April 21 - Antelope Island

Yes, I love this place..... but today is was the Animal Go Wild Day as there were buffalo, pronghorn and even coyote everywhere!! A little Yellowstone :)

I was going to hike the Sentry Trail today -- tried a few weeks back but the sign said one needs a permit to hike the trail and I had no permit and so I wouldn't feel guity for 6.5 miles I turned back. But today, I'm getting the permit :)

Got into the park and was greeting almost immediantly by a bison -- solo, big guy right off the road. A little while later I noticed some people slowly walking off the road. I looked and looked and there was a small herd of pronghorn near the water. I started to go (following the very slow car in front of me who obviously was paying attention as he didn't see what I saw (better for me) which was several of those pronghorn running up to the road. I drove near to where they were heading and stopped as they were angling to cross in front of me --- unfortunately, they cross in back of me (but it was a nice rearview mirror shot).

A little while later, a bunch of bison off the road on the right. Had to watch because the slow guy in front of me stopped (yes, I caught up to him again). When he started to go, so did I but there running next to me was 3 bison paralleling my car. To avoid stressing them, I stopped and watch the 3 cross in front of me - 2 very fast and one taking his sweet ole time. (and the guy in front didn't even see them)

Off again, more bison near the water, a couple of cars stopped but the folks were looking not at the bison but something in the other direction. I pulled off the road to see what they were looking at. It was a coyote not too far off the road. He was hunting. As I watched, I was wondering if this is one of the pair I saw back in Feb on my 1st trip to the Island (it was the same area).

His head cocked to the left like he was trying to listen and then to the right,

he'd inch forward and then after about 5min - POUNCE! And then he started franticly digging and digging. He'd look up and then dig some more; then finally after several more minutes, he had lunch!!!

And yes, the bison were still off to the right.

Back in the car, soon I has a solo pronghorn running parallel to my car -- I did stop so he could chill (no road crossing this time). And then I took off and he calmly stayed still.

I guess I should mention that mountains looked really pretty. The snow has been melting off but the rain we had lately (and the record cold), fell as snow in the mts so they looked well "refreshed".

Made it to the Ranch, found a ranger and he said that permits were no longer required; they just tooked down the signs. So I grabbed my gear and was off.

The Sentry Trail is a 6.5 mile (about 1000ft climb) up and around Sentry Peak. Not alot of flowers blooming but lots of yellows ones (they look like Golden Alexanders - a spring native in Illinois) and I found out later they are call Gray's Biscuitroot and they are in the same family as the Golden Alexanders. Its the host plant to the Anise Swallowtails and based on the huge amounts of this plant -- there should be plenty of Anise Swallowtails. The other is a small pink flower called Redstem Stork's Bill.

Anyway, the first 3/4 mile was flat but I was eyeing a large herd of bison (including babies)

and I think the trail was headed their way (another blocked trail by bison). Yes, I was heading right for them. They were mostly on the north side of the trail but as I approached 3 started toward the road looking straight at me.

I was debating whether I should continue -- but there 2 other folks behind me and I didn't want to look like a whimp. (Peer pressure is sometimes good.) So I continued slowly - now the 3 were right in the middle of the road looking at me. I took another step and off they ran to the south away from the trail --- must've been my bright orange shirt! Trail is clear and up I went.

Views were wonderful (as usual). It got rockier the higher I got. And then finally (2.75miles) there was Sentry Peak and I had to go right or left (this is the circle around part). I went right and got to go uphill again. There were pine trees up here now. I was scanning for deer and bighorn sheep (it's been a great day for animals, those were the only 2 left). But no such luck.

And then, no more uphill!! And a spectacular view of the lake to the east (note the bison below)

and one to the west.

Wow! And a conviently placed picnic table -- must be time for lunch. :) (Elevation: 5203).

Finally, there was some Red Paintbrush up on top just about ready to bloom.

After lunch, followed the trail around the backside of the peak. A little windier (and cooler) on this side. And then it was back down the trail. Its so much nicer going down. And since the sun was coming around the mnts to the east, looked even prettier.

There were some folks on horses off the trail and the bison had all moved off (except one lone one). And then I saw coyote crossing the trail trotting off downhill. He was watching me.

And the Western Meadowlark were still singing away today.

Nothing too exciting the rest of the way down. The drive back just more bison, bison, and bison -- they were all over the island today, even on the beach near the visitor's center.

Good day!