My Utah Adventure 2026

 Sunny day with highs in the low 80s. It's a 55 degree morning so heading up to Antelope Island to hike Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill. Easy drive up despite being a Saturday. No critters along the causeway except a N. Harrier gliding west along the causeway. When I arrive on the Island, I head straight to the TH passing a couple/three bison near the lakebed. When I pull into the parking lot. I see a small group (5-6) bison on the hill near the TH. They are grazing slowly toward the trail so I need another plan. I'll get to Beacon Hill from the White Rock Trail. It's longer and more elevation but it's a go! I head over to the new trail. There is a herd of bison in the meadow before the parking. Not many people hiking/biking yet but there sure is a bunch of horse trailers. I gear up and start along the trail. As I'm walking the flattish section before the hill, I spot a lone Pronghorn on the other side of the fence. Sweet! Then it's up the hill, passing a Pink flower ...

 Sunny day with highs near 80. Very undecided on the hike today but ultimately decided to go to Lake Solitude and maybe upwards. Arrive 7:30 and surprised that the canyon is not very busy yet. But it's early and the sun has not yet come up all the way. It's in the low 40s Colors look brighter than last week; probably the peak.  I head around the lake and no moose/deer to be seen so I start my trek to Lake Solitude. Quiet morning and I'm taking it slow just to enjoy the colors. I spot 3 deer below me at the lift (yea). And I spot my only flower of the day; a geranium still in full bloom. At the large rockslide, I hear Pika but can't one. At Lake Solitude, no critters to be seen. Not heading up above Twin Lakes today; I feel the urge to poop. Darn because I feel good today about getting to my perch. But priorities. I do loop around the lake though before heading back. Back at Silver Lake, a person points out 3 deer on the far side of the lake. That make 6 for the day! Goo...

 Sunny day with highs near 70 degrees.  Heading up BCC after work to hike up to Twin Lakes via the Millie Lift trail. Pretty easy drive up the canyon considering it's "Leaf Peeper" season. TH are still pretty full including Willow Lake. The trees are looking incredible! I already know I'm bypassing Silver Lake and it's a good thing because it was overflow parking. The Millie Lift area had a few cars but far from crowded. I start up the trail with a cool wind and lots of colors around. And the waterfall is flowing fast. They must have opened the Twin Lakes Dam. And I find a couple Asters still with some life. Quiet walk. Quite a few people coming down. Not sure if they are being forced down because of Twin Lakes Trail closure or they don't want to go down the big hill. Actually, they are going down a big hill either way. Looking for deer/moose and only finding deer tracks. No marmots or Pika either. Soon I'm at Twin Lakes (on the quieter side and one with b...

 Mostly sunny, windy day with highs in the upper 80s. Hopefully the last upper 80s/90s temps until 2027 as a cold front blows in tonight. Heading up to Twin Lakes Pass is the plan this morning. Really need to get up there to close the year strong. Heading up the canyon, the colors are starting. There are a few pops of red/orange and even yellow but still a whole lot green. Coming up on Silver Fork area, I see a cow moose looking at the road so I stop.  There's another cow behind her. Perhaps mother/baby pair.  Good start to the morning. As I pull into the Silver Lake parking, yes colors are starting. Need to get up here after work more so I don't miss the peak. Parking a more crowded than last week but still plenty of spots.  It's in the 60s (78 in SLC when I left) so it's quite pleasant but the wind is blowing. That's when I realize I don't have sunscreen. Guess it'll be a short hike this morning.  I start around the lake and no signs of deer/moose or beave...

 Sunny day with temps in the upper 80s. Heading to Lambs Canyon to finally make it to the top. I arrive just after 8am. Three cars already in the lot. It's about 50 degrees as I start up. Funny how I was expecting to get wet busting thru all the vegetation that's been covering the trail for over a month now but somehow, the trail is clear. Perhaps it's because the Wasatch Back 100 mile run is yesterday and today and they did some trail clearing before the race. Interesting. For the most part, the flowers are gone. I find Geraniums, Lupine, Asters still in bloom but they are scarce. Mostly seed-heads now. Unfortunately I'm really not feeling this trail today. I don't know why but we'll see how it goes. I do meet 2 guys on their way down and they tell me about 1/2 mile up is a Cow and baby. I'm excited and keeping a look-out. However, the moose are adding motivation to my lack of motivation and I bail at the end of one of the switchbacks (the one that has tree...

