Nippy morning (34 degrees) but the high is supposed to be in the upper 40s. It's cloudy but the weatherman says the sun will come out near afternoon (I hope so otherwise, it's never getting into the 40s.)
It's not only cloudy this morning but hazy as well. Suspect is the inversion as the Warning - please limit your driving signs for better air quality are lit up on the expressway.
But its an easy commute and before I knew it, I was at the Antelope Island gate.
Crossing the causeway this morning was an art lesson in shades of grey because except for the brown vegetation along the road, it was all grey because of the clouds, the inversion, etc. Visibility off the road was really low. Kinda creepy but still cool.
As usual, when I got closer to the island, water in both the Salt Lake to the north and Farmington Bay appears. The water to the north was calm and ice-free (as it should, it's salt water). Farmington Bay looked frozen (but its hard to tell). It would make sense if its frozen, water-levels are low, it's been belong freezing at night for several days (and below freezing during day too).
Then I confirm my frozen suspicion as there are tons of birds (mostly ducks) in open area - swimming and feeding - the rest is definitely ice.
Then I confirm my frozen suspicion as there are tons of birds (mostly ducks) in open area - swimming and feeding - the rest is definitely ice.
Head down towards the Ranch. Quickly see a small herd of bison (maybe 5) before the fenceline.
I see another small herd a little further down. And yet another. It seems that the mega-herd has finally dispersed.
I see another small herd a little further down. And yet another. It seems that the mega-herd has finally dispersed.
I finally find a larger herd up near the mountains. There's a person parked watching them with a spotting scope. I stop and find a deer (female) feeding in the tall grasses near the shoreline. She blends in pretty well.
I continue and a little further, there's yet another large herd of bison on one side of the road and 5-6 stranglers on the other - right next to the road. I'll investigate them on my way back north.
I continue and a little further, there's yet another large herd of bison on one side of the road and 5-6 stranglers on the other - right next to the road. I'll investigate them on my way back north.
I get to the ranch with only bison and one deer sighting.
Time to turn around and head back up the island. There's just a couple of bison heading along the shoreline north. They are solo bison just walking along.
I head to the trailhead at White Rock campground. No bison, antelope, deer or coyote along the way.
The trail to Elephant Head follows the lower portion of the White Rock Loop trail along the Salt Lake. Then when the White Rock Loop trail veers left (east), Elephant Head heads straight up a hill. The trail is just over 8 miles (some sources have it around 9 miles) with an elevation gain of about 600 ft.
Time to turn around and head back up the island. There's just a couple of bison heading along the shoreline north. They are solo bison just walking along.
I head to the trailhead at White Rock campground. No bison, antelope, deer or coyote along the way.
The trail to Elephant Head follows the lower portion of the White Rock Loop trail along the Salt Lake. Then when the White Rock Loop trail veers left (east), Elephant Head heads straight up a hill. The trail is just over 8 miles (some sources have it around 9 miles) with an elevation gain of about 600 ft.
The sun is still trying to come out and it's about 11 am when I start the trail. I'm hoping to see some animals but a State Parks truck takes off down the trail before me and I'm sure any animals that might be around will be scared off - oh well.
The island is still hazy but looking out over the Salt Lake is a wall of fog (or inversion).
Pretty soon I hear another truck, This time a white DNR truck passes by -- I hope they're not going my way. Please!!! (Actually, they went east at the trail split - whew!)
The walk was very brown -- dead brown -- all the plants were just dry stalks. Not one little bloom hanging on still. And no animals -- there's usually a bison or two either at the start of the trail or in the White Rock meadow but nothing I can see.
Very quiet too - no birds, no coyotes howls, etc...
I finally get to the trail split - go left, complete the White Rock Loop; go straight, Elephant Head. I'm heading straight. Ahead of me, a bit of climb (probably most of the 600 ft gain) into unchartered territory for me.
