March 4 - Little Dell Reservoir

 Cloudy morning with precipitation arriving late this afternoon. I'm taking a quick trip out to Little Dell reservoir to check the water/ice levels. I'm just curious to see if there is ice break-up because they released water from the dam this week in preparation to the massive snow melt that will happen in May/June. Better to release it now when streams/creeks are low flow then in the middle of the melt; mitigating the potential for flooding this Spring.

I take Emigration Canyon on the way there. At one point before the restaurant, there is a car pulled off the road. Of course, I slow to pass but I look up the hill side to see what they are looking at. Well, there's a few Elk up there! Awesome!

I arrive at the Reservoir just before 9am. I was expecting a parking lot full of people but only a few cars. I need to remember that for the future.

The water/ice looks no different that last time I was out there. Lots of snow/ice; just a frozen landscape.

I head down to the gate for an obstructed view and as I cross the gate, I scare a small flock of turkeys below.

Not bad for a quick trip.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dec 25 - Little Dell Reservoir

Image
Merry Christmas! It cold and snowless in SLC.  And even colder in the mountains so I'm going part way to the Reservoir this morning. I have wool, fleece, light winter coat, wool hat and my best gloves and mask. It's not an early start; more like closer to 10 am. I wind up Emigration Canyon this morning. Great view down into the SL valley as the inversion is not strong yet. I crest at the Pass and start going downhill. I'm looking around hoping I spot a deer/elk/moose. I'm about 1/2 way down and I spot some dark in the trees farther down. Fortunate for me, there's a pull-off and I pull in and get out of my car for a look. At first I see nothing but then there's the dark spot. I zoom in with my camera and.... it's Moose!!  Awesome Christmas present! There's no antlers so I'm not sure male/female but it's actively eating.  I watch for a bit before heading down. Not many people out this morning - not unexpected. The water is unfrozen but there's
Read more

Dec 24 - Gravel Pit/Beacon Hill (Antelope Island)

Image
 Sunny w/ a few early clouds with highs in the low 30s. Heading up to Antelope Island this morning. The plan is Gravel Pit/Beacon Hill; bison permitted. It's in the upper 20s when I arrive on the causeway.  It's frosty this morning with a few hawks flying around. But no critters except gull and a few ducks. I arrive on the Island and there are no bison in sight. In fact, I don't see any critters except a lone bison after the pit toilets.  Oh, there was what looked like a Kestrel that some folks were taking a photo of at the rocks near the Frary Peak turn-off. Quiet morning. No bison near Sentry Peak, I so want to hike that. Soon I will; just giving my hip some more time. I turn at the Ranch and start north. Across from that lone bison but far to the west, I see a few blacks dots on the mountain that I'll bet are bison! Then rolling up on the Frary Peak round, there's about 20 pronghorn heading north!!! Yea!! I arrive at the Gravel Pit trail. There's one car alre
Read more

Sept 7 - Catherines Pass and beyond (LCC)

Image
 Sunny day and 88 degrees in the valley but where I'm heading after work is only in the upper 60s - AWESOME! Yes, the 4th annual Albion Basin Camping trip. Well, it'll be only the 3rd time I've gone. Last year is was over 100 degrees so I took a Pass. But today is absolutely perfect! I leave work at 2pm, make quick trip to Walmart for a new lamp; I left the batteries in the old one and they have gone to acid - yuk! Then it's home to pack, Subway for an early (3:30)  supper and off to my campsite #16 for the 3rd time. Love that site because it's right next to the trail from the campground to the Catherine's Pass. I arrive around 4:30 and get my tent setup, I change and start my hike. Still plenty of flowers around but they fading. I'm seeing Paintbrush, Asters, Geraniums etc. I'm also seeing butterflies: Blues, Parnassian, Milbert's Tortoiseshell and Frits. I'm a little surprised because it's so late in the day. Oh, and bees too! It's a be
Read more