Feb 3 - Little Dell Reservoir (East Canyon)

 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 idea where I'm going but I do know that the trail I'm on does NOT meet up with the trail I want to on.

But I'm enjoying the walk and checking out the Foothills for Elk (there're all in Salt Lake right now), moose or deer. Not seeing any though.

I'm about ready to turn when I see a well-worn trail heading west hopefully to the "real" trail so I take. And yea! I'm reach the trail and it's snow-packed!

I reach the old car so I'm know I'm on the right path.

I also find a squirrel (probably my only mammal of the day). And surprise, he is not even chirping at me.

and 2 spots of Elk/Moose scat very near to other. I also see a large hoof print.

I finally reach the bridge

It's a good view of the depth of snow out there -- see the branches.

On the last stretch, I find a tuft of moose hair.

And soon I'm on the road nicely groomed for the X-country skiers.

I start my way back to the parking lot.

At one point I meet up with 2 ladies skiing up the road and they stop to tell me there is a moose up ahead on the west side of the road about 50 feet off. It's laying down so it's not an issue. Yes! I'm excited and keeping my eyes open, stopping to look back at time.

I'm seeing more deep tracks on both sides of the road and lots of scat. The moose are definitely using the road to move around.

I'm fearing I somehow missed it but at one point I stop and look back and there he is! 

Clear as day if one is going up (north) on the road; very hard to see going south. Very happy I stopped. Makes my day!

Oh, and there's another squirrel along the road as well as a hawk.

Awesome day! (But no elk on the return trip down Parley's; other there was an Elk crossing earlier in the afternoon.

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