Silver Island Mountains and Crater Island

[powderhound]

One of my favorite places in the Utah west desert is the Silver Island Mountains, the range behind the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. With no trails, trailheads, water sources, or services of any kind, it's the kind of place that affords solitude and lots of unspoiled beauty. We've been there about 5-6 times, and I have yet to see another human.

Summit of Volcano Peak:
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Bonneville Salt Flats from a natural window near the summit of Volcano Peak
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Silver Island Geology lesson:
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Descending Volcano Peak
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Salt Flats
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Eastern Collared Lizard:
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Climbing an unnamed peak in the Crater Island
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Crater Island
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[Udink]

Nice! :2thumbs: I prefer southern to northern Utah, but that actually looks like a place I'd love to go.

[accadacca]

Wow that IS a remote area. Gotta keep saying it, you've got some skillz behind that camera.

What kind if lizard is that?

[powderhound]

Thanks, accadacca.

That's an Eastern Collared Lizard. And, yeah, that is a very remote place.

[tmartenst]

Very nice pics. The west desert is definitely underutilized for how close it is to population. I'll need to check out these mountains now.

I've been to the Newfoundland Mountains east of there and they were by far the most remote place I've been to in Utah, which says a lot. They are worth a trip if you dig that kind of place. Talked about them in this thread. http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?25867-Stansbury-Mountains

[zzyzx]

THX for sharing.
Cool pictures and great landscape.

[kd7kmp]

That place is beautiful. I'm currently finishing my master's degree in geology at BYU. I've been working out on the playa between Pilot Peak and the Silver Island Mountains. I've been able to literally spend weeks out there camping.

Kevin

[DesertDuke]

That Collard Lizard has mites, poor little guy. Awesome TR though. I did a similar trip out to the Newfoundland range once. Fantastic.

[powderhound]

That Collard Lizard has mites, poor little guy. Awesome TR though. I did a similar trip out to the Newfoundland range once. Fantastic.

How can you tell? Interesting.

[restrac2000]

Thanks for sharing. Need to start heading up north more often.

Mites on the collared? Guessing its the red mark (looks like a mite) on the back right leg or the wound on the neck. Not something I would have seen in person; gotta love the quality of modern digital photography.

Phillip