Saturday, March 21, 2009

ANTELOPE ISLAND ~ Tour de Island

God blessed us with a wonderful ride on Antelope Island. We saw a herd of buffalo cross the road. Great fellowship and fun!  Antelope Island bicycle tour.

LARGE PARKING

Description: 21.7 mile ride onto the Island, stopping at the visitor center, pedaling up to Buffalo Point, coasting down to the causeway, and back to the parking lot by the state park entrance booth. Trip time: with stops at the visitor center, & Buffalo Point it was 3 1/2 hours, on mountain bikes. 

ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK

Fees: per bicycle and  vehicle driving onto Island.  Senior rate 62 years old.
Ratings: Moderate 
Drive time: 1 hour from SLC. 
Directions from SLC:I-15 North to Layton
Take the Antelope Drive exit 332
head west on Antelope Drive west to the Great Salt Lake and park in the large parking lot before the toll booth.

BIKING THE CAUSEWAY

Gear: Helmet, gloves, windbreaker, sunglasses, sunscreen, energy snacks & lunch, camera, pump, bike lock, souvenir money, first aid, extra tube & flat tools.

BIKING TO ANTELOPE ISLAND

BIKING FRIENDS

SUPPORT VEHICLE

PASSING THE BEACH

BUFFALO POINT

LUNCH BREAK

RIDE BY BISON

BISON HERD

Sunday, March 8, 2009

MILL D SOUTH FORK SNOWSHOE

Wonderful day to spend a Sunday afternoon, relaxing in a forest of firs and spruces.

MILL D SOUTH FORK

God blessed us with a blue sky and even blocked most of the valley wind. We had the forest to ourselves!

ENJOYING GOD'S FOREST

Description ~ We enjoyed an afternoon both on trail and off trail from the Jordan Pines area and around the Spruces Campground. We walked around winter campsites, heard squirrels, and even climbed hills.

SNOWSHOEING DOWN HILL

Location ~ Big Cottonwood Canyon, Mill D South Fork.  Hike Time ~ 2 hours.

BIG COTTONWOOD SNOWSHOE

GOOD WORKOUT

BLUE SKY DAY

Saturday, February 21, 2009

WHITE PINE TOURING ~ CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

God blessed us with a sunny, blue sky day. It was a great day to enjoy cross country skiing in Park City, Utah. White Pine Touring has the best groomed trails in the State of Utah! We saw ducks on the trail! 

WHITE PINE TOURING

Description ~ White Pine Touring is a wonderful place for both classic and skate skiing. Loops go around the Park City Golf Club and down to the farm. 

BEST CROSS COUNTRY SKIING 
NORTHERN UTAH

Ratings: 5K Loop ~ Moderate 
3K Loop ~ Newbies 
Church Loop ~ Intermediate 
Farm Loop ~ Intermediate 
Dog Loop ~ Newbies 
Fee area ~ Day Pass
Gear ~ Dress in layers, day pack to carry water & snacks, hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and wool or wick dry socks. You'll get hot fast, and want to peel off layers. Directions from SLC: Take I-80 up Parley's Canyon, Take Kimball Junction exit in Park City, Travel south on 224 to Park City, Turn right at Thaynes Canyon Drive Turn left into Hotel parking lot. White Pine Touring is on the west side of the building near the Yurt. 

PARK CITY, UTAH

FUN DAYS BEGIN WITH JESUS

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Wasatch Mountain State Park ~ Cross Country Skiing

If you want to escape crowds, and want to enjoy mountain scenery, you'll love this place. This is a great place to pray to God.

WASATCH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

Description ~ Wasatch Mountain State Park has a cross country ski touring area on the golf course. It has a 6K beginner loop and 4K moderate groomed hill.

GOLF COURSE SCENERY

Ratings ~ Newbies for beginner loop. 
Fee ~ Skiing Day Pass may be purchased at the State Park Visitor Center and rentals.
Rentals include skis, snowshoes, and fat bikes.
No dogs are allowed on the trails.  
Directions from SLC ~ take I-80 up Parley's Canyon, take US 40 toward Heber, at the first stop light, turn right on River Road, drive west following signs to Wasatch Mountain State Park, turn right on Pine Canyon Road, VISITOR CENTERSnake Creek Road & Warm Springs Drive. 
Drive time from SLC ~ 1 hour 
Gear ~ Dress in layers, warm hat, insulated gloves, water, day pack, trail snacks, camera, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

Saturday, January 10, 2009

NORTH FORK SNOWSHOE

Sometimes you need to escape the frigid, smoggy valley, to enjoy a sunny day with crisp, clean air with Jesus! This was a fantastic winter hike with incredible scenery and a quiet place to relax. 

