Dec 23 - Snow Canyon State Park

Heading down south today to Snow Canyon State Park. It's the start of a little trip that includes Zion National Park and, weather permitting, Bryce Canyon. (I so want to snowshoe there!)

Not sure what to expect at the National Parks due to the government shutdown but I do know that Utah is paying the bill to provide more services at Zion, Bryce and Arches.

But no time to worry about that now. I'm heading to Snow Canyon first!

I've been to that state park several times; it's a great little place with amazing red and white rock (Navajo Sandstone) formations and lots of black lava rocks from prior volcanic activity.

I leave around 6:30am. The full moon is shining bright through a few high clouds. It's bright enough that I can see the silhouettes of the Wasatch Mts (and the snowy patches). It's really pretty!

As dawn arrives, I'm well south of Provo and in ranch country. The snowy mountains are gone; lots of varying shades of brown. I'm passing tons of cows, a few horses and sheep.

At one point I see shiny white forms in the light brown grasses ahead and to my right. They're Pronghorn!! At least 30 of them! Awesome!

I arrive at Snow Canyon State Park just after 11 am. It's sunny, near 50 degrees with lots of blue skies.

I head directly to the White Rock Amphitheater trail head which is just outside the park on the north side. I love this short hike to a very large white rock bowl.

There's only a couple other cars parked so I'll have some company.

I start up the trail through the desert plants - sagebrush, cactus, etc - heading to a large white formation.

The views to the south are filled with red rock formations to the south. Beautiful!

Soon I arrive at the large white rock formation. Time to walk up the rock

enjoying to the surrounding views behind me (look no snow in the mountains - not good)

until I reach the amphitheater - awesome!

(There's one family in the bowl when I arrive.)

I head to the very back of the bowl and walk up the rocks as high as I can. Absolutely love this!!

Even though the sun is shining, the theater is partially in the shade; sun just doesn't get high enough this time of year. But it's still awesome!

Time to move on and over to the red Petrified Dunes -- always a wonderful stop. Up I go on these wavy red rocks.

The next and final last stop, the ~2 miles walk to White Rocks. Yes, I'm heading to the same rock formation I was earlier in the day but just not going "inside".

The White Rock trail passes thru a section filled with lava tubes (a popular destination of many people). I'm looking for critters, perhaps flowers but not holding my breathe because it's December!

The trail initially heads west toward the red rock cliffs. Lots of black lava rock on the ground and my destination to the north. Soon I start passing the lava tubes. Some are small holes and other are a decent size.

I make it through the lava tube section and reach a small canyon (i.e., drop-off). Great views up

and down canyon.

Now the trail heads north toward the white rocks.

At one point I see something small flutter in front of me. I immediately think butterfly but it's December. I do find the flutter-er; it's a grasshopper!

The only one I see today.

As I near the rock formation, I enter a sandy section. In the sand, I find many little animal tracks.

One I'm pretty sure is that of a Chukkar -- I see these bird tracks at Antelope Island.

Around the corner is a bench and the White Rock destination.

But the trail and I continue; the trail in about 1/4 or 1/2 mile connects with the Amphitheater trail. The trail goes uphill and reaches a small white rock bowl.

As I arrive, surprise, there's actually a blooming flower!!! Fantastic!

I find a great spot for a break and just enjoy the views!

Before I leave, I climb out of the bowl (just for grins) and find more of that white flower!

Time to head back. It's clouded up now so it's time to call it a day.

Great day!

Dec 18 - Salt Lake City Christmas Lights Time

Heading down to my annual visit to Temple Square and their wonderful Christmas lights.

Definitely the warmest evening that I've made the trek -- almost 50 degrees.

For the first time I've actually found the decorated Macy's windows - pretty cool!

Abominable snowman used to make me cry when I was little. :(

Then over to Temple Square for the international manager scenes

(still missing those candle bags - 2nd year they haven't displayed them).

Then of course over towards Temple and the reflecting pond.

Wonderful and cheery as always but some how I think the lack of shivering in freezing temperatures resulted in less Christmas cheer for me.

Good night!

Dec 16 - Antelope Island

Heading up to Antelope Island. Good day predicted with temps in the 40s, sunny and a bit of an inversion (but nothing like next week-end).

I arrive on the causeway - it's sunny, 22 degrees and hey, I can see Frary Peak in the light fog. Everything is frosty and frozen.

As soon as I pass the gate, I spot 4 pheasants just off the causeway. They fly as I roll by. (This must be a great year for pheasant. I've seen more pheasant in the last couple of months than in the 5 prior years exploring the island; I've think in prior years I've seen maybe 3 at most.)

I continue a bit farther and roll up on a Kestrel. Perhaps she's the same one I saw last week in approximately the same spot. She's all puffed out.

Still a bit farther, I roll up on a hawk. Beautiful grey bird with a black beak and white breast.

Love the colder months with the birds of prey are more visible along the causeway.

I'm not seeing a gulls or Kildeer this morning. Perhaps it's still too cold.

At the bridge, I reach open water and the ducks.

When I reach the island, I head south towards the Ranch. Unfortunately, no hike planned today - hurt knee :( Today is just a drive-thru.

And it's a beautiful day to be out.

Very quiet day - my first island animal is yet another pheasant just passed Frary Peak.

