Frary Peak & Dooley Knob - Antelope Island - November 11, 2024

[scatman]

Yesterday was the perfect day. You all know what I am talking about. You get a good night's sleep, when you wake your body (knees, hips, and feet) is feeling good, and the weather outside just invites you to be hiking.

I woke up early and drove out to Antelope Island to see if I could summit Frary, and on my way back down I decided to take the little detour over to Dooley Knob and sit up top and enjoy the views.

The temperature at my house said that it was 41 degrees when I left, but when I arrived at the trailhead on the island it was 32. It didn't stay cold for long once the sun popped up over the Wasatch Front though. It was just right as far as I was concerned, and I felt great heading up the hill and all the way to the top. On my way down, it did start to warm up a bit as I think we were close to 70 degrees in the afternoon. The Sube said 65 when I got back to the trailhead.

Funny, today my knees are a little sore, and my fourth toe on my right foot is a bit painful, and I have a slight overall tiredness to my body, but I'll take that perfect day, knowing that they seem to get further and further apart the older I get. It's too bad that I can't wrap that day up, and then unwrap it when I need it.

Anyway, here are some shots of the hike.


View of Frary Peak from the northern causeway on my way to the trailhead



Lucky enough to run into some bulls near the intersection to Garr Ranch


Frary Peak - almost at the trailhead


At the trailhead. Looking up at the east side of Dooley Knob (elevation 5278)


It was the guy up ahead's first time to hike up Frary. He was one of two people I saw on my way up. I ran into a lot more on my
way back down.


There were a few blooms on the rabbitbrush out on the island


Junction sign for Dooley


Dooley Knob


High enough now to get a view to the north towards Buffalo Point


And to the west


Sun hitting Elephant Head


Dooley Knob, and the approach road to the trailhead


The trail is going to make its way up the draw to the top of the ridge


Up, up and away


Early morning sun on the rabbitbrush makes it look slightly angelic


View across the lake towards Ogden


Almost to the top of the ridge.


On the ridge now with a view down into Red Rocks Canyon


Stansbury Island to the west


View to the north from the ridge towards the Northern Wasatch and the Wellsville Range


Sub-ridge heading off to the west of the main Frary Peak ridge


Almost there

Views from the top. I stopped for an early lunch and to take quite a few pictures.


Ridge heading north from the summit


Castle Rock - the high point of Stansbury Island


Zoomed in on Dooley. Still contemplating if I want to go up it on my way down from Frary.


Zoomed in on Fremont Island to the north with the Promontory Range beyond


Zoomed in even more on Fremont. The high point of the island (dark rock right of center) is where Kit Carson carved a cross when
exploring the island


Zoomed in on Carrington Island to the west, which was used as a bombing range during WWII


Hat Island to the west and north of Carrington. Pelicans used to nest on this island before the lake level dropped, allowing coyotes
to reach the island.


Zoomed in on Deseret Peak in the Stansbury Range


The Lakeside Mountains to the west, with Craner Peak and Black Mountain being the two highest peaks in the range. The Amax
Magnesium plant can also be seen just below Black Mountain




Views of the northern Wasatch


View down the southern spine of Antelope Island



And a few autumn colors below on the east side of the island


Some juniper berries up top


The Antelope Benchmark


The summit pose. The lady that took this shot complimented me on the pose. @Rockskipper, I think we can drop the bikini
part and just call it "The Pose." What say you?



My two cameras for this hike were the Canon EOS 7D, and the Canon PowerShot G9


Heading back down


Another shot of Elephants Head, this time in complete sunlight. You can just make out the end of the trunk on the left side, trying
to reach the lake.


Should I hike up it?


Heading up Dooley Knob. Speaking of Dooley Skipper, the last location that I've got for him was when you told me he was
hanging out near Flagg Ranch and the Grassy Lake Road. Any updates? Do you think you can send him home?


Trailhead down below


View of Frary from Dooley


Beacon Knob to the north of Dooley


Buffalo Point from Dooley


After enjoying the view for a few minutes, some older ladies approached the high point, and I asked if one of them cold take my
picture and then I'd give up my rock so that they could enjoy the views. After taking this shot, and giving up my perch, one of the
ladies said that she loved my hiking skirt. I laughed out loud and thanked her of course, and proceeded to chuckle to myself
all the way back to the trailhead. Hiking Skirt!


Heading down to the trailhead.

Only one way to end a perfect day, so when I got home I sent Sheila a message and said, "Let's go get nachos!"


