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- Dec 23, 2013
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My family headed out to Antelope Island this past weekend for a short backpacking trip to Split Rock Bay. Split Rock Bay is located on the western side of the island and a bit north of center. It's roughly 4.6 miles from the White Rock Bay Trailhead to the primitive campsites at Split Rock and there is one 600 foot climb to get over the saddle on Elephant Head and the foothills of Frary Peak before dropping down to Split Rock Bay.
We had originally planned on going out in March, but rain and high wind warnings scared us off. Also, they had called off a run on Antelope Island about ten days ago due to biting gnats (actually midges). I thought the cold temps earlier last week would keep them at bay, but I was wrong, and they were relentless for the two days we were there.
This short trip was another good opportunity to test out my surgically repaired right knee. My pack weighed in at 50 pounds and I thought the knee did reasonably well. It seems to be getting stronger as time goes by.
Other than the midges, we had a great time and had the bay all to ourselves.
Review Image
Overview Maps
We picked up our permit at the guard station at the entrance to the northern causeway, then headed off to the White Rock Bay Trailhead
Unloading our gear at the White Rock Bay Trailhead
The Split Rock Bay campsites are located on a spur trail off of the Split Rock Loop. Not sure why they don't show it on this map.
Heading into the backcountry
The trail is actually an old road
High point 4832 above
Elephant Head ahead. Our campsite is located on the south side of it.
My backpacking amigas
Rounding the first point with Frary Peak and Elephant Head ahead
Frary Peak
The road (our trial) across the basin
Death Camas
Dooley Knob
Pesky devils!
Can you see the bison near Dooley Knob?
There they are.
Phlox
Paintbrush
Beginning the climb up to the saddle
Another information sign
Chop chop!
Hitching post by a lone tree. That means this must be a horse trail @Bob .
Fleabane
Almost to the saddle. Buffalo Point in the distance.
Looking down on White Rock Bay
The top of Elephant Head to the west
Frary Peak
Looking down towards Split Rock Bay
I hauled in three cameras on this trip - A Canon PowerShot S10, 2.1 MP (released 1999), a Canon PowerShot SX530 HS, 16.0 MP (released 2015), and a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 21.1 MP (released 2008). Below are three similar shots with the three cameras.
- PowerShot S10
- PowerShot SX530
- Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Katie, way out in front with Elephant Head above
Sheila, making her way down to the bay
Now they are both ahead of me. How'd that happen?
Take a right at this sign
Our tent pad
Getting our tent set up
A herd of bison passed by while we were setting up camp
Zooming in
Midge aftermath
Camp and Elephant Head
Fisheye of Frary Peak
Elephant Head to Frary Peak
The Trekker Wonderland
Chilling at camp
My dinner. I'd never had this one before, but I thought it was pretty good. I'd definitely eat it again.
The compost toilet that the four campsites share
The S10 and the SX530
And the 5D Mark II
Found out I had some midge damage too.
Believe it or not, there are two deer up on the hillside
Sunset time
Carrington Island at sunset
We have the moon and a planet above
During the night, we had coyotes yipping and barking all around us which was pretty cool.
Sunrise on day two, looking at Stansbury Island to the west
Castle Rock, the highpoint of Stansbury Island
The end of the elephant's trunk, part of Elephant Head
View of camp
Hauled in a 1/2 gallon jug and big Nalgenes with water
The other three tent pads
Heading back
Climbing back up to the saddle
Sheila down below
On the saddle
White Rock Bay and Buffalo Point with the Promontory Range in the far distance
Parsley
Arrowleaf balsamroot
Common Storksbill
The white rock that the bay is named after
Not much shade on this one
Nearing the last point
Buffalo Point
Back at at the trailhead
After leaving the island, we headed to Union Station in Ogden where the Union Pacific's Big Boy locomotive was on display for the public.
The Big Boy
Fisticuffs @Rockskipper ! There's not room for two Big Boys in this railroad town! A heavyweight 15 rounder with Scatman in the
left corner weighing in at a svelte 217 pounds, and in the right corner Big Boy weighing in at 1.2 million pounds.
After taking some pictures of the locomotive, we headed to Roosters on 25th Street for a late lunch.
Like Steve McQueen, all I need's a fast machine.
At the intersection of Wall Avenue and 25th Street in Ogden. This just
might be up @TractorDoc 's alley.
And then guess who I ran into on 25th street? None other that BCP member @blueeyes ! She knew it was me because of me kilt.
