Oct 29 - Bison Physicals (and Sentry Trail)

Heading to Antelope Island today -- it's Day 2 of the yearly Bison Physicals. I've been to the Physicals before; my 1st Fall here (2013), definitely time to check it out before I head for the trails.

Beautiful morning!! Last night's rain clouds are still hanging over the mountains make for a very colorful (numerous shades of red/orange) sunrise. Oh, and it's already in the 60s at 8am. (Yes, it's a bit above normal for this year.)

I arrive on the causeway just before 9am. Water levels along the causeway are back to low (no surprises there). I see a Kestrel flying along looking for breakfast.

Ducks and shorebirds are still around but just not in the same numbers as a few weeks ago.

Once on the island, I head right to the Bison Corral which are on the north side of the island to the east of the White Rock Campground. Along the way I see a few bison that avoided the round-up last week-end - lucky fellows. (I heard last time I went, that most times they just don't bother the older bulls.)

When I turn to head west, there's at least 10 pronghorn to the south. I stop to watch. I was hoping to see a big herd today -- it's that time of year where the males claim their harems.

Onward to the Bison Corral!

I park next to a horse pen. Behind the horses are two bison pens. One of the pens has Moms and small calves - little guys coming "out-of-season". The other pen holds a small herd of bison. I can understand why the Mom/babies are separate from the bigger herd but not sure about this other herd.

To the right is the Physical Area, the pens for those bison being auctioned next week, and a larger area for those bison that have completed their physicals.

I walk over to the Physical Area. Lots of sounds of hooves/heads banging against the metal chutes as the bison are moved through to get their physicals.

I climb a few steps to a raised platform to view the physical. When I arrive, there a bison  already in the chute. There's a metal ring in her nose pulling her head to the left - just trying to keep her under control and protect the folks working around her head.

I can hear the staff talking about/treating an infected wound.

Soon its time to release her. Off comes the nose ring, she thrashes her head back and forth, and then off she goes to rejoin the bigger herd --- with a big white spray patch over her wound.

After a few minutes, the next "patient" enters the chute.

From that Platform, I'm very near individual pens where those selected for next week's auction are being held. Lots of grunting and moaning coming from these animals.

The auction is held to keep the bison numbers under control and appropriate for the carrying capacity of the island which is around 550 bison. The auction bison will be used for food, establish new herds, or replenish genetics in existing herds. Note: that these bison have been tested as a pure American Bison. Something that is rare these days. My guide for today says that the average cost of a bison at last year's auction was $900; the highest was over $1700. (And if I remember correctly, the funds raised are directed back to Antelope Island State Park and its maintenance which is nice - especially after this year with fire and the wind damage at the Ranch.)

I climb down and join a tour (it's the only way to get to see the entire process). Our 1st stop is viewing of the main holding pen and the first 3 chutes. The main pen holds all the bison rounded up last week-end. From there, bison are moved in groups of 4-5 into one of 3 large chutes.

From there, one group of bison is then moved to yet another large chute before finally the entering the Physical area.

(The tour guide explains the the Mom/Calves will be kept in the Corals until Spring to help them thru the winter and to get the females in the same breeding cycle as the rest of the herd.

The smaller herd next to the Mom/Calves were selected for a research study and are waiting GPS collars before they are released.)

While standing here, we see a Jackrabbit hop by.

What a beautiful morning!

From there, we walk to the final chute before the Physicals. There's 5 bison.

One guy is so scared his eyes are red and bulging. They are all very skiddish - don't blame them, strange place, people standing over you, etc.

There's grunting, huffing and a strange gurgling noise coming from the bison - all signs of stress.

Soon is ready for these bison to be moved to the Physical area.

And a new group move in.

On ward to watch the physicals. Shots, pregnancy checks (if required), lots of metal banging as each are moved through the process.

Interesting time but I need to get going to start my hike of Sentry Trail. The area was part of the big fire this summer. Last time I was here, it was greening up but I couldn't hike because a large herd of bison was blocking my way -- they were eating the nice fresh green vegetation.

Today I don't have to worry about the bison as most are at the Corral!! :)

As I head back to the main road, I'm looking for those Pronghorn I saw earlier. As I come upon the area, I don't see the Pronghorn :(

But I see a large buck (Mule Deer) running (very regally) towards the road and across.

A little behind him, is another buck. (His tongue is hanging out; I have no idea why.)

The second one never crosses but head in the opposite direction.

I reach the main road and head towards the Ranch. Along the way, I see a few more bison that escaped the round-up this year.

I park at the trail head and see a couple of Sulphers flying.