I pass the one tree on the hill where many people with horses rest because there's a hitching post. But I continue on up. I stop to look back over the valley I've traversed quite often, looks pretty from up high.
And....I do spot a few bison down by the water!!!
I finally get to the trail split - go left, complete the White Rock Loop; go straight, Elephant Head. I'm heading straight. Ahead of me, a bit of climb (probably most of the 600 ft gain) into unchartered territory for me.
I pass the one tree on the hill where many people with horses rest because there's a hitching post. But I continue on up. I stop to look back over the valley I've traversed quite often, looks pretty from up high.
And....I do spot a few bison down by the water!!!
There's some light snow in some of the shader spots but for the most part, it's clear.
When I get to the top there's some pretty incredible views (even with the clouds, partial low sun, and inversion) - the White Rock Valley, White Rock and down towards Buffalo Point and then to the north -- the craggy mountains. Wow!
It very rocky terrain up here.
I find my turn-off heading west towards the lake (and Elephant Head).
There's another trail that continue towards the craggy mountains; its the Split Rock Loop (it's another 5 miles).
As I head west, I can see a valley below and the beach - the lake and the mountains to west are blanked by the inversion -- still very pretty though.
When I get to the top there's some pretty incredible views (even with the clouds, partial low sun, and inversion) - the White Rock Valley, White Rock and down towards Buffalo Point and then to the north -- the craggy mountains. Wow!
It very rocky terrain up here.
I find my turn-off heading west towards the lake (and Elephant Head).
There's another trail that continue towards the craggy mountains; its the Split Rock Loop (it's another 5 miles).
As I head west, I can see a valley below and the beach - the lake and the mountains to west are blanked by the inversion -- still very pretty though.
The trail flattens. Lots of big rocks.
I see Bison, coyote and antelope scat but no animals. Passing one rocky outcropping I hear a bunch of Chukkars but can't find them.
I'm about 650 ft above the Salt Lake w/ wide open views.
I'm almost out of land when the trail curves around what must be Elephant Head (a huge pile of rocks). I'm heading east again with shadowy views of the craggy mountains. The trail finally ends at a large rock and a cliff.
Its just me and the Cawing crows and ravens.
What a great spot for lunch!
On the way back I find an animal spine. Too small to be a buffalo - but not sure what it is.
The sun is out now casting a golden glow to the dry vegetation.
I'm almost back to the Split Rock Loop intersection and I spot some dark objects on the grassy mountain in front of me. I think their just trees but when I zoom in, there's 4-5 bison up there - grazing with quite a view!
I see Bison, coyote and antelope scat but no animals. Passing one rocky outcropping I hear a bunch of Chukkars but can't find them.
I'm about 650 ft above the Salt Lake w/ wide open views.
Its just me and the Cawing crows and ravens.
What a great spot for lunch!
On the way back I find an animal spine. Too small to be a buffalo - but not sure what it is.
The sun is out now casting a golden glow to the dry vegetation.
I'm almost back to the Split Rock Loop intersection and I spot some dark objects on the grassy mountain in front of me. I think their just trees but when I zoom in, there's 4-5 bison up there - grazing with quite a view!
On the way down, I can't find the bison I saw by the lake - not sure where they went.
No animals on the way back other than the human kind riding horses.
Back in the car I decide to finish the island loop and head around the Visitor's Center - maybe there's animals there.
No animals on the way back other than the human kind riding horses.
Back in the car I decide to finish the island loop and head around the Visitor's Center - maybe there's animals there.
I see a Chukkar, he steps out of the grasses onto the road in front of my car. As I brake, he turns around and heads back into the grasses. A little further along the road, same thing happens again.
On the last stretch before reaching the causeway, I see two deer (females) feeding along the Salt Lake. A nice way to end my day.
Along the causeway, I stop and take a look at the ducks in the open water -- it's like a huge black mass in the water.
(They look like mostly Northern Shovelers.)
What a fantastic day!!
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