Saturday, November 7, 2009

Frary Peak

Great friends, wonderful scenery, and a high energy hike with Jesus. Antelope Island offers late season hiking. Today we saw a coyote on the trail.

FRARY PEAK TRAILHEAD

DESCRIPTION: Enjoy 360 degree view of the Great Salt Lake on Antelope Island's highest peak.

FRARY PEAK 

RATINGS:  Intermediate plus
GEAR: Bring extra water on warm days. This is a desert. You'll need a jacket, first aid, energy snacks, and toilet kit. Hiking poles are lifesavers on the steep areas.
RESTROOMS: Are available at the entrance gate to Antelope Island State Park, the visitor center, or horse parking lot below trailhead.

ANTENNA HILL

 
HIKE TIME: We carpooled from the large parking lot near the entrance booth. From the time we left, till the time we returned it was 5 1/2 hours. Drive time to the trailhead was 30 minutes each way.

SCRAMBLE UP OLD TRAIL

FRARY PEAK

GREAT VIEW OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE

FRARY PEAK ~ ANTELOPE ISLAND

GOD BLESSED US 

Saturday, October 17, 2009

PROVO RIVER PARKWAY

God blessed us with a wonderful Indian Summer day and great friends. It was wholesome exercise and great fall colors. It was fun seeing the Heber Creeper, blow its whistle and pull out of Vivian Park. A great day with Jesus!

GENEVA ROAD TO VIVIAN PARK

DESCRIPTION: One of the best paved parkway trails in the state of Utah. This energetic ride is more fun than going to Lagoon.  You'll ride over wooden bridges, glide under a canopy of golden leaves, and coast under narrow tunnels beneath major roads. At Bridal Veil Falls, you'll have to get off your bike and walk it for several hundred feet...it is a pedestrian zone.

VIVIAN PARK TO UTAH LAKE

 At Vivian Park, if you are lucky, you can see the Heber Creeper. You can ride this old train all the way from Heber to the park and back. 

PROVO CANYON PARKWAY

GREAT EXERCISE

AUTUMN COLORS

When you return to the Geneva parking, ride your bicycle down toward Provo Lake and take the Skipper Bay Parkway, near Utah Lake.

BIKING TO UTAH LAKE

RATINGS: Moderate
KIDS: love riding shorter distances on this trail.
MILEAGE: 34 miles total, out and back
ELEVATION GAIN: 700'
RIDE TIME: 4 hours
BICYCLES: Mountain bikes, road bicycles, etc.
DIRECTIONS: from SLC ~ allow 50 minutes
Take I-15 southbound toward Provo,
Take exit 265 (Utah Lake/KOA) and turn right,
Turn right on Geneva Road ~ north
Pass the KOA, & cross over the Provo River,
look for the trailhead sign & parking lot on the left.
YAHOO MAPS: 350 North, Geneva Road, Provo, UT
GEAR: It's a long ride, make sure you bring plenty of water, snacks, and bicycle gear to change flats. Wear a helmet & bring first aid.

END OF PAVED TRAIL ~ UTAH LAKE

BEST AUTUMN BICYCLE RIDE

Saturday, October 3, 2009

ADAMS CANYON FALLS

God blessed us with so many great adventures. It is wonderful to network with hikers from Centerville, Ogden, Cottonwood Heights, Salt Lake and Heber.

ADAMS CANYON TRAIL

DESCRIPTION: Adams Canyon is a hiker's playground. 

AUTUMN COLORS

It's wonderful hiking by a babbling stream, to a beautiful waterfall. 

CLIMB OVER LOG

If you love to climb, scramble over rocks, jump over logs, and get your feet wet crossing the stream, this hike is for you. This is a great adventure for kids, but you need to watch them at all times. Don't forget to bring a hiking pole...it's a lifesaver.

LUNCH TIME BY THE FALLS

RATINGS: Moderate technical
MILEAGE: 3.9 miles round trip
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,212'
HIKE TIME: 3 to 5 hours
DIRECTIONS:  Oak Hills Drive & US 89,  Layton, Utah

ADAMS CANYON FALLS

HIKERS PARADISE

RED MAPLE LEAVES

ADAMS CANYON FALLS

GOD MAKES BEAUTIFUL DAYS

WHAT IS THIS?

Sunday, September 27, 2009

TWIN LAKES RESERVOIR

Every hike is unique, with different people, trails, & unique experiences. We walked through a golden forest of aspens and a wonderful time of prayer at the reservoir.

TRAIL BEGINS AT SILVER LAKE

DESCRIPTION: A great hike for beginners, kids, and those out of shape.Enjoy walking the boardwalk around Silver Lake, and climbing over the pass to Twin Lakes Reservoir.


SILVER LAKE BOARDWALK

MILEAGE: 1 mile hike to the lake. 
ELEVATION GAIN: 800' 
HIKE TIME: 40 minute up, and 30 minutes down.
RATINGS: MODERATE
TRAILHEAD: At Brighton, Utah, at the Silver Lake facilities.
RESTROOM: Silver Lake parking lot.

GOLDEN ASPENS

TWIN LAKES RESERVOIR 
LOW WATER

GOD GAVE US A BLUE SKY DAY

SUPER HIKER

Thursday, September 24, 2009

GRAND CANYON RIM TO RIM ADVENTURE

GRAND CANYON

The weather man forecast, 30% chance of rain for all four days; but God gave us a light sprinkle the first day and sunny weather during our adventure. That is why it is important to pray all summer, for good weather and safety.
 

NORTH RIM GRAND CANYON

DESCRIPTION: Backpacking the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim. Four days of hiking and three nights sleeping at backcountry campgrounds on the Corridor Trail. We hiked down the North Kaibab trail and up the Bright Angel Trail. 

