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.

Dec 8 - Antelope Island

Sunny and cold day. Heading up to Antelope Island after work to check things out.

I arrive on the island around 12:30; it's sunny and 32 degrees. Definitely looks cold as the water on Farmington Bay is frozen. The only opening is where the Salt Lake water mixes with the Bay by the bridge.

It's hazy due to the building inversion layer.

Only a few sea gulls left and still not many ducks have arrived.

I head straight for the Ranch -- thinking about hiking the Sentry Trail (perhaps).

Have to admit I'm getting pretty nervous as I'm almost to the Ranch before I finally spot some animals - a small herd of bison down near the lake bed. (Whew!)

I park at the Ranch and decide just to walk the dirt road past the Sentry Peak Trail to the gate at the end of the road.

I start up the road scanning for animals and am seeing none.  :(

The scenery is not too bad though.

After passing the Sentry Trail, I start seeing bison prints on the road and soon spot the bison in the distance near the mountains.

I'm also seeing lots of antelope tracks -- some looking pretty fresh. They are around here somewhere but I'm just not seeing them.

I reach my turn around point and start back. As I near the Ranch again, I spot 6 deer (all doe)!!

I reach my car and start heading back north hoping some animals appear - just like the deer (they must have been bedded down when I first when past).

I pass Frary Peak and am coming up on the water bin when I spot a coyote's head!! He's trotting towards the road (and he's very near it). I slam on the brakes and wait wondering if he's actually going to cross. Holy cow! He's crossing - emerging from the grasses a few feet in front of my car!!

He's a "well raised" coyote; stopping at the edge of the street, looking both ways

before crossing the street!

He then heads back into the landscape!

I then head over to the West side of the island and find no animals

But an awesome day!

Dec 1 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

Sunny day with high in the mid-40s today. Want to head into the mountains (still not much snow yet) but I have a cold and don't think climbing at higher elevation is very wise (especially with a stuffy nose). So heading to my old standby, Antelope Island - always a good time.

I arrive just before 9am. Still cloudy when I start crossing the causeway. I'm greeted by a hawk (it has a white bar across its tail). He's perched on a sign but I can't stop fast enough before it flies - beautiful bird!

The sky is wonderful this morning with a touch of light orange still hanging on due to the cloudy morning but there are blue skies moving in from the north - yea! Add that to the flat water and it's wonderful!!

Even the sea gulls look amazing in the mountain reflections this morning.

I'm hiking the White Rock Trail today but head directly towards the Ranch when I reach the island. As I pass behind the Ranch I notice some deer behind it. They are hard to see as they are laying down and are just little heads peering over the grasses.

I stop and then notice a few are standing. All doe and I count 6. Nice start.

I move on down the island. It isn't too much further down the road I see a couple of bison. And then heading down from the first pull-off I see 3 bison not far from the road. I wonder if one of these bison last time I was here because it's the exact same spot I saw a bison on Sunday. No pronghorn across the street like on Sunday though.

I continue on past Frary Peak and as I continue to the Ranch I see 2 other herds of bison but both in the distance against the mountains.

I reach the Ranch and turn around to head back north and over to the west side of the island and the White Rock Trail. No new animal sightings on the way North.

As I drive thru the White Rock Campground, I notice a herd of bison in the distance to the southeast. And a lone bison in the campground. (Hope he doesn't work his way down to my car by the time I get back.)

I park and head up the trail -- still cloudy to the south and only 38 degrees.

By the time I climb the first hill, the sunny is already out - yea!!!

Pretty quiet trail this morning; just me passing lots of brown plants --- not even a single yellow flower hanging on.

Soon get my first glimpse of White Rock meadow and there are bison down there!!!

I reach the high point (which includes a bench)

and notice 3 other bison and it doesn't look they are that far from my trail -- will soon find out.

There are also 6 bison off in the distance to the west. (Something to look forward too after a couple of miles of hiking).

The views east are wonderful as the inversion layer is quite visible today.

I head down the ridge and soon reach the interior trail and start my way around. I don't see those 3 bison, I must still be above them. A little further along, I do finally find them.

Continuing around, I finally reach some yellow flowers!! It's a short section of trail about 30 feet. There are grasshoppers flying still!

And a beetle!!

And a Clouded Sulpher!! (It's December 1st - that's awesome!!)

After the 30 feet, it's back to dry stalks. There are a few yellow flowers here and there but not many.

I'm coming around the last corner and in front of me on the hill is a herd of Pronghorn!!! I count 30 of them but there may be more.

I still have a little ways to go before I near them but they are very aware of my presence. The bigger group is to my right and smaller group to my left. The smaller group is above the trail -- I will pass right under them when I get there but I do expect them to move as they tend to be skiddish.

I'm getting near when I hear an alarm cry, I look right and see one Pronghorn jump and a bunch start trotting further to right (away from me) but the 4 animals ahead of me stay. I also see one Pronghorn that is further to the west of the main herd.

I pass right under them -- pretty cool!

I look to my left and spot that lone Pronghorn below me in the grasses.

I keep moving and watch him start trotting east and then up towards his herd.

I continue on (spotting another Clouded Sulpher) and soon passing over the 6 bison nearer to the water.

My westward trek is complete and start north heading back to the trail head. I get one more surprise on my way back to the car -- a dragonfly!!

Incredible day! (And no the bison wasn't near my car when I get back. In fact, I'm not sure he moved at all -- he was just laying down resting.)

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!!)