Nov 26 - Antelope Island Safari

Heading out to Antelope Island to hike Sentry Peak today. Its a partly sunny day with temps in the 60s but only in the 50s when I take off around 9am.

When I arrive on the island, it's in the 40s and mostly cloudy. (Where did my sun go?!)

I head south towards the Ranch. Last week when I was here, there were hundreds of bison on the east side of the island. Curious to see if they are still around. Also saw a very large herd of Pronghorn; will they still be around?

As I head down from the first pull-off towards the water bin, I see a single bison just off the road to the west. On the other side of the road, I see the many little heads of Pronghorn lying in the grasses. There are a few Pronghorn standing keeping watch. (Especially on the folks that are running nearby on the trail.)

I stop and get out the car to cross the street for a better view. The bison, who is not far away, takes a good look at me and then continues to feed.

Must be at least 20 Pronghorn down there.

Back to my car, I continue past the bison stopping to listen to him eat.

And the continue on past Frary Peak, past the Frary Homestead and then, finally, I see a coyote down near the lake bed. As I watch, I notice something a little farther out on the lake bed. It's another coyote!! Nope, it's a pair of coyote!!

That's 3 of them all in the same area!! So cool! I roll up the road a bit to catch up with the lone coyote who is heading south.

I watch for a bit before continuing on.

As I continue down to the Ranch, I remember I forgot my hikers and a sandwich --- so much for the hike. Oops! Guess it'll be just a safari today. :)

I reach the Ranch having seen only one bison (unbelievable - least I've seen in 5 years). My plan is to head down the dirt road past the Sentry Peak trail head but the road is now closed for the season (or maybe because it's really muddy) so I pull into the Ranch parking lot. Since I haven't see the Great Horned Owl in over a year (since the tornado hit the island blowing the roof off the barn and
making the wooded area where the Owls hang out too dangerous to walk). Let's find out if the area is open. Yea, it is!!

I head thru the wood scaring up lots of birds as I walk around head up looking for the Owls. Many Spotted Towhee flying and a Flicker and other birds. I also find lots of deer scat on the ground but no deer.

And there, I see the Great Horned Owl!!!!

Can't find the mate today but I'm sure she's around .... somewhere.

Back to my car I drive back north. The coyote I can no longer find.

But I do spot my first Porcupine of the season!!

The Pronghorn, well, most of them are up and moving around now.

The lone bison has move farther from the road but is still across the street from the Pronghorn.

And I find a second bison behind some sagebrush -- very hard to see -- but it's #2!

I head over to the west side of the island thinking there might be some bison around Bison Point or White Rock but there are no bison. (They are sure hiding today.)

Driving over to the beach area, I see 3 deer (doe) feeding not far from the road. And a little further along, I stop for 5 deer (also doe) crossing the road

and then entering the sagebrush. Very cool!

When I reach the causeway again, water on Farmington Bay is a mirror. It's wonderful!!!

Awesome day -- always great to see the Island's "Big 4" (Bison, Deer, Pronghorn and Coyote) and the Porcupine too!!

Nov 19 - Twin Lakes (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Beautiful sunny morning but temps are only in the mid-20s. Heading up into the mountains to check out the 7-12 inches of snow from Friday. My plan is to hike to Twin Lakes for the last time this season -- it's part of a ski resort which will be opening in the next few weeks. Hoping many folks went up on Saturday to beat down a path thru the snow which will make my trek much easier.

Head out just after 9am -- just trying to let the sun warm things up a bit.

Heading up Big Cottonwood is pretty awesome! Snow on both the north and south facing rocky slopes, layered on the pines, on the rocks in the streams, ... unbelievable! It's so nice to see after a long hot summer.

I arrive at Silver Lake - only in the low 20s but sunny! I walk into the meadow to wonderful views!!

I love coming earlier before the hoar frost melt as it layer crystals on the still standing plants and shrubs.

And it forms little flakes on the top layer of snow.

