July 27 - Antelope Island

Well the final numbers are in for the large wildfire that swept Antelope Island last week-end (dubbed the West Antelope fire):
- approximately 15,100 acres (of approx 28,000) burned -- that's over 1/2 the park;
- no animals reported injured/killed
- and most importantly, no  fire fighters injured (one reported heat related illness though).

The roads opened on Tuesday but the trails are still closed - just trying to keep people out in case a flare up occurs - but should be open within a week or so.

Glad it's over. But I need to see the damage for myself. So I head out after work to Antelope Island.

From nearby work, I can tell the southern half of the island (it does reach south pretty near Salt Lake) it pretty much all burned. But I did to be on the island.

As I cross the causeway, it's extremely dry. There is no water visible on either the Farmington Bay or Salt Lake sides -- just very dry crusty lake beds.

As I near the island (very near the island), I start seeing water on both sides - still very low. And with the water, bird life.

Lots of gulls on the Salt Lake lake bed snatching small insects out of the air. I watch the snapping bills and the bobbing heads.

And then there's the burnt peak on the island.

When I arrive on the island, I head around the north side, past the Visitor's Center, the beach area and up to the Buffalo Point parking area. (I want a high point on the island.) Very dry everywhere and no animals to be seen.

From the parking lot, I can see over the White Rock campground, trail, bay and down the west side of the island. The White Rock area was not touched by the fire and the trail (including White Rock valley) looks good as well. But towering over them is mountain range (including Frary Peak) and they are burnt black (except an orange strip down the mountain. (It's the fire retardant.)

I head back around and start my way down to the Ranch.

There's a whole flock of Pelicans circling in the sky!

Lots of bison along the Farmington Bay coastline. They've been there since Spring and I'm sure they'll be staying even longer as long as the grazing is good.

I pass by Frary Peak and still do not see any signs of fire alongside the road -- but in the distance on the mountains, definitely burnt.

Just after Frary Peak, around the 9.7 mile mark, I see the start of the fire crossing over to the east side of the island.

And then it's constant all the way to the Ranch.

I have to say, the fire crews did an awesome job keeping the fire from reaching the grasslands along the road. The burn, for the most part, ends pretty close to the base of the mountains.

Where the burn moves closer to the road, the orange retardant is still visible.

But the mountains are burned as far as I can see.

Besides the pelicans and the bison, I see one lone pronghorn along the way. (Not surprising, it's 100 degrees and sunny, if I were an animal I'd be bedded down somewhere to keep cool.)

I arrive at the Ranch and can see the full extent of the fire to the south - burnt grasslands and mountains.

The area along the Sentry Trail is burned. I wonder if the old trees near Mushroom Springs on which the Bald Eagles perch in the winter survived.  I will have to wait for cooler temperatures to arrive (hopefully soon) to find out.

The fire was pretty close to the Ranch - maybe 250 yards - with the fire stopping at the road.

The Ranch is fine. I park and walk around. I check the wooded area for Owls but do not find them. I do find a Monarch flying.

A little herd of bison are grazing behind the Ranch and I walk to the fence to get closer.

I see a Mylitta Crescent and a few Cabbage Whites flying.

I then walk to the south edge of the picnic area for a better view south.

I see a deer (young male) and bison.

And a Mom bison and her calf.

It's around 6pm and time to make my way back.

I'm still looking for animals and find 4 pronghorn. I stop for a look and find at least 6 more bedded down under a trees (smart animals). Looks there are a few baby Pronghorn under that tree!

And one looks like it's nursing.

Awesome to see! And a great way to end my day! (Life still flourishes, despite the fire!)

Time to head home.

Well, I'm very happy I went, I feel much better after seeing the damage - the "not knowing" was driving me crazy.

Nature will heal itself eventually.

Big thanks to the fire crews and others for doing a great job!

July 24 - Catherine's Pass and above (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Have to say my heart was broken yesterday upon hearing that one of my favorite places in UT, a place I have spent many, many hours driving and hiking around, a place that I have had wonderful experiences with bison, pronghorn, coyotes, bald eagles, ... is on fire. The place is Antelope Island.

Fire started Thurs night (suspected lightening strike). Because of the remoteness of much of the island, the fire was not noticed until Friday night. When I went to bed Friday, they estimated the fire to have burned 200-300 acres. Overnight the fire reached the ridge line and spread. When I awoke, about 7000 acres (1/4 of the islands 28,000 acres) were burned. :(

It may sound weird but the fire is very upsetting to me as I obviously have a very deep connection to this place.

On Saturday, they had 75 firefighters, 2 planes and 2 helicopters working on the fire on- their goal: protect the historic buildings (e.g., the Ranch) and as much of the north and east side of the island (along the road) as possible so the animals will have enough to graze upon until Spring. When I went to bed Sat night, about 13,500 acres burned - about 1/2 the island!! (But the fire was 35% contained.)

40 additional firefighters are coming today (Sun). Last report I saw, seems to suggest that the fire fortunately did not spread all that much Sat night (estimate 13,700 acres burned). And they are plotting creating a northern fire break to prevent the fire from creeping north if the southerly winds return.

They report the animals are fine as they move north and east away from the fire.

I know fire is just a natural process and when next Spring arrives, the island's young plants will green everything up again. (Just hoping the animals find enough to graze on until that happens.) But still upsetting.

Hoping lots of progress is made today.

That said, life moves on and it's a sunny day with the temps rising to the mid-90s. So I'm heading to Catherine's Pass in the Albion Basin for a wildflower check.

I arrive just before 8:30am - got one of the last parking spaces.