At the start of the trail are some palettes with large bags of seed. I see a tractor down by Mushroom Springs. After the fire, I know the Rangers were talking about re-seeding the burned areas with native plants; looks like that effort has started (yea!).

I start my walk toward Mushroom Springs. Lots of wonderful green everywhere!

I see a few more Sulphers and grasshoppers.

I also have a little swarm of mosquitoes flying along side of me almost the whole way to the Springs. (Thankfully keeping their distance.) As I near, they disappear - hoping they haven't landed on me.

Definitely some reseeding happening near the Springs.

I continue up to the first long flat switchback.

I stop to see one of the yellow flowers and get the biggest surprise of the day; in the middle of this burned area, I find one Melissa Blue!!

How did it survive?! The Sulphers I'm not surprised at because they probably came from the nearby unburned areas. Not sure about the Melissa Blue. Happy surprise though!

Continuing upwards, thru the greening landscape, I can still smell the burn despite the recovery that is already happening.

I finally reach the long switchback; I can see the reseeding efforts here to.

And my 2nd surprise, a Western Pygmy Blue!!

Time to head up to the ridge. Along the way, I see 2 lizards.

I reach what looked like Mars a few months ago. It's improved just not as much as the rest of the trail.

There's grasshoppers hopping/flying here.

I finally reach the ridge and the views to the West. Beautiful day!

I head across the ridge towards and then behind Sentry Peak.

And then start down. Great shades of green!!

On the way down, I find a Pronghorn "horn" in the middle of the trail. It's hollow inside and there is still hairs inside.

Continuing down, I get a glimpse of a dragonfly zipping by.

And I see another Western Pygmy Blue near Mushroom Springs.

Good day for the recovering burn areas!

Time to drive back up the island.

I find a small herd of bison near a burned area. Big difference in landscape.

 And further along, I find a bigger herd of Pronghorn - 17+ animals.

One is trailing a good 30 yards behind. Probably the male.

Awesome day!

Oct 26 - Silver Lake, Lake Solitude and Twin Lakes Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading up to Twin Lakes after work today. Just needing to stretch the legs and experience some solitude on a wonderful 70 degree day in late Oct -- can't be many of these days left.

All the leaves have fallen as I drive up the canyon - can't say I see a single tree with a little color left. Fall is definitely on it's way out.

Another sign of Fall ending is the S-turn parking lot (for the Lake Blanche and Broads Fork trails) is now gated (i.e., closed) until late Spring. The trails are still open but the parking is very limited. Also, the Days Fork parking is now free since the campground is closed. (Saves a bit of walking time.)

I arrive at the Silver Lake Visitor's Center around 2:30. It's the end of the season here as they are emptying out the Nature Center readying it for its conversion to the Nordic Center.

It's around 57 degrees when I start my walk along the boardwalk. About 1/2 the area around Silver Lake is already in the shadows. Looks different without the color of leaves and flowers (just many shades of brown now).

As I make my way around the lake, more signs of the impending winter, the tall orange snow poles are up marking the boardwalk when it becomes buried by snow.

The Mallards have all headed south and there are no dragonflies flying anymore. But the reflections are still pretty nice.

I'm start my way up to Lake Solitude - doing the loop today. Pretty quiet out. Looking for moose or deer but only finding a few chipmunks scurrying around.

I arrive at Lake Solitude. The lake is low but it still looks like a lake.

Time to start my way up the big hill to the ridge above Twin Lakes. I'm seeing lots of deer tracks along the way.

When I reach the ridge and look out over Twin Lakes. Wow! The water has dropped a lot -- Twin Lakes is now actually resembles it's name! There are 2 lakes with just a stream of water flowing between them.

And then decide to continue further up -- maybe I can find the trail to the Pass. (Just a test to  see if I can find the trail without the help of tracks in the snow.)

I fail the test but I do get a decent view of the 2nd lake.

Time to head down.

I make a brief stop at the Lakes. (Big shoreline drop-off for this lake.)

And continue down.

When I get to the ridge above Silver Lake, I hear Pikas calling. I manage to spot 2.

Mission accomplished!

Oct 21 - Cecret Lake (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day expected with temps in the mid/upper 60s. Heading up Little Cottonwood Canyon to hike to Cecret Lake and then up to Germania Pass.

The area received snow on Monday & Tuesday and although it has since been sunny and warmer, I'm expecting to see snow.

The drive up Little Cottonwood is much less "colorful" as most of the leaves have fallen. Just a few yellow aspen are still holding their leaves.

There are almost no signs of this week's snow (except the shadier sides of the higher peaks). But there are some big chunks of snow along the road thru Alta towards the Summer Road.