 Partly cloudy (at least in the early morning) with a high near 80. Heading up the canyon to due what is my Sunday standby; a walk to Lake Solitude. Reason: cloudy, windy and I have a vball game at 1pm. Easy drive up the canyon though it's a bit more crowded as it's officially leaf season. Pretty but crowded. Surprised that there are still plenty of spots in the parking lot as the other TH were already packed as I drove past around 7:30. I gear up and start towards the TH. It's cloudy but the colors are great! No critters around when I reach the TH. No real flowers left except a very occasional Aster or Yellow Composite. Ran into a Deer (doe) early on. I scare her and she me. Just a quiet walk. See a Pika on the little slide. Hear Pika on the big slide. Also see lone deer on the big slide. Lake Solitude is very low; no ducks around. I decide to loop the lake today. Then it's time for the return. At the edge of the big slide, I see another doe about 1/2 way up the mounta...

 Sunny day with temps in the low 80s. But with a cool morning that's in the mid-50s, heading up to Antelope Island to hike to Beacon Hill and shoot my new bow/arrow. Excited but nervous as I kinda suck stringing the arrow. Quick, uneventful drive to the Island. Along the causeway, there are definitely more birds massing. On the Island, I head south directly to the TH passing a lone bison near the lake bed just passed the VC. When I arrive, there is a guy and his 2 dogs a little ways down the trail. And 3 bison just south of the trail grazing. Well, my plan was to hike and then shoot but I want to see where these bison are going so it's time to shoot! I mis-strung the bow the first time but got it right on the second. I thought moving closer to the target would be a good start to get used to things again but after sending 2 bows into a merge 20 yards away and bouncing an arrow off the metal target pole (came bouncing back over my head), it's time to move back to what I think...

Sunny cool day in the forecast. Heading up to hike Beacon Hill trail. Arrive on the Island and there's a strong wind from the north. I know it's not 30 degrees but I'm just might not be hiking. I decide to head toward the Ranch. Pass small herd of Pronghorn downside from Gravel Pit TH. I'll get a better look on my return (I hope). Large herd of bison in front of Frary Peak. (It's a very large herd!) Arrive at the Ranch and I turn around and head north. I see those Pronghorn on my return (7-8 females with the male watches about 20 yards away). I do stop at the TH but decide to call it a day. Not what I was expecting but it was a nice drive.

Partly stormy day but I want to take my chances and get a hike in so heading to Lambs Canyon. When I leave, there are storm clouds over the mountains and starting to fill the valley. I'm hoping to make it to the top (finally) but prepping for getting rained-out. But I don't bring a raincoat. Why? I have no idea. It's around 74 degrees. I arrive at the parking lot and there's is only one car parked. Cloudy skies with a bit of a rubble as I start up the muddy, wet trail. The colors are really starting to take hold especially at the ground level. I do manage to find some Geraniums, Asters, Yellow Comosites that are still blooming. Very quiet except the wind rustling the leaves. The rain starts to pick up but no very hard. Lots of low rumble but no lighting. I make it to the last switchback before the meadow. The skies ahead of me and to the south are stormy looking. Should I continue? I decide the answer is no and start my way back down. I see a Woodpecker on the return. A...

 Sunny day with temps in the low 70s. But its only 44 this morning - brrr! Bringing the light winter just in case there's wind on the Island. Easy, uneventful drive to the Island. And no critters along the causeway. Upon reaching the Island, I decide to head down to Frary Peak to see what might be moving on this cool morning. I see 1 Chukkar along the curves. And 1 Burrowing Owl still hanging out. Approaching Frary Peak, I see a large heard of bison. When I arrive, they are crossing the road toward the lake bed. (Always a good start to the morning!) I pass them and turn around to head back to the TH. There are a couple cars when I arrive so I gear up and start my hike. It's a beautiful and cool morning, perfect hiking weather! When I get out of the pit, there are no animals to be seen. It's me a few dragonflies. Soon I'm climbing Beacon Hill; no critters here either.  When I reach the end and look down, hey, that bison herd has move a few mile north and are under the Wh...

