Dec 24 - Gravel Pit Trail to Beacon Hill (Antelope Island)

Finally got some snow yesterday - big flakes in the valley (too warm to stick) and 16 inches in the mountains with more coming tonight! Perhaps the tides are turning and the snow is finally arriving!

Heading up to Antelope Island today - mountains will be crazy with powder seeking skiers today. It's supposed to be partly sunny with highs in the mid-30s and then clouding up by noon as the next storm starts to arrive.

As I head north, I think the weathermen are  wrong yet again as it's cloudy already. There's blue sky to the north but the clouds are building that way. Oh well!

As I cross the causeway, I see no shorebirds or sea gulls and only a few Coots in the open water.

I arrive and head down towards the Ranch. It isn't until after passing Frary Peak before I start seeing a few animals; I see a porcupine in the trees and hey, there's a coyote trotting north along the edge of the lake shore!!

And of course, several herd of bison. Some near the mountains,

some not far from the road and there's the big herd just past the Ranch in front of Sentry Peak.

I think about hiking the Sentry Trail but without sun and with the temperature at 22 degrees, I decide to try a new trail for me (and a shorter one): The Gravel Pit Trail to Beacon Hill. The trail head is just off the main road north of Frary Peak. It's 1.8 miles before it hits the White Rock Trail (which I walk a lot) and then follows the White Rock Trail for about 1/4 mile before taking a left turn up to Beacon Hill. I've passed Beacon Hill numerous time and today will be the first time I actually go up.

When I reach the Ranch, I turn around and head north passing those 2 herds of bison. But now it's time to checkout a few of these Porcupine as they are not far from the road. I pull off first for two Porcupine in the same tree. Both are sleeping.

Back in the car I head a little further north when I see yet another Porcupine to check out. He's sleeping as well but I get a good look at his face.

(I see 6 Porcupine today!)

Soon I arrive at my trail turn off and then the parking lot. And off I go into the 22 degree landscape.

I don't have to walk far before I realize why the trail is called the Gravel Pit.

I get over the ridge and hey, there's the corrals! I wasn't expecting them to be so near!

Such a totally different perspective from the White Rock Trail which the corrals are visible but they far in the distance.

Soon I come across 7 bison. They are far enough from the trail so I can pass safely. I hope they are still there when I come back.

All along the trail, I'm seeing coyote tracks and scat, ascat from deer or antelope and Chukkar tracks.

I soon reach the White Rock trail - almost there!

I reach the turn off and head up Beacon Hill.

Soon I see the tower and as I near, I see a flock of Chukkars quickly moving through the grasses. Just heads bobbing above the grasses. Boy are they stealthy! Not a sound, scattering in multiple directions and poof they're gone!! Amazing!

I head past the tower to the picnic tables/viewpoint. Not a bad view to southeast

and east across the bay!!!

I take a brief rest before starting back.

On the way back, I see an animal crossing through the grasses ahead of me -- it's a coyote!!!

(Plenty of coyote sign along the trail -- happy to see one!)

I'm coming upon those bison and shoot, two of them are close to the trail!

Time for some "off roading" to get around the bison. They are watching me and I them but I get safely around and work my way back to the trail! I stop to look back and see two of the bison butting heads

but they make up and are best friends again!

Nice little trail!

Back in my car, I continue my way up the island and a quick loop of the west side of the island seeing only one bison along the way.

To end a wonderful day, I spot a Kestrel along the causeway!!

Good day!

Dec 22 - East Canyon (Dell Reservoir) Walk

Beautiful sunny day with temps in the low 30s. I want to enjoy the sun before the storms roll in for the week-end so I leave work a little early to head up to the Dell Reservoir (East Canyon) to "catch some rays". Yea, the mountains will have sun to but lots of folks are off (as are the kids) and I figure it will be pretty crowded in mountain on a sunny Friday afternoon -- there won't be any crowds where I'm heading.

As I head up, it's still sunny but there are clouds rolling in and when I arrive 15 minutes later, my sun is gone :( and it's 29 degrees but I'm walking anyway.

The reservoir looks great -- still lots of water with some snow around its edges. There is a dusting of snow on the foothills as well. And an excellent view of the Oquirrh Mts across the Salt Lake Valley.

The walk is around 1.5 miles along the trail - I'll walk the road back as it's closed for the winter.