I arrive at the Summer Road and am surprised to see the gate is closed. I'm not sure if it's just for the morning or it's closed for the season. (Perhaps the snow has made the road too wet and muddy for vehicles.)

A little disappointing but all is not loss as there the Albion Basin Trail to walk. It's no longer a short (< 1 mile) walk to Cecret Lake but a 1.5 mile (1100 ft) walk up thru the Basin's meadows just to get start the actual trail to Cecret Lake. (Total is  2.25 miles and 1520ft one way to the Lake which sits around 9900ft.)

It's sunny and in the 50s when I start around 10am. It's a mix of snow and clear ground as I start up.

The trail is also a combo of clear, muddy, snow-packed and/or icy. But the snow is good as I find rabbit, coyote and deer tracks.

As I enter the big meadow, I get my first views of Devils Castle and Sugarloaf.

I make my way up thru the meadow and to the Cecret Lift. From there I enter a forest again. As I enter, I'm greeted by a beautiful hawk flying over the trees.

There are a few chipmunks running around the forest floor.

I get to the Supreme Lift and start my way up thru a couple of inches of snow to Cecret Lake.

Soon the views of Devil's Castle return.

And I begin my way up the switchbacks getting higher over the meadow below.

And then I'm at Cecret Lake! The lake is mostly open but a small area of ice is on her surface.  A snowy Sugarloaf Mt towers over the lake.

The views of Devils Castle unfortunately have the glare of the rising sun.

On the other side of the lake, I find a nice rock to sit for lunch.

Time to head down.

In the big meadow, I see a Milbert's Tortioseshell flying just over the tips of the dry flower stalks.

Awesome day!

Oct 15 - Catherine's Pass Up to Sunset Pass (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading up to Catherine's Pass this morning. May be the last trip as the summer road will be closing in a few weeks. (It's still possible to get there though from Big Cottonwood's Brighton Ski Resort but that's not my preferred way.)

Still mostly cloudy when I leave this morning but clearing skies are coming, I can see it. As I leave my house, it's in the mid-50s so it will be about 10 degrees cooler at the trail head @ 9400ft.

I'm taking a chance coming here due to the limited parking. During the summer an arrival after 8:30 on a Saturday would mean no parking. I'm hoping being mid-October that's no longer true.

Still plenty of color driving up Little Cottonwood especially in the lower elevations - mostly the Oaks now. A little higher, some of the Aspens are still holding their golden leaves. But lots of naked trees at this point.

No traffic which is a good sign. An even better sign is passing the White Pine Lake parking and there are still open spots.

The summer road gate keeper is no longer there and I proceed of the gravel (holey, bumpy road). Looking for moose or deer but only find dog on the side of the road sniffing around. Strange find since dogs aren't allowed in the Canyon -- one of the cabin owners must have a permit (I hope).

My worry about parking is no worry at all - there's only 2 cars when I arrive. (That's a good thing for potential future visits in the next couple of weeks.)

I step out of my car and it's super windy up here! I thought the wind was supposed to die down over night, obviously not. I throw on my light winter coat and start up the trail. Still mostly cloudy but there are spots of blue sky.

Devil's Castle and Sugarloaf Peak look wonderful with the light dusting of snow.

Trail is still in the shade as the sun is too low in the sky (and there's the clouds).

After a bit, I turn for a look behind me.

I make my way up looking for deer or moose. Instead I find the owners of the 2 cars in the parking lot; 4 bow hunters. They say they've seen no animals this morning. :(

Soon I reach the big meadow; I'm still looking for animals anyway.

After getting above the meadow, I look back towards Devils Castle and Sugarloaf.

And then continue to the Pass.

Lake Catherine is still in the shade below. There several people walking around her shores.

There's snow on Sunset Peak - looks great!

I continue up to Sunset Pass, stopping to enjoy the views of Lake Catherine along the way.

It's really windy up here! My initial plan was to walk over towards Devils Castle but the wind is just too strong (and nippy).

I arrive at Sunset Pass. No snow here either but the views towards Mt Timpanogos are wonderful as always.

I head about 50 yards towards Mt Timp just to get a better look.

Before turning around; however, I make one stop heading to a spot just below Sunset Peak. It overlooks Lake Catherine.

Now it's time to get head back to Catherine's Pass to get out of the wind for a bit.

When I arrive back at the Pass, it's still empty -- it's after 10am where are all the people?! I find a rock and enjoy the serenity and watching the white puffy clouds speed across the appearing blue sky.

It's is soon broken when 3 ladies arrive at the Pass. I stay a bit longer before heading down.

Awesome morning!