With all the snow, I'm excited to go up to Antelope Island this morning. Not sure how much fell on the island but I'll know soon enough.
It's a chilly morning - about 18 degrees when I leave - but it's bright and sunny out!! Thankfully the highways are clear and traffic is light this morning.
Antelope Dr (which goes straight onto the island in about 5+ miles) is somewhat clear - packed snow/ice in spots. I'm sure it'll be much better when the sun starts melting the packed snow/ice.
In some of the more open spots, there's a thin layer of fog near the ground - looks really pretty. Lots of glistening heavy frost in those spots.
I arrive on the island, the causeway is packed snow (not sure if a plow really has been across yet) but its drive-able and then scenery is awesome (a very frozen landscape).
About 1/2 along the causeway, I reach a fog bank. Driving thru is a bit eerie as the visibility is not far. But at times, I get pea\eks of Frary Peak above the fog bank.
Things open up as I near the island. And there's open water (with steam rising) near the bridge.
In the water on the Farmington Bay side, there are only a few ducks. But on the Salt Lake side, hundreds of ducks (Shovelers). Pretty incredible but it's the only water around.
I arrive on the island and start heading south towards the Ranch. The road is a single snow packed lane. (Definitely not plowed yet.)
Not too far along (still in view of the Visitors Center), I reach 4 snow covered bison.
Across the road is another with his head buried in the snow trying to graze.
I continue further but now I'm driving in tire ruts. I'm sure I can make it to the Ranch (it's only about 4-5 inches of snow) but 10+ more miles of this,..I'm just not feeling it -- if only I had 4-wheel drive.... So at the 1st viewpoint, I turn my car around and head back.
I decide to see how the west side of the island is --- the road is back to snow packed which is good. No animals around that I can see. I head towards Bison Point, but that hill is only 2 tire ruts to follow -- I'll pass. I complete the loop around the Visitor's Center and head back across the causeway.
Well, certainly not the day I was hoping for but still a nice trip.
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