And then it was on to Roosters
This hophead kept me company while we waited for a table
Rooster!
A celebratory Iron Rooster
Along with a tray of loaded nachos.
The End.
We had originally planned on going out in March, but rain and high wind warnings scared us off. Also, they had called off a run on Antelope Island about ten days ago due to biting gnats (actually midges). I thought the cold temps earlier last week would keep them at bay, but I was wrong, and they were relentless for the two days we were there.
This short trip was another good opportunity to test out my surgically repaired right knee. My pack weighed in at 50 pounds and I thought the knee did reasonably well. It seems to be getting stronger as time goes by.
Other than the midges, we had a great time and had the bay all to ourselves.
Review Image
Overview Maps
We picked up our permit at the guard station at the entrance to the northern causeway, then headed off to the White Rock Bay Trailhead
Unloading our gear at the White Rock Bay Trailhead
The Split Rock Bay campsites are located on a spur trail off of the Split Rock Loop. Not sure why they don't show it on this map.
Heading into the backcountry
The trail is actually an old road
High point 4832 above
Elephant Head ahead. Our campsite is located on the south side of it.
My backpacking amigas
Rounding the first point with Frary Peak and Elephant Head ahead
Frary Peak
The road (our trial) across the basin
Death Camas
Dooley Knob
Pesky devils!
Can you see the bison near Dooley Knob?
There they are.
Phlox
Paintbrush
Beginning the climb up to the saddle
Another information sign
Chop chop!
Hitching post by a lone tree. That means this must be a horse trail @Bob .
Fleabane
Almost to the saddle. Buffalo Point in the distance.
Looking down on White Rock Bay
The top of Elephant Head to the west
Frary Peak
Looking down towards Split Rock Bay
I hauled in three cameras on this trip - A Canon PowerShot S10, 2.1 MP (released 1999), a Canon PowerShot SX530 HS, 16.0 MP (released 2015), and a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 21.1 MP (released 2008). Below are three similar shots with the three cameras.
- PowerShot S10- PowerShot SX530 - Canon EOS 5D Mark IIKatie, way out in front with Elephant Head above
Sheila, making her way down to the bay
Now they are both ahead of me. How'd that happen?
Take a right at this sign
Our tent pad
Getting our tent set up
A herd of bison passed by while we were setting up camp
Zooming in
Midge aftermath
Camp and Elephant Head
Fisheye of Frary Peak
Elephant Head to Frary Peak
The Trekker Wonderland
Chilling at camp
My dinner. I'd never had this one before, but I thought it was pretty good. I'd definitely eat it again.
The compost toilet that the four campsites share
The S10 and the SX530
And the 5D Mark II
Found out I had some midge damage too.
Believe it or not, there are two deer up on the hillside
Sunset time
Carrington Island at sunset
We have the moon and a planet above
During the night, we had coyotes yipping and barking all around us which was pretty cool.
Sunrise on day two, looking at Stansbury Island to the west
Castle Rock, the highpoint of Stansbury Island
The end of the elephant's trunk, part of Elephant Head
View of camp
Hauled in a 1/2 gallon jug and big Nalgenes with water
The other three tent pads
Heading back
Climbing back up to the saddle
Sheila down below
On the saddle
White Rock Bay and Buffalo Point with the Promontory Range in the far distance
Parsley
Arrowleaf balsamroot
Common Storksbill
The white rock that the bay is named after
Not much shade on this one
Nearing the last point
Buffalo Point
Back at at the trailhead
After leaving the island, we headed to Union Station in Ogden where the Union Pacific's Big Boy locomotive was on display for the public.
The Big Boy
Fisticuffs @Rockskipper ! There's not room for two Big Boys in this railroad town! A heavyweight 15 rounder with Scatman in the
left corner weighing in at a svelte 217 pounds, and in the right corner Big Boy weighing in at 1.2 million pounds.
After taking some pictures of the locomotive, we headed to Roosters on 25th Street for a late lunch.
Like Steve McQueen, all I need's a fast machine.
At the intersection of Wall Avenue and 25th Street in Ogden. This justmight be up @TractorDoc 's alley.
And then guess who I ran into on 25th street? None other that BCP member @blueeyes ! She knew it was me because of me kilt.
And then it was on to Roosters
This hophead kept me company while we waited for a table
Rooster!
A celebratory Iron Rooster
Along with a tray of loaded nachos.
The End.