Partly sunny day with temps in the mid-60s. Heading to hike up to my perch today, finally. Colors are changing in the canyon; should be really good next week. No critters on the drive. I arrive at Silver Lake. Temps are in the low 40s (got the gloves this morning). I'm super surprised that there are hardly any cars in the lots; it's about 7:15am. But I'm very happy. Except... I forgot a hat. Guess I'm not heading to my perch this morning. :( Heading out on the boardwalk, it's slippy. Kinda unexpected because of the temps but watch your step! No moose or deer out this morning. But Silver Lake appears to be filling with the rain. Heading up the trail, I spot a lone deer pretty. She was the only wildlife sighting of the day. Quiet walk; no flowers that I can remember. And no Pika sightings although I do hear one at the big rockslide. Arriving at Lake Solitude, she is not filling due to the rain. Lots of bare muddy ground. But there are a pair of Mallards (both female) ...

 The cool front blew in last night and left us if a morning that's 55 degrees with a high in the low 70s. Picture perfect weather. I have the day off and was planning on heading towards White Pine Lake with the goal of reaching the cirque. But when I woke up with such ideal temps, I decided it's a Sentry Peak day! I arrive around 8am and head down to the Ranch.  There were 3-4 bison behind the VC but near the lakebed and they were very hard to see without the right angle. Otherwise, super quiet drive. That huge herd of bison in front of Frary Peak last week are a bit south and about 1/2 way up the mountains; tiny little dots this morning. I arrive at the Sentry Peak parking and I'm the only car (yea!) and it's in the low 50s and a pretty good north wind. The wind won't feel good now but it will as I start the climb. No critters in view. I start up the trail and there are lots of sunflowers and other yellow composites. I even see a Sulphur butterfly zipping past in t...

 Off Friday and cooler temps; can't beat it! Supposed to be sunny with highs in the low 80s. Heading up BCC to hike up to Twins Lake Pass for the 1st time this season. The drive up the canyon was pretty empty; perhaps the tourists are all gone finally (even though it is Labor Day week-end). One can hope. I arrive at Silver Lake just after 7am and there are only a few cars in the lot. Things are looking good. Temps are in the low 50s and it's super windy. I can't image what's it's like up higher so I think I'm only going to Lake Solitude today. Beautiful morning around lake. No hints of the aspens starting to turn yet. No moose or deer to be seen. I start up the trail to Lake Solitude. Very few flowers remain. Quiet walk except a few squirrels complaining.  After a bit, I see a guy in front of me and he branches off on a side trail. Strange. As I approaches, he's returning and tells me that there's a moose ahead (and a smaller moose nearby). I see a guy w...

 Well it's Sept 1 (hard to believe this year has gone by so fast) and it's only 82 degrees for a high!! Time to head up BCC for a hike up to Willow Lake. Leave before 3pm and arrive around 3:30. They say there's no rain until around 6pm but there are rain clouds all around. And as I park, there are sprinkles on my windshield. (Darn weather forecast.)  But I'm going anyway; I made the drive. I have no raincoat (oh well, hopefully it doesn't rain long or hard). I shove my camera and wallet deep in my pack and set off. Just before heading into the forest, I hear rustling. Sure, enough there's a lone doe feeding right on the edge and start of the trail!! Sweet! I continue up the trail with a light rain. The Aspens are blocking some of it from landing on me. There are still a few flowers hanging on; asters and those yellow composites but not much else on the climb. When I get up that first switchback, the sun starts coming out - yea! And I'm surprised to see a fe...

 Storms Fri/Sat/Sun (early morning) and still raining Sunday. High temps only in the upper 70s. Perfect day to head to Antelope Island. On the way I see 2 hawks and following the lower portion of a very bright rainbow to the NW. When I arrive on the Island, I can also see the middle section against the dark clouds. Wonderful morning! Causeway is quiet. Cows out very far on the Great Salt Lake flats as they were last time I was here. When I reach the Island, I decide to drive South only to Frary Peak and maybe I'll see Bison/Antelope/Deer. I make a stop at the Burrowing Owls and there was one out enjoying the burst of sunlight. Down at the very south end of White Rock is a lone Bison. He's eating; I can hear him munching the freshly watered grasses. He also has a limp (and looks a little skinny) but he's moving. I spot 3-4 deer across from Frary Peak. Score! That's a big win for the day. Back at the TH, it says its 63 degrees a mix of sun and clouds. I gear up and head u...