I work my walk along the packed snow path to the bridge and around the snow/ice covered lake

o the trail to Twin Lakes which is happily packed down as well. I start up the trail thru the naked aspens and the still snow-covered pines.

Well, I'm not the only one loving the packed snow; lots of deer tracks along the path as well. (Always take the path of least resistance.)

I reach the ledge over Silver Lake. Not going to be seeing Pika today as the rocks are all snow-covered.

I start across enjoying the snowy scenery.

Once across, it's time for the climb to Twin Lakes.

Along the way, I see one deer (a doe) walking then bouncing thru the forest.

Always an incredible walk thru the snow.

Almost there!

Finally, the dam is in sight

The view down isn't so bad either!

I worked make way up and to the other side. Crazy beautiful!!!

After resting on the un-snowy edge of a snow-covered rock, I head down thru the powder to get a clean view of the mountains.

I then make my way back to the rock and bask in the snow for a bit. There are a few skiers having fun on the slopes across the lake.

Soon its time to start heading down.

Meet 6 people (3 groups of 2) on my way down. When I reach Silver Lake again, I complete the loop around Silver Lake. Stopping first at the dock.

And then again on the shady side of the lake.

Awesome day! (Keep bringing the snow!!)

Nov 18 - Antelope Island

Big storm blew through yesterday with a mix of mostly rain with some snow and hail mixed in. Along with the precipitation, the stormed dropped the temperatures (and dumped upwards of 12 inches of snow in the mountains).

So this morning, despite the sun, it's only 27 degrees when I arrive on Antelope Island. (Brrr!) There is even a thin layer of ice near the edge of the water (and very few ducks and gulls).

I should be hiking Sentry Peak today (did White Rock last week) but with over an inch of rain, I'm sure the road will be frozen mud this morning. Which is fine until it melts into slippery mud. So I'm planning to hike White Rock again (or perhaps up to Elephant Rock).

But for now, I head turn left and head down to the Ranch. Hoping for the return of the animals, they've been pretty invisible the last two weeks when I've been here. (The storm might have moved them around a bit.)

Well, it's much of the same "no animals" as I pass behind the Visitor's Center and reach the first pull-off. The mountains across the bay are all snow covered again (yea!) but they're are hard to see with the sun still very low in the sky. (It'll be better looking when I come back.)

I continue on down the hill towards Frary Peak. I do see a herd of bison on top of a ridge (just small black dots in the distance).


I pass Frary Peak and before the next pull-off, I see a bunch of trucks pulled off the road. They must be watching something.

I pull up and see nothing but a bunch of hunter looking men with their spotting scopes all pointed up at the rocks below the Frary Peak. As I roll by, I ask one of the men; they said there are deer in the rocks.

I continue on laughing as I find it somewhat ironic that the hunters are scoping the island's large buck instead of finding deer that they can actually hunt. (No hunting on the island.) Perhaps it's just satisfying their dreams of that trophy buck that didn't happen this year!

Hey, there's snow on the Island's mountains too!! First time this season!

As I roll up on the side road to the Frary Homestead, I see a bunch of bison near the parking lot. I never been to the Homestead but I'm going to the parking lot now! I pull up and the bison are very near the parking lot. I get out of my car and stand behind the log fence and watched as the bison slowly move by. I can hear them chewing and huffing.

All with their fresh new ear tags.

There's a little guy in with the herd.

(Last year, during the bison physicals, they separated the Mom and young calves holding them into a pen for the winter. Either this Mom/calf pair missed the physicals or the DNR decided not to separate them this year.)

As the last of the group moves by, one gets a little "frisky" (or dominance behavior).

And then butt heads a bit.

Before moving on.

I move on too and not too much further down the road is a massive herd of bison. One large group in the meadow and one a bit above the meadow.

Continuing on, I see two animals on the beach. Too big to be coyote, they are Pronghorn!

One takes off running up the island (north). The other takes a bit of time before following. Not sure what scared them to take off but they were running (not trotting).

I continue on and soon I'm at the Ranch. There I decide that I'm not taking a long hike today; there's a bit of a wind and it's cold. But I will head up to Bison Point (only about 1/2 mile on way).

