Oct 27 - Little Cottonwood Trail (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading out for a quick after work hike today. It's a great day - sunny and around 60 degrees. Looking for something with a chance of color so I decide to head to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon to hike the Little Cottonwood Trail. I've been on this many many times, mostly in the Spring and Winter.

I opt for the shorter hike so I bypass the main lower parking (saves me 2 miles round-trip) for the smaller upper parking. By the looks of the trees along the road, there won't be many leaves to look at today just naked trees - oh well.

I arrive at the upper parking and head down to the trail. There's sun but most of this hike will be in the shade as the trail is near the mountains and the sun so low this time of the year and not making it over the peak down to the trail. Glad I brought my fleece (wish I brought my gloves though).

I head to the left and the end of the trail. Pretty bare trail, no birds singing, and I don't see/hear any critter running around....just the flowing of the stream to listen to.

I do spot a butterfly in a small sunny section. Mostly likely a Comma but I didn't really get a good look.

I arrive at the end of the trail and the old concrete building. The creek is low but flowing.

Time to head downhill to the lower bridge about 2 miles away.

I make a stop at the water wheel (water here)

But not on the other side (from a bridge less than 50 yards away). Siphoned away for our water supply.

Down, down I go until I arrive at the final bridge. A trickle of water flowing here. This is the current state of the waterfall.

Time to head back.

Good little hike.

Oct 24 - Frary Peak (Antelope Island)

Beautiful sunny day with temps in the mid-60s forecast today.

Part of me really want to head into the mountains but the other part was concerned with the snow/ice I may face so I'm heading to Antelope Island to hike the Frary Peak trail. I've only hiked this once before; it was in the Spring (I remember flowers). Didn't make it up to the top as after the 3 mile mark, the trail appears to turn very rocky - looks sketchy for me. But I still had an awesome view!! That's were I plan on stopping again today.

As I cross the causeway, I see American Avocets

and Shovelers (they're back for the winter).

I arrive on the island and head south towards the Ranch (and Frary Peak).

Not far down the road, there's a lone bison near the road.

A little further (before the gate), there are 3 other bison. One of which has a flower stuck in his horn.

Near the bison are two pronghorn grazing nearby.

I continue down the road, checking the first pullout; no animals below. Moving on the road heads downhill and at the bottom of that hill is a huge herd of bison!!

I continue onto the Frary Peak turn-off and then head up to the parking lot. Only a single car in the lot and I don't see them on the trail nearby.

The trail up Frary Peak is 3.2 miles and a tad over 2000 ft gain to ~6600 ft. (I'm only going 3.0 miles to the radio tower. I guess someday I should just try that last 1/4 mile to the top of Frary Peak instead of judging the trail by looks, but it won't be today.)

It's just 43 degrees and sunny as I start up the trail. And the trail, well, there's no warm up as it climbs 500 ft in less than 3/4 mile.

Happily, it levels off as the trail passes Dooley Knob. Below I can see another herd of bison just to the south of me.

I'm sure I'll see these guys again as I gets viewpoints to the east.

Frary Peak (the tall one) is looking nice this morning.

Before I switch over to the west side of the island, I notice 2 bison (mostly likely males) head butting below me. (I wish I was closer to see and hear the battle.)

The trail then crosses over to the west side of the island heading south towards Frary Peak - Elephant Rock is now in view as it White Rock Bay/Meadow.

The rest of the trail switches between mildly climbing to steep. Most path is mostly on the west side of the island with a few viewpoints looking east.

I pass a rocky outcropping and start hearing Chukkars and I eventually find them.

It's not long before I round a corner and there's a lone bison about 50 yards in front of me.

Not to worry, I turn south following the trail. However, Mr Bison decides to parallel me so I can't leave him alone. I keep walking, he keeps walking. Finally, he stops and start pawing the ground. Oh, he's not happy with me. I wish the trail would veer east or go uphill really soon. After pawing, he lays on the ground and starts wallowing. I don't think that's a good thing (but it's fun to watch).

Finally, the trail goes uphill (yea!)

and thru a rock tunnel

and I can leave Mr Bison behind.

He continues to move but downhill towards Elephant Rock. (Good, I won't have to deal with him later.)

Speaking of Elephant Rock, I finally pass it by.

And watch several bison running through a gully below. (Looks like a herd on the move!)

Back to the east side again; just briefly looking northeast past Dooley Knob.

I continue on. In the distance on the ridge I notice something. It's probably just a rock but I need to check it out.