The trail is snow covered/packed with only a couple inches of snow. I see a few deer tracks near the start of the trail but after that, only rabbit tracks. Big Mountain is in the distance.

Looking for moose, deer, birds but nothing - just quiet.

It isn't until after the bridge and almost the end of the trail when I see some large tracks of a moose in the snow. Not fresh but moose tracks none the less!

Someone has also put up a couple of bird houses near the end with large holes - perhaps owls?

I'm back on the road and heading to my car.

Nice little walk.

Dec 19 - Christmas Lights in Temple Square

I needed to get my annual shot of Christmas spirit and the best I know of here in Utah for that is a trip to downtown SLC's Temple Square. Heading there after work today - was going to put it off a few more days but the temperatures are near 50 today and dropping the rest of the week.

There's not much to say just many managers representing other parts of the world

the Mormon Temple

the main Nativity scene

and many many many lights. (Although there seems to be less managers and lights this year - hmmm! But still awesome!)

 

Dec 17 - US Olympic 1000m Short Track Trials

Heading out to support our US Olympic Speed Skating (Short Track) team by attending 1000m Trials today. They are being held at the Olympic Oval in Kearns (a little south and west of Salt Lake). It's the same Olympic Oval where the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics were held and where the 2014 Speed Skate were held (which I attended for one day).

The 1500m and 500m trials where held on Friday and Saturday with several skaters wrapping up positions on the team by winning that event. The winners of today's event will also go to the Olympics and the remaining members of the team will be chosen by points earned by finishing positions in all the events.

Today's event will be skated in two rounds. Since there are 16 men and 16 women vying for a spot on the team, there will be 2 rounds of quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals. Points accumulated and the top 3 finishers of the 1000m will be announced. Followed by, and more importantly for these athletes, the Olympic team.

The races were full of speed, great passing moves and yes, some crashes. One of the Men's Final had to be restarted to 3 of the men crashing.

Very exciting day!

And congrats to the men and women who earned the chance to continue their chase their ultimate Olympic Dream! 

- JR Celski, John-Henry Krueger, Ryan Pivirotto, Aaron Tran, and Thomas Hong.

- Maame Biney, Lana Gehring, and Jessica Kooreman.

Go Team USA!!

Dec 16 - Antelope Island (Snowy Safari)

It's a cloudy morning with temperatures around 32 degrees. There's snow flurries predicted coming in around 10 am. Despite the predicted weather conditions, heading up to Antelope Island today and hoping to hike the Sentry Trail today (and to beat most of the snow).

I arrive on the causeway and it's already snowing but the wind is calm. The snow looks pretty but the views are very limited.

As I cross the causeway, I see a few shorebirds still hanging around

And just a couple of sea gulls.

The duck numbers are rising (much larger numbers than last week).

Farmington Bay is frozen with a dusting of this morning's snow on top. The Salt Lake side is open (as expected - salt water). The only opening in Farmington Bay is near the bridge where the salt water mixes.

As I arrive on the island, I see a bison up near the Visitor's Center.

And then I continue onto the Ranch. It isn't until I reach the Frary Homestead before I see some animals - a large herd of bison stretched out along the mountains.

A little further down the road is another herd of bison near the sagebrush to the east.

I arrive at the Ranch and ready to my hike but I realize I forget a water-proof jacket (oops). Guess the hike is not happening today. But I can still go look for the Great Horned Owls!

I start walking around the wooded area and soon find one of the owls!

And then continue around. Although I see no deer, they definitely hang out back here - tons of scat!! I near the tree where I saw the owl a few weeks back and you know what? The owl is still there!!! Awesome!

This looks to be the larger one -- so the female.

Time to head back up the island.

I make a quick stop near Frary Peak and notice a lone snowy bison on the other side of the road. I wait hoping for him to raise his head but he is nose down and chewing away.

As I pass thru the fence line and the Visitor's Center comes into view, I see a herd of deer (all doe) running to the south (in my direction).

I'm not sure what spooked them but they continue to run. They run past me but oh oh, they are stopped by the fence. What will they do now?!

They pause for a moment and they turn east and trot down the fence towards the road.

And then they cross the road behind me and continue running on the south side of the fence. And they're gone!

Very cool!

I continue around to the west side of the island and up to the Bison Point parking. I think about walking up to Bison Point but the wind has picked up and now that pleasant 32 degrees is rather cold (brrrr)!