So I start heading back up the island. I'm not far from the Ranch when I see a large group of Pronghorn running through the sagebrush towards the road. I stop but there's another car coming in the opposite direction. I'm not sure they see the animals. I'm praying they stop. The Pronghorn start running across the road and the car stops as a few animals pass right in front of their car! Whew!

The remaining animals (and there are a bunch of them) stop and head a bit north before passing behind their car.

After they cross, they continue to head north some still running and others slow down or even stop to graze.

And the Pronghorn keeps coming across the road! There has to be over 50 of them! I count the last ones and I get 23 and there were plenty more that crossed before! How exciting!! (And I never saw these guys on my way to the Ranch - very stealthy.)

I continue on past the large herd of bison (and the other herd from the Homestead). And I see the 2 Pronghorn I saw earlier still moving north (while all the other animals are moving south).

I see the hunter's trucks in the distance and as I roll up, I see the 2 deer the one hunter is looking at in the grasses. A doe

and a big guy!! He's a beauty!!

I watch for a while before continuing on and eventually over to the west side of the island and up to the Bison Point parking. Beautiful views as always! I start up the trail

There's a lone bison down there!

And soon reach the top and look towards Elephant Rock to the south.

I head north through the rocks for a good view north.

Time to head back.

Great day!

Nov 11 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

Sunny day but cool - temps in the low 40s this morning. Heading up to Antelope Island today to hike the White Rock Trail. Hoping there's bison (or Pronghorn) in the meadow.

Not many ducks along the causeway this morning but it's bright and 43 degrees.

Lots of cars out this morning - perhaps the Island has a special event today. There are signs for another Bison Run (and I see water stops) and the Bison Auction (This is the way they control the island's bison population and make some money for improvement/maintenance on the island. I believe this a genetically pure bison so they are sold to build a herd and add new genetics to existing herds and yes, probably some for food.)

I head south towards the Ranch passing behind the Visitor's Center - no animals to be seen. I see two bison along the dirt road to the Beacon Hill parking lot and a small herd near the water bin after coming down from the first viewpoint.

After passing Frary Peak, I see a number of the trail runners on that Bison Run and I figure it's time to turn around and head to my trail as the runners have probably scared any animals that may have been nearby. (And besides, last week  there weren't many animals to be seen either; just expecting the same today.)

I head back up the island and at the intersection make a left turn heading to the trail head. No animals seen along the way.

Just a few cars in the parking area. I gear up and start up the White Rock Trail. (43 degrees).

Very quiet out this morning. All the grasses are dry and in various shades of tans. There are a few sunflowers still blooming but it varies with the location of the trail.

As I head up the switchbacks, I expect to see cars/trucks at the bison corrals (and bison in the corrals) because of the Bison Auction signs along the road. But no cars or bison.

It is happening today. Perhaps those bison are hiding in the corrals. (I am a good distance away.)

I continue pass and along the trail. Not seeing bison or antelope scat today -- only fresh horse piles. (Have to dodge more than just the stray rock today.)

Soon I can see White Rock Bay and the big meadow. There three crows/ravens flying back-n-forth along the horizon.

Hey, there a few bison down there!

I stop briefly for a view of Frary Peak

and then continue down to the ridge.

I decide to take the shorter trail (which is actually the real White Rock Trail). Along this stretch following the contours on the hills, I see one small lizards (he quickly ducked into his hole), one dragonfly, one beetle and many grasshoppers flying as I pass.

And for the surprise of the day, one Checkered White

and a Painted Lady!!!

It's mid-Nov very exciting to see them!

And the bison - still far in the distance.

I reach the end of west bound trail and turn north. Pretty cool to have a great view north to Bison Point and

south of White Rock Bay/Elephant Point at the same stopping point!

Then it's back down to my car.

I decide to ride around the Visitor's Center, still hoping for animals. But nothing.  They are definitely in hiding right now. :)

Still a lovely day though!

And it's Veteran's Day -- Thanks to all that have served and those still serving!!