I also see my 1st porcupine of this Fall/Winter - the Russian Olive tree fruit must be in season!

Absolutely nothing else all the way to the Ranch. Sadly, this is the first time I've never seen a bison.

I look south towards Sentry Peak. No deer but wait, there are bison!! Small black dots south of Mushroom Springs on a plateau. Yea!!

I decide walk back to the wooded area to look for the Great Horned Owls. (I haven't seen one since Nov 3rd.) As I walk around I see a few birds including a Flicker but no owls.

I wonder if the pair is just hanging out somewhere else or perhaps one died and the other has moved off. Still hoping they come back; a pair has been here for years from what I've been told.

Time to head back north. As I head back to my car, I hear a beautiful noise -- coyotes howling/yipping/barking. Awesome! The calls sound pretty close maybe I'll get lucky and see one as I drive back.

I get about a mile or two from the Ranch when I see white objects moving in the distance in the tall brown grasses. Got to be Pronghorn with the sun shining off their white bellies -- and they are Pronghorn!!!

There are at least 15 moving south. Oh wait, there are a few more a hundred or so yards north of them. Cool!

I continue north seeing another porcupine in a tree

and I stop for one near the road. Looks like a Star Wars critter.

He walks towards me but realize he's really heading for a concrete culvert to hide. I'm not a porcupine expert but he seems to have a skin condition (no fur on the nose) - perhaps the start of mange.

Continue the drive north and then over to the west side of the island where I see 4 bison basically at the base of Bison Point.

Time to head home. As I cross the causeway, I see a hawk perched on a sign and he's got lunch! (Note: to self, taking photos thru the front window is not always a good idea for in-focus photos.)

I continue on spotting another (or perhaps the same) Kestrel.

Good day on the island!!

Dec 9 - Gravel Pit (Antelope Island)

Sunny day predicted with temps in the high 30s. I'm not so sure that I'll see the sun today; it's inversion season (aka, gunky air season) and yes, today is a yellow flag day (moderate dirty air).

It's pretty socked in as I head up to Antelope Island this morning. Temperatures already sitting at 32 degrees. Can hardly see the mountains this morning through the haze.

Socked in as I cross the causeway too. Can't see the island. Only see gray-ness and a bits of varying shades of brown on the ground. Whatever water there is in Farmington Bay is frozen.

But I roll up on a beautiful Kestrel all puffed up and perched on a sign-- her colors look very bright this morning.

I also seeing gulls and Kildeer. Their numbers are down from last week.

When I reach some open water near the bridge, very few ducks are visible this morning but I'm sure they'll be back.

I turn left when I reach the island heading for the Ranch.

For the first time in weeks, I see 2 bison behind the Visitor's Center!

I continue on stopping at the first pull-off, I'm not sure why because there is no view. (There are mountains out there.)

I roll down the hill coming up on Beacon Hill. At the start of the mountains, I see a lone bison near the top. As I stop, I see movement just below the bison and to the right. There are 2 deer up there too - bucks!

(When I review the photos -- surprise, there's actually a coyotes above the bison in the rocks. Pretty awesome!)

I continue on towards Frary Peak. As I pass the turn-off, surprise! There's a small herd of doe moving through the rocks!!

Continuing on down the road, I see 2 Pheasant (males).

a hawk

and finally a herd of bison in the distance near the Frary Homestead.

Still further down the road, in a sea of tan grasses, I see a few darker object moving to my right. It's a herd of Pronghorn moving south thru the fog. I count 8 but it's really hard to see out there.

I see no additional animals until I reach the Ranch. Just south of the Ranch, there's a herd of deer, bison down near the Sentry Trail and some bison in the distance right across from the Ranch. I head out to visit those deer. Bucks got a nice herd to protect - I count 9.

Time to head north to my trail.

On the way back, I see those Pronghorn again; they've moved enough so they are easier to see. I count 32 this time!!!

I also see a coyote moving not far from the road.

I look for those deer near Frary Peak but I can't find them now.

It's still foggy (and 32 degrees) when I start the Gravel Pit trail. Strange walk as  I can't see the usual landmarks (corrals, Bison Point, etc).

I am scaring up numerous birds from the grasses as I walk.

When I'm about a mile in, I see bison on the right side of the trail. They are far enough from the trail to get by safely but they could add some excitement on my return.

A bit farther along, I see another bison; he's by himself. (He very well could be the one I saw with the two deer from below.)

There's one last bison that's very near the side trail up to Beacon Hill.

I make my way up the trail to Beacon Hill.

I so can't wait for this view. 

(east)

(south towards Frary Peak).

Gotta love the inversion season in the Salt Lake Valley!!

Time to head back.

The bison near Beacon Hill is lying now but quickly stands to watch me as I near.

The other lone bison is more out in the open now.

And the 5 bison are now lying down. They are much nearer to the trail. So I decide to take a wide right off trail. My goal is to keep lying down as I pass -- I succeed!!!!

I'm about ready to start downhill to my car, I see a dark spot in the distance moving west. It's a coyote!! Awesome!!

Back at my car, it's time to head home.

It may have been a low visibility day, but Kestrel, Hawk, Pheasant, bison, pronghorn, plenty of deer, and 3 coyote. Incredible day!