Saturday, October 28, 2017

Weather, Weather Everywhere! “Jello” Plans! Part I

May 19, 2017

The next day we left Capitol Reef National Park and drove north to the town of Green River, Utah. We needed fuel and a few groceries. We had a brochure that suggested some unpaved backcountry roads to travel north and west of Green River. There were some small campgrounds and interesting geology to explore. After checking the weather forecast and determining that there was rain coming for the next several days, we decided to stay off the dirt roads and make yet another new plan.


Heading up the Sevier Valley with the Wasatch Range on the left.
To out run the rain we needed to drive west. Getting back on I-70 we got off at Salina and took off into the Fishlake National Forest to find the Maple Grove Campground. What a lovely spot! We spent the night high up on the mountainside with a gorgeous view of the valley below and the mountains on the other side of the basin. We took a walk through the campground and discovered a swiftly flowing brook.

Exploring Maple Grove Camp

View from our campsite

Campsite with nice view across the valley




Looking north along the Fishlake National Forest






The next morning we connected up to I-15 and made the drive to Salt Lake City. We were surprised by the large amount of population stretching north-south along the interstate. We left that all behind when we approached the six mile causeway connecting the mainland and Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake. The only concern we had was when we learned that we had arrived in no-see-um gnat season, which runs April through June. The campground wasn't very full and we found a site overlooking the lake. There was enough wind blowing to keep the gnats at bay, so we went exploring.


The flats of the Great Salt Lake

Tame Deer made of bronze. Causeway in background

Camp near beach


There are only a few roads on the island. We checked out the other campground and then took the paved road south as far as we could until we reached the Historic Fielding Garr Ranch. We toured the buildings and learned about the history of sheep ranching on this remote island. The drive back took us past a couple dozen of the 500 bison that inhabit the island. They were relaxing on the beach supposedly to escape the gnats.





Sheepherder's wagon

View from the ranch across to Salt Lake City

Remote ranch only 6 miles from downtown SLC

Bison on beach to avoid gnats

Sunset view over the Great Salt Lake from our campsite


We stayed two nights. The second day the forecast called for more wind, so Greg decided to bike some of the trails. We awoke the second morning to no breeze! Greg decided to brave it anyway and thought that if he kept riding, the biting gnats couldn't keep up with him! He didn't count on two flat tires caused by cactus thorns that would need patching! He got hundreds of gnat bites. I stayed in the RV the entire day and still managed to get some bites!

Greg feeding gnats


Beautiful bike riding until you stopped

Chukar partridge imported a century ago from India for hunting


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