DAY ONE  Travel to the Grand Canyon 

DAY TWO 
North Kaibab Trailhead ~ Elevation 8,241' Parking can be hard to find. The trail begins at the lower end of the parking area. This is a good place to pray and take pictures, before your journey. 

NORTH KAIBAB TRAILHEAD

JOURNEY DOWN THE GRAND CANYON

Coconino Overlook Hiking down a forest of fir trees, you will come to an overlook. This is a great place to drop your pack and take pictures.

COCONINO OVERLOOK
 
Supia Tunnel ~ Elevation 6,800' 1.7 miles from the North Rim Great rest area, with restrooms and water. The tunnel is the gateway to the classic Grand Canyon. 

FIRST REST AREA

SUPIA TUNNEL

Roaring Spring ~ Elevation 5,200' 4.7 miles from the North Rim You'll come to a sign, it is a 1/2 mile drop down to the day use area. There are restrooms; but we found the water line was broken.
 
Resident House (Helicopter pad) Water is available outside the residence, near the trail. 

Cottonwood Campground ~ Elevation 4,080' 7 miles from North Rim. Pick your campsite and set up your tent. Display your permit on your tent. The campground has restrooms, water and an emergency phone. Make sure you pack out all your garbage. 

DAY THREE 
Ribbon Falls 1.6 miles from Cottonwood Campground Leave early in the morning while it is still cool. You'll be hiking over 8 miles, and there's lots of exploring & fun. 

NORTH KAIBAB TRAIL

On the North Kaibab trail, you come to a sign to Ribbon Falls. Cross a bridge and find a place to drop your pack. This is a wonderful place to wet yourself and cool off. There is no water and no restrooms from Cottonwood to the Phantom Ranch. 

RIBBON FALLS

RIBBON FALLS CAVE

UPPER RIBBON FALLS

GRAND CANYON  RIBBON FALLS

THE BOX

Phantom Ranch 7 miles from Cottonwood Campground Before 4pm, the snack bar is open, where you can get ice cold tea or lemonade, apples, bagels and other goodies. During the evening, if you have made your reservation, you can get a steak dinner, vegetarian chili dinner or beef stew dinner. You can ask if they have any meals available too. Phantom Ranch has dorms, cabins and showers for guest who have booked their stay one year in advance. 

Bright Angel Campground ~ Elevation 2,480' Beautiful campground, with a running stream nearby to cool off in. You'll find, flush toilets, a sink for washing pots & pans, a pole to hang your back pack, and metal boxes to protect your food from the wildlife. There was even a Ranger talk, the night we came. 

BRIGHT ANGEL CAMPGROUND

DAY FOUR  The ranger advised us to begin early, because of the hot temperatures in the bottom of the canyon. We prayed at the Bright Angel trailhead. 

Silver Bridge This bridge is for hikers only. The mule trains have to cross the black bridge, which connects with the South Kaibab trail. The Colorado River was muddy brown, and the views at the bottom where wonderful.

SILVER BRIDGE

COLORADO RIVER

JOURNEY UP THE SOUTH RIM

WONDERFUL DAY WITH JESUS

River House ~ Elevation 2,480' 1.5 miles from the Bright Angel Campground Take off your pack, and enjoy this stone shelter, lay down and put your feet up. This is the only restroom available until Indian Gardens. There is no water available. 

Indian Gardens Campground ~ Elevation 3,800' 4.7 miles from Bright Angel Campground On the way to Indian Gardens, you'll have great views, and even see small water falls. Indian Gardens Campground has covered shelters over the picnic tables and has lots of critters. Set up your tent and go on a day hike to the overlook. 

Plateau Point 1.5 miles (each way) from Indian Gardens. Enjoy a level hike to this Grand Canyon overlook, pictured above. Make sure you bring snacks, water, flashlight, and a camera. There is a water available sometimes at the overlook. This is a great place to watch the Sunset. 

PLATEAU POINT

AMAZING OVERLOOK

GRAND CANYON COLORADO RIVER

DAY FIVE 
Begin your journey at sunrise. Today, you'll climb up 2/3 of the elevation of the Bright Angel Trail. 

INDIAN GARDEN

Three Mile House ~ Elevation 4,920' A great place to take your pack off. There is a shelter, restrooms, water, and an overlook for great scenic photography. You only have 3 miles left to the top! 

THREE MILE HOUSE

Mile and a Half Resthouse ~ Elevation 5,720' Water and restrooms are available.
 
BIG HORN SHEEP

Upper Tunnels Once you have reached the two tunnels, you'll be nearing the South Rim.

South Rim ~ Elevation 6,860' You'll come to the trailhead sign. This is a great place to take pictures. Take the Rim Trail to the left, to the view areas outside the Bright Angel Lodge. There are restrooms and food available.

BRIGHT ANGEL TRAILHEAD

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

RIM TO RIM SHIRTS

DESERT VIEW WATCHTOWER

DAY SIX  Travel back home. 
RATINGS: DIFFICULT
GEAR: Backpacks should be under 30 lbs, before you add water. Make sure you bring one gallon bladder, or water bottles. It is important to eat salty foods and drink electroylites.  Wear sunglasses, hat and put on sunscreen. Bring dehydrated food for evening meals. Make sure you cook and try out your menu before you take it backpacking.

CONDITIONING: You need to prepare yourself by hiking long distances, carrying weight, and camping in deserts. Much prayer is needed. This should never be your first backpacking experience. Each time you backpack, you learn what gear is needed for light weight packs. 

PERMITS: Are required for backpack camping.  No permit needed for Day use.