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Did You Know...
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Did You Know…
That Great Salt Lake in Salt Lake City Utah is typically 3 to 5 times saltier than the ocean, but can be up to 8 times saltier? It some places, Great Salt Lake has 4 to 5 feet of salt on the bottom. It is the remnant of the prehistoric fresh water lake, Lake Bonneville, which was 10 times larger than Great Salt Lake.
It is without fish but not without life. Brine shrimp and brine flies grow in abundance, making it a virtual banquet to the thousands of migratory shore birds that feed at Great Salt Lake.
If you want a unique experience, visit and camp on Antelope Island State Park, just north of Salt Lake City off Highway I-15. Antelope Island is an island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake and is the best way to see the lake. The camping is primitive but the beach does have pay and “mostly hot” showers.
I arrived at Antelope Island about 5:30 in the afternoon and drove the 7-mile causeway over to the island. The causeway, lined with dozens of people -- tripods set up, is ideal for taking pictures of the shore birds fluttering and diving their way in and out of the shallow water along the causeway.
I drove the 12 miles back to Utah’s oldest working farm to pass mountains in the lake and bison herds grazing along way. At the farm, I walked through the old farmhouse to see the tools and clothes of the place that was once owned by the church, Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons.) Brigham Young himself kept animals there. Horses, bison, and chickens teased Belle as we walked through the farm.
I arrived at my campsite, on the top of a giant hill, surrounded by mountains, water, and clouds. Nothing blocked my panoramic view of God’s creations. I worshiped as I watched the sunset change the colors on the mountains in the lake. I sniffed, trying to decide if I liked the strong and odd smell of the dank and possibly dead heavy salt air. I decided to enjoy it.
I was a little aggravated when I woke at 5:45 AM until I realized I could stand in the same spot that I’d watched the sunset the night before and turn around to watch the sunrise. What an experience it was watching the mountains wake up to light. Belle and I sat outside in our chair with my Bible, devotional books, and journal, huddled up together against the cold morning air. I’m pretty sure I was the only one talking to God but who knows what dogs do.
As we sat there, the clouds turned dark, and it went to raining in big cold wet plops. I sat there, mesmerized by the feel of the icy water hitting my skin and the sight the mountains turning from light back again to dark. When I noticed Belle’s pleading eyes, I reluctantly went inside, dried us both off, and packed up.
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