Hardware Ranch

J's family is predominantly from Logan, and we went for a sleigh ride up Hardware Ranch to feed the wild elk.  The elk are free to roam where they please up near the ranch, but many choose to stay because of the doling of food.  The elk are fed up high in the canyon in an effort to keep them out of the city confines on their quest for food.  Additionally, it has become a place for scientific study, where certain elk are tagged and their habits of travel are tracked.

Cool tidbit: Elk have two types of hair.  One is close to their skin, and is hollow.  This provides strong insulation, as it keeps a layer of air next to their body which is easily warmed by their body heat.  Their outer layer of hair is waterproof.  The rancher told us that elk will lay down to sleep the night, and a blizzard will come.  When they wake up the next morning, they have to shake the snow off their bodies because it doesn't even melt.  The freezing temperatures are perfect for these animals-- or-- the animals are well-acclimated to the freezing temperatures.  Pretty cool.