Feb 24 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

 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 around the Visitor's Center.

I don't see any critters until near Frary Peak when I spot a herd of Bison. (They are all laying down.)

And another pair of coyotes.

After the pit toilet, I spot a large herd of Pronghorn. They are scattered with 5-6 close to the road and the rest along the lake bed in smaller herds. Love it!

I arrive at the Ranch and see that the road to the trail head is pretty clear so I'm hiking Sentry Trail. I know I won't make it to the Peak due to snow drifts so my goal is the switchback.

I start up the road. There are snow covered spots so I'm trying to stick to the open spots. A strategy I try to keep on the entire hike.

There is a wind but it's not bad.

 Just before the trail head is a large snowdrift - mid calf probably. And the end the easy portion of the hike. The rest of the trail is snow of varying depths and a few open spots. It's basically a trudge especially when I start uphill.

There is another set of footprints heading up but none coming down. Strange because the only car in the lot is the Ranger car. Oh well, I'm following his footprints for the most part trying to find the path of least snow but it's hard.

After the first little climb (and off-shoot trail back to Mushroom Springs), I spot a lone Pronghorn. He trots off and heads downhill. Love spotting critters on the trail!!

The wind has definitely picked up and it biting cold. It's from the south so at least I don't have to worry about it on my return.

Farther up the hill, in gully, I spot a lone deer laying down. 

I look for other deer but I don't see any but there are lots of hoof prints in the area. Maybe I'm just not seeing them.

I continue up to just before the switchback. The drift is over a foot deep and uphill. Whew! 

I reach the switchback. The wind is really blowing now. I don't want to walk north on the causeway and have to return in that wind so this is my stopping point.

To the south:

To the east

After a brief break, it's time to head back thru the snow.

On the way down, I see a deer in the same area as the previous. In fact, I believe it's the same deer until I notice the one still laying down. There are 2 deer! (I did miss them!) 

I continue to watch when I notice there are a total of 4 deer (one laying and 3 standing). Awesome!

Wow! I've seen Bald Eagle, Coyote, Bison, Pronghorn and Deer! I'm stopping to look for the Owls at the Ranch now!

Back at the Ranch, I lose the backpack and head in the woods Owl hunting. I quickly find Owl Pellets. I've never seen them before so it's pretty cool!

The owl mush frequent a perch above me so I look up and find an Owl!

I back up for a better view of a frontal end instead of the dangerous bottom end. Don't want to get hit by a pellet.

I walk around and thru the woods searching for the mate but have no success.

Time to head out.

On my way north, the Pronghorn herd is still there. There are less visible. I presume, many are laying down.

The bison herd is not up and feeding but still in the same location.

And on the north end, there is now a bison herd near the fence and the Bald Eagle is still on the water.

I also see 2 Kestrels - one looks like he just got lunch and the other is perched.

Incredible day!