NORTH FORK UPPER PARKING

Parking ~ Northfork Parking area on the Mirror Lake Highway, SR 150. 
Ratings ~ MODERATE

NORTH FORK TRAILHEAD

Description ~ A great place to mediate, with birds singing. Crosscountry skiiers also share this trail. It has a gradual climb, and the trail is packed and maintained by other users and away from avalanche areas. Most people on the trail were doing the entire 4 mile loop. After 1 1/2 miles up the Northfork trail, it joins the Northfork West trail. That trail takes you down to the road, 1/4 mile west of the parking area. Fee ~ Mirror Lake Recreation pass. 
Hike time ~ 2 hours 
We hiked 1 hour and then returned. 
Mileage ~ 2 1/2 miles total miles. 
Directions from Salt Lake ~ Take I-80 (East towards Park City), Take US 40 (South), Take exit 4 (Kamas exit) and turn left, Travel east on SR 248 to Kamas, Turn left on SR 32, Turn right on SR 150 ~ Mirror Lake highway, Entering the forest land, make sure you purchase a recreation pass, Travel until you reach the North Fork parking area. Turn right and park. 

 BLUE SKY DAY

Drive time from SLC ~ 1 hour each way. 
Gear ~ Snow boots, poles, wool socks, dress in layers, water, gators or snow pants, insulated gloves, sunglasses, knit hat, lunch, sunscreen, and a warm hat, matches, energy snacks and extra clothing. 

MIRROR LAKE HIGHWAY

FOREST SERVICE  MAINTAINS WINTER TRAILS

SNOWMAN

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Big Cottonwood ~ Snowshoe 101

God blessed us with a wonderful day playing in the snow. The sun broke through the cold cloudy day. It was fun creating new trails in the fresh snow.


 
Mill D South Fork to Spruces loop 
Parking ~ Mill D South Fork near the gate to the road. 
Description ~ We parked near the sledding hill and went towards Jordan Pines. After crossing the hill we made a loop around the Spruces campground. Then we returned back. We stayed away from the avalanche areas. 
Hike time ~ 2 hours to do the loop. 
Ratings ~ Newbies 
Restroom ~ Most of the campground outhouses are locked during the winter. You'll find a heated restroom at the Spruces campground at the half way point. Big Cottonwood Canyon is a protected watershed area. (No dogs allowed). 
Gear ~ Snow boots, wool or wick dry socks, dress in layers, water, gators or snow pants, insulated gloves, sunglasses, suncreen, and a warm hat. Bring a day pack to hold extra clothing, matches, energy snack and any avalanche gear. Make sure you bring poles when you snowshoe! 



Frostbite ~ Make sure you hydrate yourself and drink plenty of water before any winter activity. Also, have some water during and after hiking. 
Big Cottonwood Canyon ~ Fort Union Blvd. & Wasatch Blvd; Salt Lake City, Utah.



Saturday, October 25, 2008

Echo Reservoir ~ Mountain biking Rail Trail

One of the most scenic mountain bike rides and what a great day God gave. This cool and sunny day wasn't crowded at all. It was a time of relaxation away from the crowded city. Cottonwood trees were painted with Autumn colors.

ECHO RESERVOIR STATE PARK

DESCRIPTION: Enjoy a family adventure on the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail, riding by the shore of beautiful Echo Reservoir. This non-motorized trail is shared with horses and hikers. Travel north on the trail to Echo Reservoir.

RATINGS: Newbies

RIDE TIME: 1 to 2 hours,

MILEAGE: 7 miles round trip

MEET PLACE: Coalville Rail Trail parking DIRECTIONS: 1 hour drive from SLC:

  • Take I - 80 east bound toward Wyoming,
  • take Coalville exit 162,
  • then turn right toward town,
  • turn left on Main Street, (north)
  • drive through town,
  • turn left at 200 North (drive west)
  • Coalville Rail Trail parking lot is on the right.
RESTROOMS are available at Coalville parking lot. 
KIDS are welcome if you supervise them, & if they wear helmets. 
BIKES: Mountain bikes or dirt bicycles. RATINGS: All levels of bike riders are welcome. 
GEAR: make sure you bring a helmet, pump, sunscreen, bug spray, extra tube, water, energy snacks, sunscreen, gloves, jacket & bike tools. Thorn liners are highly recommended for your tires.

UNION PACIFIC RAIL TRAIL