Again

Another weekend, another hike in Millcreek, another chance to smirk at nature.

Look at that air! People, you need to stop idling your cars.

Weekend Hiking, Winter Edition

It's winter in Millcreek Canyon and I'm about to get really familiar with all the trails below the upper gate, which is now closed. I think I can deal with that, though.

Camping For People Who Lie About Being The Outdoor Type (Or At Least Exaggerate It)

I can't even call this a day trip since we drove up Little Cottonwood in the morning to get a site, got breakfast on the way down the canyon and continued our day, and then came back at dark with soup and camping gear. City camping is the best! And my down bag is rated to at least 28 degrees, which was the low Sunday morning.

 

(Pictures from Sunday morning before we packed up and drove back to my place, where there was central heating.)

The F Word

I went back to White Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood yesterday to help me get my head around the beginning of fall. Of course, the lake at 10,000 feet was well into fall and moving on to winter, so that pushed me a little further along in my acceptance. Thanks, nature.

 

(The lake was so low--compare it to three months ago when I was there last.) 

 

At least fall is orange. It could be worse.

"When you get to the top of a mountain, keep climbing."

Saturday's hike was Gobbler's Knob via Alexander Basin in Millcreek Canyon--also known as The Steepest Hike In Millcreek, or Remind Me Why I Wanted To Challenge Myself?, or Oh God Oh God Thirty Percent Grade On A Scree Field.

The Knob is at the top right of this picture, I believe. The infamous scree field is below it, and I recommend finding the trail that goes through the patch of trees in the center of the picture rather than trying to scramble up the bare rocks. You may have a Kerouac moment on the slope: 

I looked back and like Lot's wife that did it... Supposing I'd start to slip back for good, these screes might start sliding any time anyway [...] Finally I came to a kind of ledge where I could sit at a level angle instead of having to cling not to slip, and I nudged my whole body inside the ledge just to hold me there tight, so the wind would not dislodge me, and I looked down and around and I had had it. 

It's hard to convey how steep this is, but here's the view back down from the saddle. (I didn't make the top of the Knob. My legs still had to get back down everything and I was proud enough about getting to this point.)

On the saddle facing the other way, still looking a little freaked out.

Looking into Big Cottonwood Canyon. 

This view inspired me to start singing hits from The Sound of Music. My hiking companion was not amused.

 

 A moose! On the loose! Seen on the way back down.

Outdoorsy

I spent Saturday being outdoorsy and going to White Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Look at all the gear we had--that must mean we're really Outdoor Types, right?

 Nature is hilarious

Yes, that's an ice axe.

Still partially frozen...

...but starting to thaw. 

On the way back down.

Camping!

For the weekend, I went and slept in a tent for the first time in about five years. The trip was to Capitol Reef, where I'd never been, and that is some lovely country.

There were pictures taken from passenger windows: 

There were pictures taken from the back:

There were side canyons:

There were views to admire:

There were trails that turned out much longer than we thought they'd be: 

There were miles to go before we slept: 

There was golden desert light:

Needless to say, it was a good weekend for my inner hippie.

Weekend Report

Look who came to my house on Sunday to celebrate his grandma's birthday! This was the first time I'd hosted a family event in the new place.

"Reading" the card he "signed."

Party table!

Other notable weekend events: Going to Brooks Brothers and attending my first Greek Easter celebration. There was drinking. There was dancing. There was an entire lamb on a spit, head and all. (At the Greek Easter celebration, that is; not at Brooks Brothers.)

Mountain Things

What does Millcreek Canyon look like on a hike in February? Oh, you know, some mountains, some trees, a waterfall, some snow:





It's my inner hippie's happy place.

"It Is Clean"

That's why T.E. Lawrence reportedly liked the desert; I could add, "It is indifferent." And this weekend, it was also cold:
Fortunately, Mom and I were prepared with winter gear.

Also fortunately, we escaped the enormous mesa-top lizards this sign showed us:
Lizards not to scale? Or do they come as big as bighorn sheep now?

More Adventures

So I went to a demolition derby Saturday, after a break of four years. (I had to balance out the early music concert somehow.) It did not disappoint. There was beer:

There were cars:

There were people who rushed out to tip a car back over that had rolled:

And there was this--perhaps the single most sociologically fascinating thing I've seen in an event that gives you PLENTY of things to be sociologically fascinated by. It was the brown car. That says "Butt Bomber" and "San Francisco here I come" on on side...

...and "Hershey Highway" on the other.

What prompted these messages? Small-town homophobia? A puerile (and still homophobic) commentary on the car's original paint color? Or is the driver really gay and making a statement? We may never know. But I'm hoping for an out and proud driver, because he kicked ass.

Summer Is For Adventures

I took Friday off and went up to Bear Lake for the day with two friends and two incredibly well-behaved children. Why Bear Lake?

Bear Lake has a Raspberry Days Festival! And coconut drinks! (Sadly non-alcoholic.)


Bear Lake has deep-fried "scones" with raspberry butter!

Bear Lake has fruit stands!


And Bear Lake has raspberries, which was the point of the trip. I bought a case and made jam on Saturday, fulfilling my inner Laura Ingalls Wilder.


Bear Lake also has, you know, a lake.


And yes, I waded in it. (Obligatory blogger foot shot.)

What a fun trip!