Oct 29 - Twin Lakes (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Sunny day with highs in the high 50s/low 60s.

Plan is to hike up to Lake Mary, Martha, Catherine; trying to get up there before they start blowing snow.

I arrive around 8:30. It's in the 20s and I'm the only car there. I'm getting ready when I notice a yellow sign on the trail marker; it says "Hill Closed". Crap! They must be readying to start making snow. I think about going up anyway but I saw the sign, I can't go up. :(

So I just loop around to Silver Lake. Hey, there are only 3 cars here! I'll just do my Sunday hike today. Now I'm heading up to Twin Lakes to hike to the other side to look at the ice on the far side.

Silver Lake looks all iced over now. 

There's hoar frost on the sides of the boardwalk.

I reach the footbridge and stop to check out the ice. Hey! There's a fish under the ice!

I continue around the lake spotting coyote tracks along the path.

I reach the trail and start up directly to Twin Lakes (no Lake Solitude today).

When I reach the switchback, I see several Pikas scampering around the rock slide.

Up, up the hill to Twin Lakes.

Along the way, I see 3 deer cross the trail ahead of me and head into the woods. I can see 2 of them in the woods.

I continue along until reaching Twin Lakes. The lake is really low now and head down to the lake.

And then start down to trail to the other side.

When I reach the connection between the 2 lakes and head down.

I continue along the lake 

finding a school of baby fish. They were hanging out under the ice until I showed up.

And examining the ice crystals

bubbles

and flat ice.

As I'm walking I hear this weird noise; nothing I've ever heard before. It start soft and gets loud. Hard to describe but the sound is what I can image a UFO taking off would sound like. I think perhaps they are running ski lift lines but that doesn't make sense.

I hear it several times as I move down the lake but by the time I leave, I don't hear it anymore. Hmm...

I reach the other side and climb on some rocks for a rest. It's so beautiful out!!

As I'm sitting there I'm wondering if the noise that I was hearing is Singing Ice. (And I google it when I get home, and yes, it's Singing Ice!!!!)

Time to head back down the lake, back down the hill, where I see one of the deer I saw earlier. She's bedded down in a sunny spot in the woods.

Then down to the switchback where I find a herd of 4 deer (all doe) bedded down in the woods below. They watch as I cross above them.

I hear Pika on the switchback but see none.

Then it's back down to Silver Lake.

Incredible day!

Oct 27 - Twin Lakes (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Partly cloudy day and cold for this time of year. Hanging around after record breaking cold weather on Sunday that had snow even in the valley.

Heading up to hike the the Twin Lakes loop after work today.

I'm prepared for the cold; wood and fleece top, light winter coat, ski cap, gloves, and Yaktrak.

I arrive just after 3pm and again the lot is 1/4 filled; love it!

I gear up and take off.

The boardwalk has snow in spot but much is melted. There's snow on the mountains though.

Got my cold weather gear - wool and fleece top, light winter coat, gloves, ski cap, yaktrak

Silver Lake is mostly frozen at this time and the ducks have flown south.

I reach the corner of the lake and head up towards Lake Solitude. The trail is still lightly covered in snow. Good for looking at tracks.

Along the way and not all that far from the lake, I spot a lone deer bedded down. She's got her eye on me. But I was able to walk past her within 30 feet and she didn't budge.

I arrive at Lake Solitude; she's mostly frozen now.

Time to head up the big hill which is also lightly snow covered.

Soon I arrive above Twin Lakes and head to my perch.

So pretty up here.

The main lake is open water but the other is mostly frozen.

After a bit, I head down to Twin Lakes for a quick look.

Then I head down the hill. I don't need YakTrak yet but still snow covered

Along switchback I see a couple of Pika running across the rocks.

Then it's back down to Silver Lake.

It's so empty of people, I'm tempted to walk around the lake for the 1st time this year but decide to just head back.

Great day!

Oct 23 - Sentry Peak (Antelope Island)

Mostly cloudy day with highs in the low 50s.

