May 4 - Antelope Island (yes, again)

Had plenty of options this morning but I chose to be a little lazy and ended back at Antelope Island (not a bad thing). My goal was hiking the Frary Peak Trail (hardest one there) but changed my mind when I got 1/3 of the way up......

Everytime I go here, there's something different. Today the water around the causeway was gone - just ground. I had to drive a several miles before there was water.

Bike race today - something other than buffalo to contend with on the roads :)

Stopped on the lower west side very briefly....oh the gnats are definitely back! And they bite (and burn). Got little red marks from those little guys. But on the flipside, lots of Common Checkered Skipper flying (everywhere... I wonder if they just emerged).

Over to the west side and the Frary Peak/Dooly Knob Trailhead. Not that many bison today. There are a couple on the lakebed (one standing/one resting).

The road to the trailhead is a 25% incline for a bit - will be fun going down. Lovely view and I see an Anise Swallowtail (I knew they'd be coming soon) and another Common Checkered Skipper. Bugs not to bad (but its kinda windy).

Time to go up and up it went (pretty steep). There are some yellow/orange plants that are about ready to bloom; other than that, the sagebrush is greening up and the yellow Gray's Biscuitroot flowers are still hanging on. Not too far up the trail I met some scout leaders carrying red plates, the one gave me his plate; said they were useful in swatting the gnats away at the top. So I carry on with red plate in hand - probably look weird now that I think about (but at least I was prepared).

Just a steep climb -- checked out the "overlooks". Great views.

At .75 miles is the split between Frary Peak and Dooly Knob Trail. I decide Dooly Knob which will take me to a rock summit with views of both sides of the island.

Lots more flowers up here. See another Anise Swallowtail, a checkerspot and a skipper.

The rocky "knob" was after a series of switchbacks. I'm not a climber but I went up to a little landing and was greeted with a face fulls of gnats :) (Too bad I was afraid to pull the plate out.)

There was a family from WI (celebrating their son's graduation from grad school) with me on top. The Dad offered to take my pix...normally I say no, but sometimes is just good to prove you've been somewhere.

Then it was all downhill....... Spotted another skipper: Juba Skipper on the almost blooming yellow/orange plants.

Decided to go on to the Ranch and see what was happening. Well all the bison were on the way to the ranch -- part of the herd on the lake bed (and a few were running- not sure what scared them). The other part of the herd was right off the road -- cause a bit of a road block. Females and calves - so cute.

Nothing much at the ranch except more of the Common Checkered Skippers.

Saw one lone pronghorn on the way back.

Oh, strangely the water returned along the causeway --- don't know if it was the wind, does the Salt Lake have tides.... Hmmmmmm