Skiing was a glorious adventure

Monday I had the opportunity to go skiing at Brighton. I was excited because I'd been watching the weather forecast and it looked like I might get some fresh powder. None of the friends I had asked, including my brother Mike, could go, so I was going solo--not quite as fun, but still, I've gone skiing alone before and still had a great time, so I was rarin' to go.
I had gotten off to a late start because as I got five minutes away from home, I realized that I had left my ski ticket voucher at home and had to go back to retrieve it. Once home, my wife, Ann was having trouble with the sound on the computer, so I stayed for a little longer to make sure she got it back on, and then I left.
The lifts were already open when I got there and by the time I got dressed and ready to go, they'd been running for about half an hour. The snow was coming down fast and furious, and as I went up the Majestic lift, the snow was blowing right in my face. I always take an easy run or two to get myself warmed up before doing something more strenuous and this was no exception. By the time I did my second tour on that lift though, I wanted no more of it. It was running so slow and I could see the other nearby lift, called the Crest Express, running a lot faster. I took that lift the next time and when I got off on top, my glasses needed to be cleaned off. I'd been okay so far without goggles in my brief three year return to skiing, but with the snow coming down and the wind blowing so hard, I definitely saw the need for some good "over the glasses" goggles. Anyway, I stopped when I got off the lift to clean my glasses. I had brought a microfiber cloth with me and as I wiped them off, the left lens came out of the glasses. Great I thought, just what I needed to happen. However, I was able to pop it back in and I headed down.

You can see that left lens is a little foggy.

I pretty much stuck with that lift the rest of the day as the runs were long and fun and had a lot of variation. And there was an awesome 4-5 inches of  powder everywhere! I was impressed with Brighton's runs. I had not been there in thirty-plus years, the last time being when I went night skiing with Mike when he was fourteen. I liked it better than Solitude, where I have been doing most of my skiing, because I've been able to ski cheaper at Solitude. The particular time when I went to purchase my ticket from liftopia, Brighton just happened to have the cheapest ticket for this particular day. One advantage Solitude has over Brighton, other than price is a lot more restrooms scattered around the slopes.
I wanted to get ten runs in before I stopped for lunch, and though it was still snowing, it slowed down a little as I headed to lunch. By the time I got done with lunch though, it was snowing harder than it had all day and I was pumped to get back up there.

The sun poked out from time to time

Down in the parking lot, it wasn't snowing as hard as up on top.

I managed seven more fantastic runs after lunch and by then my legs were getting really tired. I stopped after seventeen. When I got home and went to clean off my glasses, the lens fell out again and I couldn't get it back in--I ended up digging through my bedroom dresser to find my spare glasses, and then later, when I had to go to Walmart for some things, I stopped by their optical department and they put the lens back in for me. I consider myself lucky that I was able to get that lens to stay in for as long as I did. I had my old pair of glasses in the 4Runner, but ended up not having to go back and get them.
I think that was my last time skiing for the year. I had planned on taking my granddaughter for a lesson in March, but with as little snow as we have, and for some other reasons, I think I'm going to have to take both my oldest granddaughters next year together. That might be better anyway. They have great deals on lessons in January.

Further down the canyon, there just isn't much snow at all. Looks like May up there.

I had a glorious adventure on the slopes. Now it's time to start planning some hikes. I can't wait.

Hiking: Antelope Island, Frary Peak

Bison are frequently spotted on the island.

I think one of the most interesting hikes around the Salt Lake Valley, is the hike to Frary Peak on Antelope Island. The actual elevation of the peak (6596 ft.) isn't high in relation to the peaks of the Wasatch or Uinta Mountains--or even the tallest peaks in the Oquirrhs--but the landscape is entirely different. Pretty much barren of trees, although there are a few junipers here and there, and down in the ravines you can see small clumps of oak, maple, or some other deciduous trees, the landscape is mostly grassland and sagebrush. And the geology is different as well with dark rock outcroppings appearing throughout the peaks and ridges of the island.

The hike itself is best done in a season other than summer as I would wager that it gets pretty hot in the summer months and there is virtually no shade. Fall is the perfect season to do it, and my brother Mike and I found out to our relief that the no-see-um flies had maybe died off for the year. I wouldn't bank on that though. Antelope Island is always a place where you should have bug spray on hand as there are times when the biting flies can be maddening.
Wildlife is plentiful if you take the time to search it out on the hillsides and down in the flatlands. Bison are often seen along the trails and from the ridges you can look down and spot groups of them feeding on the grasses. Saturday, when Mike and I went on our hike, we spotted numerous buffalo and on the way out, a herd of deer down in the lowlands. Some others along the trail had spotted a Bighorn sheep and other wildlife that we hadn't seen.

At this low altitude, wildflowers are still around if you look.

This sunflower was calling my name.

Early portions of the trail are steep as it makes its way up to the ridge. There is a 2050' elevation gain over the course of the hike, and much of that is in the first mile.  Once you are up high, it levels off and only occasionally climbs or drops steeply, most of the time the trail crisscrosses the ridge allowing views of the Great Salt Lake to the west, and the Wasatch Range to the east. The higher you get, the more expansive the views and you can see south to the Oquirrh Range, Southwest to the Stansbury Range, Stansbury Island directly west, Promontory Point way up north, and many other points of interest.

View west with Stansbury Island in the distance.

There are still some fall colors on the way to Frary Peak

Stansbury Island with whitecaps on the lake in the foreground.

The trailhead sign says that it's a 3.2 mile hike and there are markers every half mile along the trail. I think that the 3.2 miles is a bit off now, because they have redone the trail on the last portion in the past couple of years and it is longer as it curves around the peak and goes up gradually, instead of the nearly straight up "stairs" from years gone by. I don't think they have yet changed the mileage posts to reflect this new trail, but I would guess it added another quarter mile to the trek.

I got a bit higher and took a pic of Mike down on the trail.

That being said, it's a doable trail for most people who aren't in horrible shape. If you are not in great shape, going slowly will help you to make it to the top, where the reward for the effort is pretty amazing.

Mike looking like a viking explorer.

On top, look for the USGS marker. It's on top of a rock right where the trail gets to the top. That is the highest point, and it's worth standing on just so you can say you made it to the very top. The cairn in which a mailbox is placed for writing notes may be a bit higher, but my recommendation is that you avoid standing on that, as it will fall down, and you with it.

Don't stand on the cairn!!

You won't find lodgepole pines, aspen, or thick underbrush up here. What you will find especially if you can go during the week, is peace, and solitude, unusual landscapes, and amazing views. Well worth the few hours of your time to do this adventure.

Looking southeast from the trailhead, Wasatch Mountains in the distance.