Frary Peak Splendor

Frary Peak, high point on Antelope Island

I've lived in Utah for more than 20 years and have had Frary Peak on my must hike list for nearly that long.  Perhaps because I've been distracted by spring skiing, I've never gotten around to doing it.  I decided to give it a go this morning, and found it to be one of the most enjoyable hikes that I've done in Utah.

I probably missed the green grass and wildflower peak by two weeks, but it was still colorful on north aspects, which the trail frequents as it moves southward along the Frary Peak ridgeline.

The summit is hidden for most of the hike, until you are within about a half mile.

On the trip I saw bison (on the plains in the distance) and these fellas, which I think are big horn sheep.

Summit view of America's great inland sea (i.e., the Great Salt Lake), with the Stansbury Mountains and Deseret Peak in the distance.  For those of you looking for something to do next weekend, the Twin Couloirs looked quite inviting from here.

Looking southeast toward the central Wasatch, showing what a formidable barrier they pose for northwesterly flow.  Pretty much nothing in the way until you hit the east bench.

Looking north toward Buffalo Point, Fremont Island, and the Bear River Bay.

As Yogi Berra said, "you can observe a lot just by watching."  With relatively weak flow over northern Utah this morning, convective initiation occurred preferentially over the high terrain of the Wasatch, Oquirrh, and Stansbury ranges.  Note how the clouds are training off the the east (left), consistent with the large-sale northwesterly flow.

On the descent, a nice view of the northern Wasatch Front with Willard and Ben Lomond Peaks in the center.

Such a shame that the snow has gone so fast this year.