Waterfall Canyon Hike

Since the weather was sooo good and we hadn't been hiking for a couple of weeks we thought it best to get out. Christy was at school and so I loaded up the girls for a quick trip up above Ogden. At the end of 29th street is a good sized trailhead that leads to many canyons. We have never been up Waterfall Canyon so we decided to hit it. The trail goes along the shoreline in the foothills for about 3/4's of a mile. Then it heads into the canyon.

The girls loved it! Leaves were down, the late fall colors were out, and the canyon was nice and cool. Once we got into the canyon it was only another 3/4's until the big waterfall.

The hike was about 1.25 miles long and took us just over an hour to reach the waterfall. It was huge! Not as nice as Adams Canyon but still beautiful in its own way. The first part of the hike was nice and easy but once we got into the canyon the elevation increased dramatically. It was a fun fall hike.

Deer / Elk Hunt

Tis the season. The season to hike the mountain sides and sit around listening to trees creek and moan and make you think a big buck or bull is coming around the corner. Every year there is the tradition of heading out for deer camp. This year I was able to successfully draw out for a deer and elk tag. It usually takes months to prepare for the hunt; getting the gun sighted in, scoping out the hunt area, planning the days off, and preparing for the campout. I always look forward to this camp. I can get out with my best friend and hang out in the woods with the hopes of shooting an animal and bringing home meat. Of course, year after year, we never shoot anything and always come home with a good experience. Good or bad, there is always a story to be told. This year, we planned on staying out for three to four days. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate with us and we were only out for two days. We hiked all over the mountain which is why I am including this trip in my blog.
I like hiking during the hunt. There is no trail to follow which takes you to places most often never seen before by human eye. You also get to see some habitat you would miss by hiking a trail. And if your really lucky, you can see an animal.

The fall colors were still around and the hiking was fun. We arrived in camp on Wednesday afternoon and after setting up the trailer we headed to the north side of the mountain. We hiked around for a bit scaring up a young female moose. When I first saw it I thought I walked up on a brown bear. I was up hill from her and all I could see was her black rump. It seriously scared me. Thoughts started going through my mind and I couldn't stop thinking to start acting. Soon she turned enough and I could catch an ear flicker. Then I thought to myself that wasn't a bear ear, it was too big. I walked around a little bit more until I could see her nose and realized it was a moose. I sat there for a bit watching her and was happy to actually walk up on something finally. After five years of hunting I was succesful on creeping up on an animal. She was probably deaf! The next day we got up and after eating some breakfeast headed up out of camp towards to top of the mountain. We found a nice meadow on top and hung out for an hour or so waiting for something to come out. The storm was fast approaching and we were hoping the animals would come out and eat before the storm hit. We never saw a thing! It started to snow so we headed down.
320/Deer-Elk+Hunt+034.jpg" border=0> After getting back to camp we could see the clouds rolling in. Before we left for the trip the weather report was for snow hitting Thursday night and not stopping till sunday afternoon. Since I had to work Sunday morning I did not want to try and drive out in snow Saturday night. The thought of being high in the Uinta's in a heavy snow fall was something I had no ambition for. We drove out that night and was home by 9 PM.

As one would figure, you think "If I stay it will snow like a son of a gun and I will surely be stuck till next week. But if I go home the weather will clear out and clear skies will be!" So guess what? Friday morning I got up to do some house chores and there were clear skies. Go figure! That's my luck. That is what happens every year. We go out to find bambi and end up seeing moose. Next year I am going to get an elk tag, moose tag, pronghorn tag and a deer tag. Then I will see bigfoot!!!!! Oh well, what do you do? It was fun to get out and hike around the hills in cool weather and be able to have one last final camp before the summer is over.

Snowbasin in the Fall

A short hike at Snowbasin Ski Resort. There is a trail that goes from the resort to Water Canyon Overlook. About two miles long and about an hour each way. It was a short, fun, beautiful hike.

