2024 Utah Adventure

 Final day of 2024! Amazing how time flies! Heading up to Antelope Island to hike the Gravel Pit to Beacon Trail (hopefully, because there is a herd of bison hanging out here recently). I arrive on the Causeway just after 8am. Sunny and 29 degrees with little wind; perfect winter day! Nothing happening along the causeway this morning except for a few duck hunters. Hoping to see some Bald Eagles but no luck. I arrive on the Island and head south towards the Ranch and it's dead empty. Not a critter to be seen on the way. No sightings at the Ranch either. Not sure where all the bison are but they are not on the east side of the Island. I think this is a first for me; perhaps a second though. Definitely, super, super rare! I start back north and quickly spot some white dots in the distance to the west. I stop and sure enough it's a large herd of Pronghorns! Yea!! Continuing on, I see a wide travel path up the hillside near the Frary Peak potty. I think a large herd of bison has mov...

Sunny day with highs in the upper 40s. And I'm finally back on the hiking trail after over a month. But hips feel as good as they can so that's awesome! Plan was to head up and hike the Gravel Pit today just as an almost 5 mile warm-up. I leave work around 8:30 and head up. When I reach the gate, it's a drive in a heavy fog bank on the 1st portion of the causeway. Not much visibility at all. It does open in the middle section. It's a frozen/frosty lake edge as it's only in the 20s. A bit father along, I enter another fog bank that thankfully ends just before reaching the Island. I head around the northern and then western sides just to have to avoid a slow driver in front of me. I do find a few bison in the fog behind the Visitor's Center. Once back at the main road, I go directly to the Gravel Pit trailhead and gear-up. As I get out of my car, I see a few bison not far from the trail - boo! I could go around but it would be a big detour. I don't mind the de...

Happy Thanksgiving! It's a sunny day with highs in the upper 30s. Heading to Antelope Island today for probably just a drive. My hip is still hurting and not ready for a hike. Hey, I'm not even dressed for a hike so maybe just a walk. I arrive at the causeway to sunny skies. As I drive along the causeway, it's frosty and water levels have dropped. And the birds have left as well. On the drive up, I got excited about seeing some Bald Eagles but it dawned on me it's still Nov; perhaps in a month or so. There are lots of pick-ups parked along the causeway; duck hunters I presume but could deer as well. Along the drive I see a Kestrel and coyote trotting north away from the causeway. Wonderful start! I arrive on the Island and head south towards the Ranch. There are 4 bison lined up behind the Visitor's Center. Then there's nothing until in front for Frary Peak. Many cars (trucks) lined up so it must be deer. I manage to see 3 and they all look like doe.  Continuing...

Heading down to visit the Kankakee Sands Nature conservancy property on the Indiana side today. I visited the Illinois side many years ago as an IWIN (Illinois Wilds in Nature) day trip. They must have must just starting out as I remember looking for Regal Frits (endangered butterfly) but not seeing any. Today it appears they are very easy to spot at least on the Indiana side. Note: this is a 20 year restoration and still going. Again not a great day. In the 40s and clouded but I'm not to check it out for a future summer butterfly trip. There are a few butterflies flying that I have not yet seen. I'm actually hoping to see some but it would really be stretch. We arrive at Conrad Prairie and there a several cars parked, we just drive by. But I see that my hope of seeing butterflies will not happen as the prairie looks as it should in middle of Nov; dry and no flowers. We continue on to the Discovery Trail and stop for the 2 mile hike.  It's nice to see old friends, verbena, ...

I'm in Indiana for a few days for a pre-Thanksgiving with my family. Heading to refresh some memories by heading to the Indiana Dunes this morning. It's in the 40s and there's no sun so not a perfect day but a day none the less. I do have company as my brother has decided to come along. We arrive at the picnic area - love all the tall bare oak trees - and start up the trail. At the start, you cross a footbridge over some water (lake/pond). I see a Blue Jay! (One of a several for the day.) Then it's off on Trail 9. Trail 9 will take you to the shore of Lake Michigan and up along the dunes ridge. But I'm not heading that way this morning. Just heading to the first off-shoot trail which heads up to the ridge. Taking the ridge will lead you to the end of Trail 9; it's a loop. I just want to get to the top of the dunes/blow-out and have a look. Initially wanted to head down to skip rocks in Lake MI but the hip is hurting so I'll take what I can. The trail is cove...

 Sunny day with highs around 65 degrees -- have to be a record. Luckily for me, it's Veterans Day and I have the day off. Heading up BCC to hike up to Twin Lakes. I know I already claimed my last visit but today is supposed to be awesome; just need to remember my microspikes. I start off just after 7:30. It's in the mid-40s already. I'm not too far up the canyon when it hits me; I forgot the microspikes. Shoot! Guess I'm not going up to Twin Lakes. It's Willow Lake for today and that may be interesting as well. Oh well! I arrive at the Willow Lake TH and there's only one car parked across the street. It's darn nice out already but I do start with a light winter coat. The trail definitely has more snow/ice on it than last time but very doable. I lose the coat at the start of the loop and start making my way up. I'm taking my time stopping to look and listen but there's nothing really happening. The trail has bare ground but majority of it is either sn...