Well, its not rocks....... they are Bighorn Sheep!!! A whole herd of them! (Probably 11-15 of them)

Pays to check things out!! It's the first time I've seen them here! So I'm pretty excited! And I get to watch them for quite awhile as I heading south and they are south of me. Very cool!

Looks like several males, females and this years babies. I know rutting season is coming soon and it appears the males are sniffing to see if the females are in heat.

I stop several times to take pictures. Even when I finally get parallel to them, they are far away but the camera really helps.

At around the 2.5 mile mark, I finally lose sight of them as a mountain gets in the way. Only 1/2 mile to get to Stringham Peak (6374ft) - one more hill to climb.

On the way up, I meet the folks from the other car in the parking lot. I ask them about the Sheep and they did see them; they crossed the trail in front of them.

There's the radio tower; just a few more feet.

Soon I'm on top with a 360 view of the world!

South towards Frary Peak.

West

North

and East.

Awesome!!!

I find a spot to take a break and have lunch...with the world below me feet.

Time to head down.

On the way, I look for the sheep. It took me a while but I find a bunch of them feeding a bit lower than they were previously. The others might be around and just blending into the landscape or they might have move on.

I continue down catching sight of 2 butterflies. I'm not sure what they are but I did see a flash of orange. A bit further down,, I see another and it's a (surprise) a California Tortoiseshell!!

I never knew they flew here. But then the only times I ever hike is in the Fall, Winter, and Spring (before the biting gnats come out) so that's not prime butterfly season. I guessing those other two were CA Tortoiseshells as well.

I finally have Dooley Knob in view again and White Rock Bay.

Looks like there are a couple of Bison in White Rock Meadow and a whole herd up on Beacon Knob.

I'm finally down at the trailhead were I find a Melissa Blue!!

Incredible day!

On the way back up the island, that large herd of bison is still there. But there are 3 pronghorn to the south of them at the water well.

Can't beat this day!!

Oct 21 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

Cold front blew through yesterday afternoon with 50+ mile winds and snowfall in the mountains. This morning I awoke to frost, the mountains still socked in with clouds and the valley sunny. I'm heading for guaranteed sunshine at Antelope Island this morning. It'll be cool though as the highs may reach 50 degrees today.

Beautiful morning as I drive across the causeway. Although the wind is blowing, some parts of the Great Salt Lake side are still leaving wonderful reflections. Still lots of seagulls near the water although their numbers do seem to be dropping.

As I close in on the island I see a coyote along the shoreline. I move in for a closer look.

Then I head down to the Ranch as I'm hiking the Sentry Trail today.

I see my first bison of the day not even 1 mile onto the island.

My first stop is the first pullout -- I do this everytime I'm here and usually there's nothing below but sometimes there's a surprise like today's large herd of pronghorn!!!

I count 26 but there could be more.

From here, I also get a good view of Salt Lake.

And 3 small herd of bison to the west, northwest and southwest.

Moving on, there's nothing happening until just past Frary Peak where I see a very large herd of bison. But they are out near the mountains.

The herd is spread out stretching a good 1/4 mile or more.

Soon I arrive at the Ranch and head down the dirt road towards the trail head. I'll have company on the trail this morning as there's another car already parked and the people are somewhere far along the trail as I cannot see them.

I put on my gloves and coat (it's only 43 degrees and windy) and head off. But before I even get to the trail, I'm greeted by a Horned Lark.

As I head up the trail, I notice what looks like animals far in the distance and on closer inspection, it's another herd of pronghorn. Looks like around 10 animals.

I'll get somewhat closer as I move up the trail. But when I do, I can't find them - the landscape is rolling so they must be behind a "roll". I eventually find one and then I get a glimpse of the herd running south.

Time to head up the hill.

Along the way, I see a dragonfly

And grasshoppers.

I reach the long flat switchback - 1/2 way there!! I also see a herd of bison along the ridge on the south end of Sentry Peak. They could be a problem for me a little later.

As I'm crossing, I see a big black beetle.

I also see dog tracks. These could by coyote but they also could be the dog of the other hikers out here.

Done with the flat part; time for the rest of the uphill. Along the way, I'm surprised to find the smallest butterfly in the US -- the Western Pygmy Blue. (It's wingspan is between 3/8 - 3/4 inch.)

Quite a surprise as the White Rock Trail is usually a good spot for these and I haven't seen one this Fall. Also, this trail was burned out by the wildfire last summer, so to see them is pretty exciting!

