Nov 28 - Gravel Pit Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with highs near 50 degrees in the forecast.

Heading up to Antelope Island to hike Sentry Peak if I'm lucky with the bison herds.

I arrive on the causeway. Not far from the gate, I see my 1st Kestrel of the Fall/Winter season (yea)! 

I also see another hawk flying along the causeway.

I arrive on the Island and head towards the Ranch. And surprise, I can see no bison around the north side of the island -- but it could be the glare of the sun and the inversion "fog".

I see a few just beyond the tall fence line.

Then it is quiet until a bison herd around the Homestead. From that point, there are a few other herds spaced out to the Ranch. 

I also see a herd south of the Sentry Peak trail. Should I hike it or not? I'll think about it as I look for Great Horned Owls.

I'm on the far side of the woods when a man tells me that there is an Owl in the middle of the barn. Good! I complete my loop and find the Owl in the barn!

As I head back to my car, it seems that the herd is moving even farther from the trail but I'm not feeling that trail, time to head to the Gravel Pit.

On the way back, I spot a few bison on the hills west of the Frary Peak road and a good-size herd of Pronghorn on the hillside under Beacon Hill!

I arrive at the Gravel Pit parking and there are 2 bison above the trail. I think I'm OK but I'm ready to off-road it or simply return as I start up the trail.

As I get nearer to the bison, I lose sight of them (and them of me) and pass right beneath them without issues. :)

I see them when I atop the hill. 

They are starting to lay to down - guess they don't care about me. Hope they hold that view when I return.

As I start south, I see 4 or 5 bison in the distance ahead of me. They are far enough off the trail not to care about me.

Soon I reach the Beacon Hill trail and start up. As the antenna come into view, so does a lone bison starting at me. Dang!

I turn around and head back to the main trail and start around to the White Rock meadow bench. I continue to behind me because I think the bison is on the move and could be coming down the hill towards me.

The bench is in view when I look behind me and see the bison coming down the hill about 60 feet behind me. Crap!

He doesn't seem to notice me but I start up the hill (off-trail) closely watching the bison. He crosses the trail and continues to head west towards the edge of the downhill. (I continue up the hill.)

The bison finally heads downhill and out of view (yea)! And I continue back to the trail and to the Beacon Hill viewpoint.

I can't see the Pronghorn but the view is awesome with the inversion.

Time to head back.

When I reach the 2 bison, one is laying and the other is standing. I soon drop out of sight but again watching the edge hoping to not see a bison. And I don't!

When I return to my car, the bison are gone. Guess they did know I was there and didn't like it; thankfully they moved away from me.

Good day!

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