It's in the 40s this morning and mostly sunny. Lucky me, heading up to Antelope Island today for a hike.
When I arrive on the causeway a bit after 8am, there are clouds to the north but mostly sunny everywhere else.
Continuing south, I once again for the 3rd consequtive visit) see bison among the rocks just after the fence line.
And there are a couple more walking right alongside the road.
It's quiet until just after Frary Peak where I spot 2 doe feeding in the tall grasses. I only see them when they have their heads raised; otherwise they are pretty much invisible.
It's not much farther down the road when I pass another car blocking the northbound lane taking photos of some bison in the grasses. I stop just past the car as I see more bison on the lake bed. I get to get a better look. It's a pretty big herd.
I continue on seeing a little herd of bison on the mountain side.
I'm rolling up on the Frary Homestead trail where is a bison in the parking lot and more near the mountainside. I'm attempted to turn in but I see lots of bison ahead and crossing the the road. I drive on.
As I drive forward, I see more bison in the grasses along side my car. They are running; I can hear the grasses rustling and sometimes see their humps.
The bison in front are slowly moving across the road.
There are lots of them moving south thru the grasses towards the crossing. I have to stop and wait.
I reach a parking lot on the right and it's pretty much full of bison.
I inch my way forwards -- even seeing a Mom suckling her calf. Pretty awesome!
Hey, the Western Meadowlarks are still singing! What a pleasant sound!
I thought I'd never get through the herd but I make it and continue down to the Ranch and then to the Sentry Peak trail head. I'm surprised to find more bison south of the trail - a decent sized herd on the ground and more on a nearby plateau. Wow!
It's near 50 degrees and now a bit windy as I start up the trail towards Mushroom Springs.
As I start up the first hill, those bison on the plateau notice me and start running uphill. They're pretty skittish today because I'm probably a 1/4 mile away.
I reach the long flat switchback and start across. Hey, there are some still blooming yellow composites up here and I see a few dragonflies!
There's also a hawk cruising the ridgeline.
It's time to start the second (and final) uphill to the loop. I head up the right path.
There are a dozen plus Blue Scrub Jays flying here - great to see the flashes of blue.
Up, up I go until I reach the ridge.
The sun is all but gone now and it's pretty windy as I walk south along the ridge.
No animal sightings along the way.
Before I know it, it's time to start heading down hill
and back to my car.
Wonderful hike!