So I picked her up from work and off to the Porcupine we went.


Nachos and a pumpkin, chocolate chip stout, brewed by Red Rocks Brewery. I look kind of crazed with the red eyes.


The End of a Perfect Day

 

[TractorDoc]

You had me convinced that this indeed was the perfect day. . . up until the pumpkin chocolate chip stout.

I love autumn but dread that it brings everything with pumpkin flavor. Breads, pies, coffees, cookies, some spice here and some spice there. . . even the delicious beers are not immune. I suppose that is my problem and I should not clutter up your fine report with my particular palate.

My two cameras for this hike were the Canon EOS 7D, and the Canon PowerShot G9

These two cameras did a fine job of documenting your adventure. Your pictures from this trip are top notch!

Another shot of Elephants Head, this time in complete sunlight. You can just make out the end of the trunk on the left side, trying
to reach the lake.

I see it! Its like on of those 3-D pictures where you need to relax your eyes and see the shape.

The summit pose. The lady that took this shot complimented me on the pose.

This lady was obviously well versed in poses and felt the need to acknowledge an exceptional one.
I wonder if later in the day she told her friends about the guy in the hiking skirt and what a fine poser he was.

 

[Rockskipper]

@Rockskipper, I think we can drop the bikini
part and just call it "The Pose." What say you?

OK, we'll call it the Pose, but you know that makes you the Poser, right? The Poser in a hiking skirt. The crazed red-eyed Poser in a hiking skirt.

Love the photos. The best photo I ever took was with a 7D and Canon's epic 100-400L lens. It was of a flower taken from my car while waiting in the bank drive-through.

Looks like a really nice hike.

 

[BeardoMcGrath]

Beautiful photos. I drove along the Stansbury Range for the first time last month and was surprised by the beauty of these areas on the margins of the Great Salt Lake.

 

[Bob]

Cheack out the Newfoundlands and the Hogups......

 

[scatman]

You had me convinced that this indeed was the perfect day. . . up until the pumpkin chocolate chip stout.

It was actually quite good. I'll slowly work you into the world of Stouts and Porters.

These two cameras did a fine job of documenting your adventure. Your pictures from this trip are top notch!

Thanks. My shoulder didn't get as tired hauling the 7D up the hill as it did with the 1Ds Mark II.

This lady was obviously well versed in poses and felt the need to acknowledge an exceptional one.
I wonder if later in the day she told her friends about the guy in the hiking skirt and what a fine poser he was.

I'm guessing it was the point of conversation around the dinner table that night.

 

[scatman]

OK, we'll call it the Pose, but you know that makes you the Poser, right? The Poser in a hiking skirt. The crazed red-eyed Poser in a hiking skirt.

Love the photos. The best photo I ever took was with a 7D and Canon's epic 100-400L lens. It was of a flower taken from my car while waiting in the bank drive-through.

Looks like a really nice hike.

The red-eyed Poser in a hiking skirt has a nice ring to it.

How were you able to hold the 100-400L without a tripod? Could I handle one with my wrist?

 

[scatman]

Beautiful photos. I drove along the Stansbury Range for the first time last month and was surprised by the beauty of these areas on the margins of the Great Salt Lake.

I was thinking that I needed to get back to the Stansbury Range while looking over at it from the summit.

 

[scatman]

Cheack out the Newfoundlands and the Hogups......

I've had the Newfoundlands on my bucket list for a long time. I actually had a date set in early May five years ago to go out there with a friend on a Friday afternoon after work, camp for the night, then summit Desert Peak on Saturday. Unfortunately, a storm moved in and I have never gotten back to getting out there.

 

[Ugly]

I've had the Newfoundlands on my bucket list for a long time. I actually had a date set in early May five years ago to go out there with a friend on a Friday afternoon after work, camp for the night, then summit Desert Peak on Saturday. Unfortunately, a storm moved in and I have never gotten back to getting out there.

I would be up for it some time, especially before there are midges and gnats and such.

 

[Rockskipper]

How were you able to hold the 100-400L without a tripod? Could I handle one with my wrist?

I was in my car, and I have one of those bean bag thingys for birding from your car that hangs over the open window. I'm prepared for anything - well, except maybe not for seeing red-eyed Posers in hiking skirts in the wild.

Your wrist would be fine if you carefully balanced it (your wrist) on a tripod while taking photos.

 

[scatman]

I would be up for it some time, especially before there are midges and gnats and such.

Lets talk in the spring about making this happen then.