The 2021 Utah Adventure

 Heavy frost last night, but a sunny day is forecast with a high near 50 degrees. Heading up to Twin Lakes for the final time in 2021. When I arrive at Silver Lake, there are only a few cars in the lots. It's near 8am and temperatures are in the teens. I gear up, with microspikes in my pockets, a knit hat on my head and my heavy duty gloves and  head out to the boardwalk. There's a packed layer of snow on the boardwalk, heavy hoar frost on the brush and lots of snow wherever I look. Fantastic!! I head counterclockwise towards the foot bridge. It's so pretty with heavy frost on everything! At the footbridge, the water almost all frozen except for some holes on the footbridge side of Silver Lake (it's the sunnier side). I work my way around the lake to the trails. I see good paths to both Twin Lakes and Lake Solitude and start my way up to the switchback. Again packed snow on trail. The conifers are still covered in snow; looks very Christmas-y. I reach the switchback. Th...

 Hazy sunshine day with highs in the 50s. I really should be heading into the mountains but I think a bit burned out there -- I just can't motivate myself to go up there. No worries,, I'll just head to Antelope Island. It's 45 degrees as I cross the causeway. The duck/shorebird population sure dropped from last week but there re still a good number of them remaining. When I reach the island, I turn south towards the Ranch. I see several bison around the Visitor's Center as normal. It isn't until I reach Beacon Hill/White Rock Ridge that I more critters -- Pronghorn, at least 20 of them. Then are moving north about mid-way up the mountain. Then it's past Frary Peak and continuing until I'm about 1.5 miles from the Ranch before I find the bison herd. A little spread out in smaller herds but there's a larger herd just crossing the road. There are Fall calves in the mix. Because of their location, I expecting to find more bison around the Sentry trail. Man a...

 Sunny day highs near 60. I should really head to the mountains but I'm looking for a longer, snowless hike so I'm heading up to Antelope Island.  I shouldn't have to worry about bison today; the round-up was last Saturday so they should still be penned up for the physicals this week-end or next. I arrive at the park gate and start across the causeway.  Hey, there are some cows about 1/4 mile in on the Salt Lake side. It's the farthest in I've ever seen them Must be some good food! I continue along towards the island. Plenty of water closer to the island and lots of ducks -- lots of Shovelers! Since the bison are rounded up, I head directly to the White Rock Trail. I do see a few Bulls before the gate -- most likely Bulls. I make the right and almost immediately see a Bull walking towards the road. I stop and wait. It's takes a little bit but he crosses right in front of me. Love it! I continue to the White Rock parking lot. There are a few cars already. It'...

 Sunny day with temps in the 60s. Decide to head up to walk the Lambs Canyon road this afternoon; maybe I'll catch a glimpse of an overwintering butterfly. ;) Arrive before 2pm and start up the road. There's no snow to be seen but the road is still wet in spots. It's a mostly shady walk but there are a few stretches of sunlight. The creek side trail is flowing. Seeing lots of fuzzy seed heads from Asters  and Goldenrods but I do find a few still blooming Asters. I also see several large grasshoppers. At one point, I see what looks like a Comma flying from the ground and then into a tree. I see it and take a few pictures but on quick review, they are only oak leaves. :( What I saw was not a leaf.! Perhaps the butterfly is on the leaf. Upon further review on a large monitor, there is a butterfly on that leaf -- either a Hoary or Satyr Comma!!! I continue up the road until I reach the trail head. It's sunny around the bathroom but no butterflies. I decide to walk up the tr...

 Part 2 of today's adventure starts when I arrive to a basically parking lot at Silver Lake. I'm shocked as it's almost 10am and there were lots of cars up this way -- they all must've ended up at Brighton. I put on my YakTrack and start around the snowpacked and slick boardwalk. Right now I'm just heading around Silver Lake but if there's a path towards Lake Solitude, I'm on it. Beautiful sunny morning. There's snow on the ground and of course, on the mountains. The lake is all but frozen except on the far side of the foot bridge where there is open water and a few Mallards. I make my way along he side of the lake stopping for the views.  I scare a trout at one of my stops. I get to the corner of the lake and yea!, there's a path heading up to Twin Lakes and Lake Solitude. I'm off to Lake Solitude! After I continue around Silver Lake to the pier.  On the way to the pier, I find a little blood in the snow and what looks like intestines -- some on...

Sunny day with highs in the mid-60s. I really want to hike up to Twin Lakes one last time but we got over a foot on snow in the mountains this week and I'm unsure about the conditions. So I decide to return to Willow Lake for the 3rd Friday in a row. Chilly morning, in the 30s at my house. Easy drive. South facing slopes have snow but not as much as the north facing sides. There are a lot of cars heading up the canyon but no one really at the trail heads -- maybe they're all heading to Brighton to ski - I might have to check it out after Willow Lake. I arrive a Willow Lake trail head. There's one car near the trail head. There's snow on the ground but the trail, at least in the lower sections, is clear. The farther I gain in elevation, the snow there is on the ground and trail. No big surprise though. It's quiet out -- still all in the shade. There's hoar frost on the snow and the branches -- so pretty! I reach Willow Lake. She's icy except one open patch of...