March 19 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

 Heading to Antelope Island to finally hike the Sentry Trail. It's the end of a beautiful 4 days of sun. More rain coming in tomorrow.

The temps are in the low 30 this morning but heading up near 50 days. The winds will also be increasing as the bad weather get closer.

When I arrive on the causeway there are lots of duck flying, swooping around; it's absolutely beautiful!

I arrive on the Island and head toward the Ranch. The three bison behind the VC, 3 more a bit farther down and 1 guy on the east side of the road before the fence.

As I round the 1st curve, I see a coyote trotting towards the road.

It's a quiet drive until round the corner approaching the White Rock/Beacon hill range; there's huge herd of bison spanning both sides of the road. I'm sure the trail runners won't be happy because they are on the trail and crowded around the trail's road crossing.

And I get to drive thru a herd of bison!!

This is a family herd; lots of young bison from last Fall.

They are having fun rolling around and battling dead plants.

I pick my way thru one part of the herd and a bit farther down the road, I get to do it again!

Continuing on, across from Frary Peak there's a Porcupine. And farther on, another small herd of bison almost to the base of the mountains.

I arrive at the Ranch and still no bison in sight; climbing Sentry Trail!

I gear up and start up the trail. A number of birds singing this morning including the Western Meadowlark.

I make my way past Mushroom Spring and up to switchback.

About 1/2 way across the switchback, I look uphill and find 2 Pronghorn spying down on me. 

They watch until I lose sight of them at the end of the switchback. I do not see them as I continue my climb.

Quite a different picture when I reach the loop; it's much all melted now. Yea!

As I climb, there are a few patches of snow that are easily crossed.

However, the final climb is covered in several inches of snow. I decide to go around it and I guess a lot of other folks did the same because there's already a worn trail.

After I'm around the snow, I'm basically on the ridge for the 1st time in 2023!

And it's very windy now and there are no bison in view.

I cross the ridge

and start my way down.

Again, there's one stretch of snow, much lower down hill though. Again I go around.

Then it's just the walk back to my car.

Once in my car, I head north. I'm surprised that those bison are still across the road. I get to drive thru them again!

As I approach the uphill to Gravel Pit, I see another large herd of bison on the ridge over the Gravel Pit! Glad I did the Gravel Pit on Friday!

Awesome day!