I was planning on heading up to the mountains but 20 degree temps with cloudy skies is a bit too cold so I decided to drive up to Antelope Island.

I arrive around 8:30 and it's still sunny but clouds are rolling in.

Tons of ducks (definitely and Shovelers out there) out on both sides of the causeway.

I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch.

All of the lone male bison are gone this morning except one sitting on the ridge behind the Visitor's Center.

I roll past the fence line and hey, there's a rainbow (straight up - weird but cool).

There are also some bison under that rainbow. :)

As I roll past Frary Peak, I see a group of either Pronghorn or deer ahead of me on the west side of the road. As I near, they're deer! They are moving towards the road so I pull off and wait. They all cross the road. There's one buck in the herd; he's not a big buck like I usually see but hey, he's got a big harem!

While I'm waiting for the deer to cross, I see a herd of bison within 100 yards of the deer.

Once they cross, I roll up to the small herd of bison. (I think these bison have been hanging out on the lake bed the last few weeks.) They are moving slowly towards the road. I pull off and wait for them to cross.

So cool to hear their hooves on the road and them munching the grasses (oh, and the grunting.)

I "push" my way through and continue along.

Farther down the road, there's a larger herd of bison and they are crossing the road as I roll up. Way cool!

Again, I'm thru but as I near the Ranch guess what? Yep, another large herd of bison crossing the road. How lucky am I today?!

I move thru. On the lake bed north of the Ranch, there are bison.

There are bison in the fenced garden on the west side of the dirt road to the Sentry Peak trail head. Wow! After several weeks of seeing not many bison, they're all back and visible again!! Fun, fun!

I park at the trail head, gear up and I'm off into the 33 degree day.

Lots of construction near the trail head. There's a couple of guys there. I ask what's happening and am told that they are installing a water line to the Ranch - big tank to catch the winter run-off. Makes sense because sometimes the Ranch closes the bathroom because water levels are low. Sounds like a good improvement.

Up the trail I go.

Quiet walk, No critter, no bugs and only a few flowers hanging on at this point.

Soon I reach the top; beautiful day!

I cross the ridge and start back down.

As I approach Mushroom Springs again, I see Pronghorn sprinting south near the trail head and they are moving!! I hope they pop back out again soon.

When I'm heading east on the last stretch, I find them! All grouped up and still moving south. So cool!

I reach my car. There's now a herd of bison near the mountains west of the parking lot - I think these are the garden guys. There's another herd a bit north and east of the parking lot on the lake bed.

I head north passing lots of bison along the way. 

And some Falls colors tucked in the mountain crevasses.

Thanks to a guy stopped with a large lens hanging out of his car, I find that deer herd all bedded down in the grasses.

What a perfect end to a fantastic day!!

Oct 20 - Twin Lakes Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Mostly sunny day with temps near 70 degrees.

Good day for a quick hike up to Twin Lakes - doing the loop.

I arrive after 3pm. Sunny and in the low 50s. A bit chilly but once I get moving, it'll be great.

The aspen are still hanging onto leaves in some spot but still pretty bare.

Lots of autumn browns as I work my way around the lake. The lake is clear 

but the ducks are now gone.

I reach the trail and head up to Lake Solitude. Quiet walk; no deer or moose today.

Lake Solitude is pretty much a mud puddle but the right portion.

I start my way up the hill stopping to watch a Woodpecker. 

Soon I reach the top. Boy has Twin Lakes dropped!

I head over to my perch. When I arrive, a mountain bluebird flies by. His blue color is sure vibrant today. I take a seat and enjoy the views. 

Hey, Twin Lakes is getting close to being 2 lakes but has 20 feet to go.

Time to head down.

When I reach the switchback, I hear Pika (yea!)

I quickly spot one on the upside

Oops! There's a Pika in the rocks at my feet!! Hey there!

I also see 3 more on the downside. Guess they're all waiting for sunset in the shadows of the mountain.

Good day!