The view from the parking, well it's cloudy!

And there's no animals in sight.

So I head down and over to the west side. As I come up on a large patch of sagebrush (good spot for deer) I see a car pulled over and sure enough, they are deer watching. I stop to watch as well. There are only 5 deer (all doe) in the meadow. I look towards the sagebrush and here comes another deer, and another, and one more. Oh, here comes the male -- big guy!!!

They all herd up together.

I then move my car so the deer are right across the street from me (and not in front of me). I wait and watch as they slowly start moving towards the road. There are a couple of tussles between some females -- on their hind legs ready to fight) sending the one on the ground running.

Bet that's the dominant female.

They continue to get closer to the road

and soon run across

and continue to run through a meadow to the next stand of sagebrush. Pretty cool!

I continue around the west side seeing no additional animals and start my way across the causeway. There I see a hawk hovering over the grasses.

And see 2 more as I complete my causeway crossing.

Well the day started slowly but got pretty fun! Great day!

Dec 15 - Days Fork (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day predicted with temps in the low 40s. The inversion is still in place but at least the heavy fog/smog is gone. I need to get up to some fresh clean air so heading up into the mountains today. After much internal debate, I'm heading up the Days Fork Trail - don't think I've been here in the winter (at least in couple of years).

As I'm heading up the canyon, it's pretty amazing that it's mid-Dec and the south facing slopes are snow-less. (Crazy!) That needs to change and fast!!

I arrive at the parking for Days Fork (about mid-canyon around 7400 ft). It's sunny but it'll be a shady hike for the most part as the trail follows a narrow canyon to the meadow. So it's time to bundle up as it's only in the 20s.

The entire trail goes for 3 miles to Silver Fork Pass but I'm only heading to the meadow which is around 1.5 miles (one-way) and 850 ft (8200 ft). Much of that elevation is within the first 1/4 mile.

As I start, the trail is snow covered and packed (from the snowshoers, cross-country skiers). There's less than 6 inches of snow on the ground as it heads through a Spruce (conifer) forest. I head up that big hill and soon reach the top. The trail now continues to climb but more gradually. 

I weave through the forest and some small meadows. Lots of canine tracks on the trail, in fact I follow them most of the way to the meadow. I'm assuming coyote as dogs are not allowed in the canyon.

About 1/2 way I start getting some peeks of sun. (yea!)

And soon, I reach the meadow and total sunshine - boy does it feel good!

(This is a typical winter turnaround point when there's a lot of snow (unlike today) as there are several avalanche chutes if ones through the meadow and onward. No worries today but it's still my turnaround point.) 

As I enter, I pass many, many down trees (avalanche path)

and then a good sized grove of aspens. I scan for animals on the slopes and the meadow but seeing nothing but deer tracks.

I continue along the trail as it starts a small climb out of the aspens - just looking for a better view.

I stop before the trail starts heading out of the meadow and stand there enjoying the sunshine, the clean air and the unbelievable silence. Total silence - so precious!! 

Time to start heading down.

Great day!

Dec 10 - Jeremy Ranch Walk

Another sunny day with temps in the low 40s. Looking for an easy "flat" walk today which pretty much leaves me a choice of a smoggy (due to the inversion) walk in the valley or heading up towards Park City to walk either East Canyon or the Jeremy Ranch road. I choose the Jeremy Ranch road.

Don't think I'll being seeing deer or elk today as although it's almost the middle of Dec, we haven't had much snow - actually really lacking in snow this year - so there's nothing pushing them down. But I'll be looking again. Basically, just hoping for some duck and a few birds.

I arrive it's sunny, clear and around 32 degrees. I set off up the snow packed and icy dirt road. I'm usually here when there are 3+ foot snow piles on the side of the trail so it's a bit different when there's about 3 inches of snow on the ground.

And the landscape, well, there's a snow on the shadier sections and clear on the sunnier ones.

The little stream is clear in some sections and lightly frozen on others.

Despite the lack of snow, it's still a really pretty walk.

I do see one group of ducks -- Mallards -- on the walk and that's the wildlife for they day! :)

And I see an Elk track in the snow -- no elk though.

I reach my normal turn around point (about 2 miles) and then start heading back.

Nice little walk! Just what I wanted today.