2024 Utah Adventure

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...

 Sunny day with temps in the upper 40s. Heading up afternoon lunch to hike up Lambs Canyon Road. Yes, it was recently closed for the season earlier this week. Not sure what to expect for snow. Obviously it was closed so what the road looks like, assuming snowpacked at some point, I just have to find out. I arrive and there's a bunch cars. Perhaps commuters, hikers or hunter I suppose. I've forgotten my YakTrak and I'm praying I don't regret that. But the start of the road is clear pavement so that's a good start. The creek can barely be heard at this point. It's a quiet hike. I do reach snowy roads maybe 1/4 mile in. But it's snowpacked and easy walking. The shadier sections are much more snowy - just a few inches - and let's great! I reach the TH and decide to head up just for a little bit. But first I have to cross the bridge. It's not snow packed but people have been thru and the snow is fluffy. I reach my stopping point I could continue but the t...

Mostly cloudy day with temps in the 40s w/ rain/snow coming in later. I want to hike up to Willow Lake but with 8 inches of snow earlier this week I'm skeptical. I'm sure there have been some hardy folks breaking the trail but ... we''ll see. Driving up the canyon is pretty much snow-free. Amazing since we haven't had much snow this week. Of course, the north facing slopes have snow but the south-facing appear to be snow-free at least at the lower ends. Maybe I can go up to Twin Lakes. I'm cruising along until just before Silver Fork an old beater Ryder car from New Hampshire pulls in front of me going a mere 20-25 miles an hour. I'm guessing that's as fast as it can go going up hill. The cars in back of me quickly catch up. But as I near the Willow Lake TH, I see only 2 cars and seemingly no snow, so I'm hiking to Willow Lake today!!!! The trail is snow free when I start up. There snow in spots off trail and the aspens are naked.  I do run into patc...

 Cloudy day with temps in the low70s. So many options but decide to hike the "ole reliable" this year - Lake Solitude. Arrive around 8am to cloudy skies with temps around 50 degrees and very windy - just a gray day. No deer or moose around a wavy Silver Lake. Trail to Lake Solitude is very quiet. Again no deer or moose; just birds, chipmunks and squirrels. I arrive a Lake Solitude; no deer hanging around here. After a quick break, it's time to head for the switchback to look for Pika or Marmot. I arrive and look for Pika/Marmot but do not see any. I take a short break and I do hear a Pika chirp once so they are around. Time to head back down to Silver Lake where I see 2 Mallard resting at the footbridge. Good day -- snow is coming Monday night into Tuesday. Interested to see what happens afterwards.

 Sunny day with highs near 70.  Taking partial day off to get in another hike -- 4 days of snow forecast next week. Heading up to hike up to Twin Lakes for the last time in 2024 (at least that's the plan). Hoping to scoot over to Lake Mary but that all depends on how much of last Friday's 8 inches of snow remain. I arrive at Silver Lake just but 8am; temps are in the low 40s and there's a wind. Along the boardwalk, the trees are bare now and the peaks have snow! It looks so wonderful! (And I make the decision that there will be no Lake Mary today.) No moose or deer in view. But there is a Stellar's Jay on the footbridge hopping around. I stop on the pier than make my way to the TH. At the edge of the lake as I pass, there's this loud "plunk" into the water and some splashing. I turn to find nothing. I'm thinking there was beaver there and spooked but I waited for about 5 minutes hoping to see some thing but I saw nothing. The "plunk" remains ...