Tons of sunflowers as I near the top -- most already done blooming. It's like a sunflower forest!

 Soon I reach the top -- wonderful views!!!

(There's whitecaps out on the water!)

And start my way across. I meet the other hikers (they are going the other way). The one guy tells me about a large herd of bison on the other side of Sentry Peak (the ones I saw earlier). They also do not have a dog so those were coyote tracks on the trail below!

As I complete the trek across the ridge, I'm looking for bison and making sure the large dark boulders I'm passing are really rocks. I'm not finding them until I cross the ridge just on the other side!!!

At first, they seem obviously to my presence as I move along the trail. But them, they notice as heads turn and others move off.

I just continue downhill.

Looks like there's a young calf nursing

and a baby "Red".

Downward I go. Seeing Clouded Sulphers flying now. (21 of them!)

And another the final stretch to the parking lot, I find a very faded Melissa Blue!!!

Awesome hike!

Back at the car, I decide to continue down the dirt road hoping to find that herd of pronghorn but I was unsuccessful.

Nothing new as I drive back up the island except that very large herd of bison along the mountains are still along the mountains but have separated into several smaller herds and those pronghorn I saw from the overlook have moved into the open near one of the water bins!

Great day!

Oct 18 - Twin Lakes Pass (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Cool morning today (in the 30s) but highs heading up near 70. Heading up to hike  to Twin Lakes Pass (9993ft) at the end of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

I've been up to Twin Lakes several times this season but it's finally time to head to the Pass. I've been there once, last Fall after a snowfall. Unbelievable! (With the exception of the power lines that cut thru the view at the Pass.)

Almost 40 degrees when I arrive after 9am. Not many people here yet but as I take off, several cars of school kids arrive -- if there were any animals around, they were sure to be running for cover from the yelling/screaming. :)

The sun already has melted the frost from the vegetation as I work my way counter-clockwise around the boardwalk. The peaks still have some snow on them -- looks good even in the early morning sun.

The lake level of Silver Lake has dropped, the ducks have left ....... but still looking good.

I decide to go directly to Twin Lakes instead of looping up there past Lake Solitude --- the reason is simple: sunlight = warmth. (The Pass is 2.2 miles and ~1200ft in elevation.)

So I head up thru the now bare aspen trees.

There's a hawk circling overhead.

I reach the ridge and slowly pass thru the rock slide looking for Pika. I hear a couple but only catch a glimpse of one.

At the end of the ridge, there's a bunch of trees. Last time I was here, I saw a doe and her 2 fawns. As I pass thru today I'm looking at the trail because it's an icy stretch when I hear a rustling to my left. I look up and see a lone doe in the trees not far from the trail.

I look forward to start moving again when I see 2 more deer move off the trail and into the trees. Hard to see them from where I'm standing so I move up the trail a bit and find them. I thought perhaps these were the Mom & 2 fawns I saw last time but the one deer looks like another adult and then the other is much smaller.

Moving on and up to Twin Lakes.

The trail is pretty clear, some spots soon to be muddy but mostly dry.

Soon I reach the dam and then Twin Lakes. The lake is even lower!! I head down to the shoreline. Awesome!!

Above the other side of the lake is the Pass.

I think there might be 2 Lakes today but I'll find out when I get higher. Time to continue up to the Pass... with a stop at my "perch" first. (I have to wade thru some snow to get there though.) Clearly almost Twin Lakes now!! Just a bit of water connecting them.

I then continue up the road trying to find the Pass Trail. Fortunately, there's snow on the left side of the road. I find tons of tiny prints (chipmunks, squirrels) in the snow and finally, I see bigger tracks and head up thru the snow. I get to the top and there's the trail - success!!!!

I pop up with the other side of Twin Lakes below me. And then continue along the trail to the Pass.

Looking for moose below .... but none visible.

At the Pass, I can see down on Twin Lakes (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

And the on the other side of the Pass, I can see down Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Salt Lake Valley.

Pretty awesome!

I move down the trail so I don't see the power lines crossing the valley, find a rock and have lunch.

Time to head down to Twin Lakes.

And then continuing back to my car. On the way down, I find 3 deer -- perhaps they are the ones from earlier in the day.

And as I move forward, 3 more come trotting up the hill joining them!

Soon I reach the ridge and pass the area where I saw the 3 earlier. I look down and there's one laying in the grasses. Looks like it's nap time.

I keep looking for others and finally notice another nearby.

Though I'm sure these two are the ones I saw earlier in the morning, I never find the third.

Awesome day!