Gearing up on Antelope Island

We headed out on our first hike of the season, yesterday. Antelope Island. (I had luckily picked up the free State Parks Pass at the library that was good through the weekend, and Antelope was the closest drive.) It quickly became evident how out-of-season we've gotten. First bad sign came when pulling up to the entrance post and reading a large warning that the gnats were out and biting. I knew that Antelope Island is infamous for having clouds of bugs across the causeway, but I hadn't thought much of them beyond that. I had completely forgot to bring any sort of spray. Ah well, we'll slather on the hand sanitizer and give a false spill about it guarding against bugs - that should work. Nope. Didn't! One step out of the car and faces and limbs were covered by itty-bitty bugs nipping. Instantly we buckled back into the car and backtracked to the Visitor's Center where a bottle of spray was purchased (Don't know what the traveler's cost of that. Matt got it, while Tyler and I peered through windows.)

The required stop at the Visitor's Center did come with the chance to walk by/pose by one of the many immobile bison on the island. (Hmmm. Paige on top. Tyler closely examining the nostril. Meg hesitant. Yep, that's our crowd!)

Once effectively covered in repellent and back in the car, we drove back to the trailhead. We passed several kinds of the "wildlife" the island boasts of. Pronghorn fawns (I kept pointed them out as deer. That was more familiar to my searching backseaters.), bison (No, those are not metal molds. They are alive and HUGE even when sleeping at a distance.), many birds, and a couple coyotes along a distant shore!

Finally ready to hike, we got set to go. It felt like a day to try out new hiking supplies. The girls had their fanny packs (Received at Christmas from my sister, Ann, and bro-in-law, Scott. It came loaded with binoculars, camera, compass, whistle, sunscreens, flashlight..aka more goods we've ever supplied them with!). Tyler had a new carrier (recently picked up from KSL.com). Matt had new shoes (purchased for a watery hike he's got planned with some guys next weekend.).

In fact, thinking back about it, "having to" break in these new things is probably the main reason I got my family out on a trail with me...

You could tell, from Tyler's "Get me outta here!" reach, that it was beyond naptime. We pulled him out and let him walk a bit. I found myself guiding both the dog and boy along on each end of the leash - but both were happy to be out!

It was cold and windy. The whining started early. Matt's on-call phone rang a short ways in. Rain began plopping a few drops. One kid fell. One kid peed. Another kid fell. Matt signaled a turn-around... Really? We can still see the car, and that much complaining?!?

As Matt put it, "I was done! Crying kids. Rain. Bugs! You...""
"What! Me? I was positive and upbeat..."
"Having to wait for you to take pictures of every flower."
Oh yeah, that:

Ah, well. I'll consider it a bad introduction to the hiking season (Seems to always be one (or several) of those.). A reminder of how slowly little feet move, how starting at the trailhead is always later than anticipated, how bug spray needs to always be included...

It (Lakeside Trail) really was a good, flat, well-marked, family-friendly spot. Take out the nasty bugs and insert a better-rested family and it'd be much better. I doubt we'll make it back. Too many other places planned (!!). But, we'll see...

Ending note: Matt got the kids to get in the car with the bribe of food at Wendy's. We drove by the beach. Offered to either walk out and dip our toes in the water or go to Wendy's. "Wendy's!" was Paige's excited vote. Yep. She stayed positive. More positive about that than her response to my "Will you guys be happier when we go hiking again?": "What? Another hike?"

...On the way to said Wendy's she managed to continue to make good use of her packed fanny pack. "I wanted to put on some sun lotion!" Really! On such a cloudy day? After the hiking is done? Yep. Leave such a happy, messy conclusion to her.