmington Bay. Yes, that is a bay!

And when I get to the ridge, the Pronghorn are gone. :(

And I see I'm not the only one up here; there are 3 horses moving south along the ridge.

I start down the ridge still looking for those Pronghorn.

I get across without seeing them. Not sure where they went.

Time to start down hill. Soon I reach the long switchback and then start down the last section. I'm looking at the flats below me and see a bunch of dots again that look out of place in the landscape. I stop and zoom in --- it's a herd of Pronghorn!!

I count 16 of them! (Perhaps these are the guy from the top and then maybe not.) So cool!

I continue down and soon reach my car.

Great hike! But it's time to head back north towards the Visitor's Center.

I reach the White Rock ridge, the one bison is there and so are the Pronghorn. But I'm also excited to see yet another coyote (#3) walking south not far off the road!

And near the 1st viewpoint is another small herd of Pronghorn!

I make another stop at the viewpoint - tons of birds in the water below (lots of tiny black spots in the water and flying)!

Back near the Visitor's Center, the bison have moved east and are easier to see (and there are more of them). Also, I see coyote #4!! He's moving south along the ridge behind the Visitor's Center.

Great way to end my day on the island!!!