Utah Adventure 2023

 Fresh snow on the ground from massive storm on Monday. I was one of the lucky with only 8-9 inches of snow. Most other locations got 15-24+ inches. I'm heading up to Antelope Island this morning as the day is supposed to be sunny with highs in the mid-30s and minimal wind. The one thing I don't know is how much snow they got. Snow could ruin my hike but I'm taking the chance anyway. Still working on sunny when I arrive on the causeway around 9am. It's a frozen tundra (temps in the 20s) and it doesn't look like they got dumped on; snow yes but just a few inches. Yea! As I cross the causeway, I pass a perched Kestrel and a coyote pair on the ice (Farmington Bay). If I was a few minutes later, I would have missed them because they were working on laying down. Nearer to the Island, again there are lots of ducks and one Bald Eagle sitting among the ducks. Off to a nice start this morning! (And the flags are still.) I reach the Island and head south. There are no bison a

Sunny day with a highin the low 40s. And hey, it's in the 30s at 7am. It's be the warmest start to a hike in months! Heading back to Antelope Island to try and get a hike in. I arrive on the Island and its about 30 degrees and mostly sunny. There are clouds stilll moving east; it'll be sunny soon. Again no Bald Eagles but lots of ducks. There's a small herd of bison on the northeast corner of the Island behind the Visitor's Center. I turn south and head towards the Ranch. As I arrive at there White Rock area, I see bison on the ridge (middle and south end). Great to see them again.  I was thinking about hiking Sentry Trail again but I'm going up to Beacon Hill to see how big that herd is. As I pass Frary Peak, I count 4 Porcupines in the trees. Most I've see in a couple of years. And those Porcupines are the last thing I see all the way to the Ranch. I really should hike Sentry Trail but I'm heading north. I arrive at the Gravel Pit trail head. I'm t

 Heading up to Antelope Island this morning to get a hike in. It's sunny and 16 degrees when I leave my house this morning. (Wishing so hard to get some seasonal temperatures instead of the below normal stuff especially in winter.) It's just a few degrees warmer when I reach the Island. And yes, it's still a frozen tundra. And the flags are blowing; yuk it's cold and windy! Lots of ducks still today. They are mostly on the SL side because there's only a small opening on the Farmington Bay side and no Bald Eagles :( I reach the Island and head south towards the Ranch. Thanks to a lady who was pulled over by the rocks, I do spot a small herd that's among those rocks. It's a quiet drive until after the pit toilets when a coyote runs in front of my car heading west. Scares the crud out of me because it was pretty close! I continue to the Ranch w/o seeing any Pronghorn or any other bison. So it's time to find the Owl(s). And that's when I find out that I

 Sunny day with highs around 40 degrees - finally a nice Friday to take a hike!! Heading up to Antelope Island; thinking about doing the Sentry Trail despite a still sore heel and right hip (pull muscle or maybe sciatica). It's in the low 20 when I arrive on the causeway. Still very frozen as it's been nothing but cold.  After I cross the bridge and see all the ducks, I see a young Bald Eagle out on the ice. Definitely caught a duck this morning. (I get to see him flap his wings!) A bit farther, there's another Bald Eagle. He's a bit closer to the causeway and he too has a duck. Hey, there is a Tundra Swan out there as well! I've never seen a swan here before - lucky day! I arrive on the Island and head south towards the Ranch.  There are no bison around the Visitor's Center this morning. It's not until across from Frary Peak til I see my next critter, a Pheasant. He perched on a tree branch. Unfortunately, he flies before I can take a photo. There's a p

 Sunny/hazy day with temps near 40 degrees - it's a heat wave! But the morning is a chilly 22 degrees when I leave my house around 7:30 heading up to Antelope Island. At this point I'm thinking about hiking the Sentry Trail we'll see what it looks like on the island. It's still in the low 20s as I start across the causeway. It's a frozen landscape and the haze makes it look even colder. Lots of duck this morning near the bridge; the most I've seen in months and yes, there's a single Bald Eagle out on the ice hoping to take advantage. (Who knows perhaps he already has!) On the Island I head south towards the Ranch. There's no bison behind the Visitor's Center and other than a Porcupine across from Frary Peak, it looks like I'm going to get shut-out this morning. I should mention that there is far more snow here than I expected so no Sentry Peak today. As I approach the Ranch, hey, there's a small herd of bison on the west side!! I make my turn

 Cloudy day with temps in the mid-30s. Heading back to Little Dell Reservoir after work. This time I'm actually taking a hike and I'm still hoping to see that elk herd hanging out in SLC (near mouth of Parley's Canyon). Head up around 1:30 pm; still no elk but that dead moose is still on the side of the road. It's a hazy sunshine when I arrive in the parking lot. Lots of clouds but at least I'm out of the inversion! Way more cars in the parking lot too but it's a Friday. I put on my Yaktrak and head down the trail. Despite no real sunshine, it's a great day. It's quiet; I hear occasion voices from the road above, some crows/ravens, squirrels and a Chickadee. There are tracks but they are pretty faded or it's just the soft snow. Trail is hard packed. I get to the point in the trail with the sign stating (No Trail Work) with the chain across. I'm a little concerned that no one has been on that trail so I take the well-worned trail north. I have no