It snowed a bit at my house last night. Driveway/road is clear but a beautiful inch or two of fluffy white snow is on the grasses/trees/shrubs. Awesome!
It won't last long as it's already 34 degrees but it's a good start.
Heading up towards Antelope Island this morning as the weather prospects are better to the north and anything is better than the cloudy and foggy weather at my house.
As I drive north, it appears that the skies are clearing -yea! (And there's no snow on the ground either.)
I reach the causeway and start across seeing a Kestrel
and a Goshawk perched on road signs.
There's also a flock of Canadian Geese on the Farmington Bay side.
I'm also shocked to see a coyote trotting along the north side of the causeway. Quite the surprise!
I reach the island and heading south towards the Ranch seeing bison along the the big curve and rocky slopes. They've been there for weeks.
It's a quiet ride the rest of the way with 3 porcupines, another Kestrel and a hawk sightings
along the way. Oh, and the bison are still in the distance against the mountains.
Though the small herd just before the Ranch as not that far from the road.
I think about heading into the snow around Sentry Peak but with the rain, the dirt road will be a bit mucky so I'm heading to White Rock! And it's now sunny with mostly blue skies to the north!
I head to the north and west side of the island to the White Rock trail head.
Unfortunately, there are 9 bison just off the trail about a hundred yards in so White Rock is out.
So it's the Bone Spur Trail (2.7 miles one-way). When I first moved here, I'd walk this in the winter but now I'm barely on it. It's just the long stretch at the bottom of White Rock Bay. It's pretty flat but probably around 1.5-2 miles it starts a gentle up hill.
I start along, keeping an eye on those bison even though they are 100 yards (or so) away. Just a quiet walk.
I finally reach the meadow with snowy Frary Peak ahead.
I find no critters in the meadow so I continue along.
I'm about 1/2 mile from the end when I hear a group of coyotes yipping/yapping to my right. I can't find them so I just listen to their "Christmas carols". :)
I continue to the end of the trail. I have a choice to continue left on the longer White Rock Trail (nope), go back (nope) or continue on a 1/2 mile spur trail up hill to the start of the Elephant Head and Split Rocks Trails (yep).
Up, up I go. I get some nice views of the White Rock area from on top.
Then I head to the trail heads for views of the back of Frary Peak and Elephant Head. And guess what, there are bison down near the water! Cool!
Time to head back!
The entrance to White Rock Bay now!
On may out along the causeway, I see two Kestrels (and one just outside park).
Good day!