Goblin Valley State Park

This trip was a quick one. My nephew Brett planned his service project for his Eagle Scout at Goblin Valley. He planned, with two other scouts in his troop, to do service around the park. His troop headed down the day before and planned on doing three days. First day was traveling, next day service hours, last day play and head home. Steve and I decided to go and help Brett, being very supportive of scouting and being Eagle scouts ourselves. We didn't have three days though, and headed out late the night before arriving in the park at midnight. We pitched camp and woke up the next morning to help with the service project.

Since the project went quick and we got the job done we didn't want to go home without having some fun. We decided to hike a slot canyon that was in the area. Crack Canyon was a short couple hour hike.

After the hike we headed home. It was about three and a half hour drive from Salt Lake to Goblin Valley. Unfortunately the drive home was a bit longer due to being pulled over by a trooperette. That was fun and if you want to hear the story let me know. Since we were driving through Price we couldn't drive through without stopping and seeing our sister Natalie. Overall the trip was a quick over-nighter but was packed with fun events.

Adams Canyon

Adams Canyon is located in the foothills of Davis County. The trailhead, which you can see above, is located right next to Highway 89 in Layton. The first part or first 20 minutes of the hike is kinda sucky. The trail is very sandy and therefore extremely hot and dusty. A few switchbacks and your out of the foothills and up on the shoreline trail.
The picture below shows us going into Adams from the shoreline trail.
Once you get into the canyon itself, there is a stream that flows year round. Green lush trees and bushes make the hike pleasurable year round. The dog's love this hike for the simple fact the trail follows the stream all the way up. They get plenty of water and stay cool playing in the stream.
Half way up the canyon are some campsites. Many people like to backpack the canyon. There are also many weekend dweebs that like to hike up at night, have a fire, and do things the cops don't know about. Ask a city cop to hike for an hour to arrest someone and see what they say? Only the brave and daring make the journey to keep the canyon clean. The only cops I see up there is our finest, Davis County Sheriff's!!!
I love this picture for the fact Sassy's smile is soooo big. Everyone knows how much she loves hiking. But a hike with water (paw deep only) and rock climbing? She is in heaven! She would constantly run ahead of us and then come running back to us as to say "come on guys, it gets better up here."

And it did. There are many waterfalls in the canyon. This one is the second largest. If some have a weird sense of memory might recognize this spot as our engagement photo. Yes, we have been hiking this canyon for over 4 years. You just can't beat driving 5 minutes from home and hiking a wonderful canyon.
And then the end of the road. This waterfall is widely known amongst hikers. I really can't tell you how wonderful of a hike it is. Christy hikes it almost weekly. Since my "honey-to-do" list is so long every week I don't get the same opportunities. But when I do I take in the most I can. It only took us 1 hour and 15 minutes to hike it. It is about 2 miles in distance and an elevation gain of about 1300 ft.

Here is a good caption for the picture below: "Are you serious? We have to go home now? What kind of parents are you?"
After five minutes of sitting by the waterfall it begins to get really cold. After 15 minutes with a sweatshirt on it's time to head back. Our little rock climbers wanted to stay and play for hours.

My main purpose of the hike was to get pictures of the area before they started drilling for resources and ruining the beauty. Yes, I watched the Republican National Convention on Thursday night and now it's in my head that they want to drill everywhere they can! I guess if they drill more then we get more oil which will drop gas prices. Then I can buy a big dodge diesel truck that gets 12 mpg while towing a 30 foot trailer! If that does happen, my first stop will be to Alaska!! We definitely live in some interesting times and this political season is one of the toughest. I encourage everyone to research thoughtfully our two candidates and make the right decision for our future. Don't look at the Republican or Democrat, but look at the American!! Remember who we are first!

Get out and visit the lands designated as wilderness, national parks, and national monuments. Some would like to get into office and change these designations so they can be opened up to drilling. If you haven't been to Escalante National Monument let me know. I think a trip down there soon will be in order before we loose it. Go visit the Wave or Buckskin Gulch along the Paria River. Go see the Mormom historical point of interest Hole-in-the-Rock. Let's go down and hike Spooky and Peek-a-Boo slot canyons. Now is the season for that area.

O.K. I can sense what you are thinking. Enough blabbering. Here is one last thing to plant into your mind: I think I know what the big trip is going to be for next year. Does anyone want to know?