Frary Peak on Antelope Island

Blog post 100!  What a great hike to write about on this blogging milestone - Frary Peak! on Antelope Island.  I have wanted to do this hike for some time and finally had the opportunity.  OHHH and it was a good one!!  If you are looking for a hike with spectacular views, plenty of wildlife to see and is challenging Frary Peak fits the bill perfectly.  The trailhead to Frary Peak is easy to find.  After crossing the causeway (water levels are extremely low this year) follow the road left to Garr Ranch Road on the east side of the island. Good wildlife viewing all along this road.  After about 5 miles you will find signs for Frary Peak trailhead to the right.  Another 1/2 mile on a steep paved road gets to the trailhead parking.  My best advise for hiking Frary Peak is to get an early start and also plan this hike for early spring or late fall.  Summer can be too hot and very buggy.

 

Frary Peak is about 6.6 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of about 2070 feet.  The first mile and the last half mile to the top are the steepest, but the majority of the hike is a nice gradual climb along a very scenic ridge overlooking the west side of the Great Salt Lake.  The wildlife on our hike this morning was exceptional; from the meadow larks singing to us all morning to spotting a lone coyote.  We saw rabbits, bison, deer, antelope, a coyote, chukars, lizards, butterflys, a hawk.  We also saw a few wildflowers blooming.  Most notably a very pretty pink shade of Indian Paintbrush.

 Wildlife

12 head of deer climbing up the hillside.

This is looking at Frary Peak.  The trail continues to the right following the cairns downward for a little bit and wrapping around the west side of the peak before making a very steep assent climbing up some makeshift steps before reaching the top.  This portion of the trail is challenging and not for the faint of heart.  But the payoff is so worth the effort and fear.

Geological marker at top of Frary Peak

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There is a day use fee of $10 per vehicle or $5 for Utah seniors.  Also Antelope Island State Park has a very nice Visitor Center open year-round so make sure to stop by for a visit (plus this may be your only chance for restrooms).

Drift Creek Falls - Oregon

It's been a while!  I have been hiking, at least once a week all winter (did we have a winter???) revisiting all my favorite trails, sometimes on snowshoes, sometimes with microspikes and often with missile sled in tow.  I also had the opportunity this winter to hike a couple of trails in Oregon, coastal Oregon to be exact and one of my absolute favorite new discoveries is the subject of my blog post today.  Drift Creek Falls! in the Siuslaw National Forest.  The trailhead was challenging find (9 miles on a single lane winding logging road through dense forest), but the pay off was a beautiful 65 foot waterfall and 240 foot long cable suspension bridge.

 

I fell in love with the mossy greenness of Oregon forests.  And yes, it rains in coastal Oregon a lot!  But the trick is being prepared for the rain and hiking anyway.  You just need good rain gear and rubber boots.  And don't worry about how bad your hair looks!  On my hike this day I had rain, hail, sunshine and a little more rain.

Sun peeks our for a little while.

 

 

Plants I saw along the hike.

Banana slug.

Drift Creek Falls is found east of Lincoln City, Oregon.  From Highway 101 north of Lincoln City take state road 18 towards the tiny town of Otis and after about 3.5 miles on SR 18 you will come across signs for Drift Creek Falls.  From the turn towards Drift Creek you are on a very narrow winding road (good news - the road is paved)  to the trailhead.  Watch out for large logging trucks.

Burch Hollow Trail

The Burch Hollow Trail in Millcreek Canyon is a great winter hike and a nice escape from the poor air quality of the Salt Lake Valley.  The trailhead is located about 4 miles up Millcreek Canyon just past Porter Fork with parking on the left side of the road.  On busy weekends throughout winter parking will be limited for this trailhead.

Burch Hollow connects with the popular Pipeline trail after about half a mile.  At the Pipeline junction take a right turn towards Elbow Fork trail.  The trail gradually climbs the south facing slope until it levels off for a nice stroll along the mountainside, high above the inversion.  After 3 miles of hiking you will arrive at the Elbow Fork trail and the groomed road leading back to the car for a 5 mile loop hike.  Wonderful winter exercise - outdoors!  Cross country skiers and dog walkers make good use of this road.  The entire trail is well packed so snowshoes are not necessary, a nice pair of microspikes added to winter boots work perfectly.  I know I sound like a broken record, but the mountain views are awesome.

The trail along the Pipeline is on a south facing slope which is perfect for sun and warmth even when the valley temperatures deep into the teens.  Here are a few winter trail shots.

The miles fly by and before you know it you have hiked the 3 miles to reach Elbow Fork Trail and the groomed road back down Millcreek Canyon.  And good news!  The restrooms are open for winter - although VERY smelly! (But if you got to go you got to go, right)  

We hiked on a busy Saturday afternoon and the parking lots were very full.  The Salt Lake area definitely has many outdoor enthusiasts.  Winter hiking is a wonderful pastime.  Trust me you will love it!  But get yourself a pair of spikes.  I got a pair of Kahtoola Microspikes for Christmas and I love them!  Some type of traction for your boots is a necessity for winter hiking.  The Kahtoola Microspikes are pictured below. 

 Get outdoors!  Get into nature!  You will be glad you did!

Mule Hollow Trail

Mule Hollow trail leads to yet another abandoned ore mine in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  This trail is found 3.2 miles up Big Cottonwood road just past Storm Mountain picnic area with parking on the north side of the road.  The trail follows a stream bed - zigzagging back and forth across the rocky, dry stream numerous times and steadily climbing up the Mule Hollow canyon drainage.  After hiking the narrow canyon for about 1.3 miles with an elevation gain of 1400 feet, the trail ends at the tailings dump from the old mine.  All that remains is an old rail track coming from the caved in mine portal and rusty artifacts from what was once a miners cabin.  The geology of Mule Hollow canyon was interesting with several large deposits of shale along the route as well as impressive views of Storm Mountain and Stairs Gulch.  It was a perfect hike for such an unseasonably warm December afternoon!  And did I mention that we also sighted Big Foot on the trail??  And took pictures!!  I have the BEST time while hiking!

A few obstacles to overcome on the trail.

Shale deposit

Tailings to climb and we have arrived at the mine site.

Rail from the old mine portal.

Not a bad view!

Big Foot Sighting!  WHAT!!

He was a very friendly Big Foot!

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