It's a wonderfully cool morning up here at 9400ft.

Off I go up the trail thru the flowers for 1.5 miles (800ft) to Catherine's Pass (10,200 ft).

The trail, at the beginning, is still mostly in the shade. The views of Devil's Castle are wonderful as it is sitting in the morning sunshine (and I am still in the shade).

I meet a lady coming down from the Pass who informs me that there are 5 moose in the big meadow - yea! Hopefully, they will still be there when I arrive.

Soon the trail turns east for a little more sunshine.

I arrive at the meadow and I don't see any moose. :(

A guy passes (on his way down) saying the Mom and 2 calves have move off recently.

But perhaps the 2 males are still around so as I walk thru the meadow, I'm looking for them. And there, in the shade, are 2 large male moose bedded down. Yea!!

I continue up to Catherine's Pass.

With all the cars in the lot, I'm expecting a crowd at the Pass but there's only 2 people there -- wonder where everyone is at.

And then I head up the trail to Sunset Pass.

Many new flowers along the way.

I make a quick stop to look down on Catherine's Lake and over to Sunset Peak.

Then continue to the Pass and the wonderful views. The wildflowers are awesome! (This  is one of my favorite spots in the Wasatch Mts for flowers.)

I take the trail south and west towards Devils Castle. Wonderful flowers and wonderful views along the way.

A quick pass thru the woods before leading to the next ridge. Then I'm back in the open and sun. Tons of red paintbrush here!

I head over to the ski lift (still not sure of the name, but it's at 10,400ft). Along the way, I see what looks like a baby robin. And then a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

I look down from the lift. Pretty awesome!

Not many butterflies flying but I do catch up to a Boisduval's Blue and Variable Checkerspot.

Time to head back.

I stop at the Pass one last time and get to watch a hummingbird feed.

Continuing down, I make a stop to look down on Lake Catherine. Lake Mary is visible (and a little low in water).

I head down to Catherine's Pass and then continue down.

As I near the Big Meadow and I wonder if the 2 moose will still be there.

Just one left!

I continue making my way down thru the flowers

and back to my car.

Good day!

July 22 - Red Pine Lake (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Today's is my yearly hike to Red Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The hike is 3 miles (one-way) starting at an elevation of 7700ft and ending around 9640.

Upper Red Pine sits about 400ft (1/2 mile) further along. I tried to get there last year but took the wrong path; I was at the proper elevation, as I found the lake on my photos, but way to the left of the lake. I actually think I was taking the high route over to White Pine.

I still want to get to Upper Red Pine but that's not happening today because of heat. (Predicted temperature of 102 in valley and almost 90 at Alta.) But Red Pine is still great; the flowers are blooming; I'm ready to go!

I take off just before 8:30am. Lots of people are out hiking for a Friday. The temps are already in the 70s at the trail head.

The trail is still mostly in the shade - yea!

The first bridge (not far from parking) crosses a stream which, even with the lack of rain, is flowing nicely.

It's about 0,8 mile and 300ft  to the next stream. Lovely flowers along the way: geraniums, tall jacob's ladder, mint,  etc. In the wetter areas, the Monkshood is blooming.

I arrive at the second creek. Here the trail splits; one going to White Pine and the other to Red Pine and Maybird Lakes. Of course, I take the trail to Red Pine. The trail heads up the creek for a little bit and then crosses on a footbridge. It then heads back into the woods and to the northwest towards Red Pine Canyon. The views towards the Salt Lake Valley are wonderful this morning.

It's a steady climb from here to the 2.5 mile footbridge.

There are still some wet rocky sections. The flowers in these sections are wonderful including the bright Lewis Monkeyflower.

I'm closing in on the 2.5 mile mark (1500ft) as I can hear the creek flowing.

I arrive to a beautifully sunny meadow filled with flowers.

I head straight (crossing the footbridge will take me to Maybird Lakes - a less popular but wonderful place). This section is very wet and muddy - making a great home for orchids.

Paintbrush, Columbine and other flowers.

The final 1/2 mile is the toughest section in my opinion as it climbs 500ft some of it on a very rocky trail. For the most part, it is thru the woods but there are a few open sections.

Along the way, I find Elephant head.

I know I'm getting close to the lake when tall rocky cliffs rise to my right.

And soon I'm at Red Pine Lake. I have company!

I head along the western shoreline towards the dam on the south end. The water levels are lower; there's no water flowing from the lake.

I can walk along the shore to the dam. I climb on to walk to the island to check out the view from a different angle.

Then I head back across the dam and over to take the trail on the north side. The entire mountain side is full of colors!

I follow the trail thru the flowers to the eastern side of the lake.

I'm looking for butterflies but except for Swallowtails, Weidemeyers Admirals, Clodius Parnassians and some Frits (which aren't stopping), nothing else flying.

But as I'm looking around, something brown moving thru the flowers catches my eye. It's a Dusky Grouse! I quickly lose it in the vegetation. :(

But I keep looking as I'm hearing a "humm, humm" sound. And there standing on a rock is another Grouse - perfectly still and making that "humm" sound repeatedly. (I also see another moving thru the flowers -- 3 total.) Pretty cool!

She's pretty content as I move past her on the trail.

I arrive on the other side of the lake and poke around for a bit.

Before finding a nice spot for lunch.

There are clouds passing by but when the sun is shining, the yellow flowers reflect in the water.

Time to head back

thru the flowers.

And back down.

On the way down, I see a Checkered White

Milbert's Tortoiseshell, Clouded Sulpher and Northern Checkerspot.

I also see this really pretty moth nectaring

and possibly laying an egg.

Wonderful day!