Oct 16 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with a high in the mid-60s (but still windy).

I should be heading into the mountain (the clock is ticking for snow or snow-making) but I wanted something warmer so heading to the Island.

I arrive around 8:30; it's sunny but only in the mid-40s.

Not many shorebirds out there today; perhaps the colder temperatures have moved them south.

I arrive on the island and head towards the Ranch.

As normal, there are a few lone bison in the area behind the Visitor's Center.

Quiet drive until I reach the area east of Frary Peak. I find deer!! I count 5; all doe feeding in the tall grasses.

I also find a male pheasant perched on a tree.

Continuing on, I find a small herd of bison on the lake bed.

Then it's quiet until just north of the ranch where I find a decent sized herd of bison along the shoreline. 

There are a few more bison out near Mushroom Springs - not hiking Sentry Peak today!

I turn around and head north to hike the White Rock trail.

As I reach the fence line on the north end of the island and spot 3 Pronghorn!!

I head over to the west side where there are a few scattered bison behind the Visitor's Center. and a small herd of deer (all doe) just before the entrance to Bison Point.

There's another small herd of bison under Bison Point.

I park in the White Rock lot and start off on my hike. Still in the 40s; perfect weather for hiking in my opinion.

Quiet hike; only a couple of bison near the fence. A little nervous passing them but they decided to move away from me as I approached.

I reach the overlook for the White Rock meadow. On the far side of the meadow 

and spot what looks like critters. Too small to be bison, it's a herd of deer!! I can't find a male in the group of at least 12. Awesome!

They will not be there long as there are some horseback riders approaching; I had good timing this morning. (And it's been the day for deer!!)

On the inner loop, I find several Clouded Sulphurs 

and Checkered Skippers 

and Meadowhawk dragonflies. I also see a lizard, Tiger Beetle and a black beetle.

Good day!

Oct 15 - Mirror Lake and Lofty Lake (Mirror Lake Hwy)

Sunny with temperatures barely reaching 60 degrees - coldest day in a long time.

Decided to head out to the Uintahs to finally hike up to Lofty Lake. Usually this is a summer hike but with Covid and the extra crowds, it wasn't worth the trek. But it's a Thursday and it'll be cold up there, it's time.

The drive is still very pretty. Most of the aspens leaves are gone but the yellows of the willows along the rivers/streams is pretty awesome!

At one point, I round the corner and there is a deer standing in the middle of the road. She crosses and another follows.

Still farther along, there are two deer standing in the road. They cross and another one follows. 

Not a bad start to my day; 5 deer!!

It's in the low 20s when I arrive at Mirror Lake. There is only one other car in the parking lot. I gear up and step out of the car. Oh my, it's super windy! Brrrrr!

I start my walk around the lake despite the wind; sure glad I brought my fleece face mask with me. Unfortunately, it's sitting in my car.

The lake is still all open and not mirror-like today.

As I work my way around the lake, I do get out of the wind for a bit.

No birds, no animals seen.

I'm nervous about the hike to Lofty Lake because of the wind but I'm going anyway.

I head over to the Pass Lake trailhead and I'm the only car there - yea!!

I load up my face mask and ski cap and start up the trail.

Still quiet but I do see a few chipmunks.

The far edge of the first lake I reach is very shallow and frozen.

But the main part of the lake is open.

Scout Lake is also open. 

Just a 1/2 more mile and it's all uphill and getting windy with every step.

Not far past Scout Lake, I spot a lone deer. She's looking right at me.

I continue around her and find 4 little ears with eyes looking at me. 

I believe these are the twin fawns of Mom. Pretty cool!

Up, up over the rocks to above the lake. And then down I go.

And boy is it windy - quite brisk!

I decide to head over to the other side of the lake and take a break.

I scan for mountain goat, but nothing.

I do find a very small edge of ice on the lake. Pretty cool!

Time to head back down the way I came. On my way out of the bowl, I finally meet another hiker (and her dog).

Then it's down, down 

and back to my car.

Awesome day!