Dec 18 - Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill (Antelope Island)

 Chilly morning at 11 degrees but it's supposed to be sunny with a high near 30 degrees.

Heading out to Antelope Island for a hike; planning on the Gravel Pit/Beacon Hill trail.

Definitely sunny this morning but still around 13 degrees when I reach the causeway. 

Again no birds of prey but I do have a coyote running across the road in front of me (heading north), he disappears in the vegetation and then reappears on the flats of the Great Salt Lake. Not sure what he is running from but nice to see him. He is moving to the west along the flats.



I reach the Island, no Bald Eagles this morning, and head south towards the Ranch. Hoping some bison have moved back east.

I spot a Kestrel in basically the same spot just after the Visitor's Center but today he is on a sign on the east side of the road.

And a rabbit sitting on the side of the road along the curves section.

After that is a vast nothingness until I spot another Kestrel across from Frary Peak.

Again nothingness until just before the Ranch, I spot a herd of Pronghorn on the west side of the road. There's about 15 of them.

At the Ranch, no bison to be seen. Another good day to hike Sentry Peak but it'll be a trudge thru the snow and I'm not ready for that for 6.5 miles.

I turn and head to the Gravel Pit trail head.

This time I get a better look at that Pronghorn herd.

Still cannot find any bison on the mountain slopes although there are several cars with spotting scopes looking up the mountain.

I reach the Gravel Pit road. Traffic over Saturday has flatten out the road a bit but still plenty of snow in the lot. I park and gear up in layers, hat, heavy gloves and start up the trail in the 13 degree temps.

There have been people/bikes on the trail but it's still hard to walk as there is no flatten path just snowy footprints.

It gets better once out of the Pit but it's slow in spots.

Definitely hazy this morning. I can only see faint images of the mountains around me.

There is that flaky snow that I love.

And crystals on the plants.

On one frozen puddle, there are some nice formations.

So quiet this morning; not even a breeze.

I don't see any bison ahead of me nor down near the White Rock parking lot.

Just a quiet walk on the frozen landscape.

I reach the path up to Beacon Hill. Thankfully some big treaded bikes have worn a pretty good path to the top. Lots of crystalize plants on the walk. The snow is glistening like low-level lightening bugs. So very pretty.

I reach the picnic benches and stop for a brief rest.

Time to head back. On the way down Beacon Hill, I meet the only other hiker I see for the day. He saw that causeway coyote as well.

Then it's back to my car.

I spot at the marina for a potty break and there's a Kestrel perched on the light post. Perfect ending to a perfect day!



Awesome day!

Unfortunately, this was the last hike of 2022. For the 2023 blog see: jeanetteklodzen2023@blogspot.com

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