Feb 13 - Mormon Trail (East Canyon Drive)

Heading for the higher elevation foothills just west of Park City -- specifically East Canyon Rd around Little Dell reservoir. (This is my first time here.)

Another day with sun and near 50 degree temps in the higher elevation. My trail starts around 5700 ft; high enough to be out of the smog of the valley.

I exit off I-80E on East Canyon Rd heading north and go until the road ends (about 3-4miles) at a gate; there is no winter vehicle access on the remaining portions of the road. But it is open to foot traffic (X-country ski, snowshoe, hiking). There is a parking lot just before the end of the road. The lot overlooks a very frozen Little Dell Reservoir.

It's not a sunny morning, still very cloudy but it's supposed to get sunny.

There are a few folks ice fishing on the lake this morning. The lake is very pretty.

It takes me a little while before I find the start of the trail. It actually drops over one side of the parking lot. I head down and a few switchbacks later there's a sign for the Mormon Trail heading to the left.

The trail heads thru the trees and then opens up a bit before heading back into the trees; this repeats several times.

In the open areas, I look for signs of animals but am seeing none so far.

I see blue sky moving in from the north (yea!)

At one point, I start hearing water running. The trail is getting closer to an open stream. I follow a side trail down to the stream. Very pretty.

I find the remnants of a bird kill under a tree - lots of feathers on the ground.

I continue along the trail still looking thru the trees and on the hills. Finally, I see something dark on the hill.

Looks like a silhouette of possibly a moose. I zoom in with my camera and yes! it is a moose! He's male (no antlers) and he's bedded down. I can see him chewing!

I watch him closely as I continue along the trail but I soon lose sight of him because of the trees.

Soon I come upon a footbridge crossing the creek.

A little while later, I pop out on the East Canyon Rd. The creek is now on the left side of the road.

I can cross the road and continue on the trail but decide to just walk the snow covered road for a while - it's heading to Big Mountain. (The sun is fully out now -- blue skies to the north.)

I walk up the road as it ascends to Big Mountain for between 1-2 miles. There's some beautiful sunny high peaks.

And there's a spider on the road. He's alive!!  Never thought I'd see a spider in the middle of winter on the snow.

(I see another on the way down.)

On top of one hill is a couple trees and a dark (non-tree looking) form.

It's a long way off but I zoom in anyway.... it's an Elk!! (A male elk still with antlers!) He is way up there - and looks to be by himself.

I move down the road for a different angle.
(When I get home, I notice a second larger set of antlers under the tree -- there's at least two males up there!!!)

Well that really makes my day -- seeing the moose actually did but the two elk is just a cherries on top!

I turn around and start heading downhill.

When the location is right, I start looking for that moose again but its really hard to see the hills with all the trees alongside the road.

But finally, I see him! He's standing and munching on some small trees. He's slowing heading down the hill.

Oops, he's got forward momentum going and he's running....then I lose him as he reaches the valley. How exciting!

I continue on to my car and enjoy a few last views of the reservoir.

Great day!