Feb 4 - Gravel Pit/Beacon Hill Trail (Antelope Island)

February 10, 2023

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 around and just after passing the bison again, I see little white dots on the horizon. Yes, a small herd of Pronghorn!!

The only new finding on the way north is a hawk (Gohawk maybe Harrier) trolling along the edge of the road. I get to ride next to him for just a minute but he heads higher.

I park at the trail head, gear up and start along the trail. Last time I was here, I slog thru an inch or 2 of wet snow. Well that snow is still here and there's more including little drift to trudge! So glad I did not try and hike Sentry Peak today.

I get out of the Pit and I see no bison ahead - awesome!

Quiet walk; just me and my crunching footsteps and an occasional bird chirp.

There no path just follow the sparse footsteps.

At one point, there's been a herd of Pronghorn roll thru heading north; lots of hoof tracks. They seem to have found a path of less snow so I follow until the prints stop.