Watchman Trail

This trail started out of the campground.  There weren't many flowers out this time of year but we did run across some along this trail.  The Indian Paintbrush were pretty.

Walking up the trail provided nice view of the Towers of the Virgin and the West Temple.

 Looking for wildlife:

 Then we found this deer right in front of us, no need for binoculars!

 Hike: Watchman Trail
Trails Used: Watchman Trail

Distance:  4.53 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Overall average: 2.2 mph
Overall Time: 2 hr, 03 min
Total Ascent: 1153 ft.

Soccer & Football is over!! We can start hiking again!

With the fall sports season over we were able to resume our hiking this past weekend.  We stayed close to home and headed out to Soderberg trailhead.  We followed the Tower Trail, Stout, and Sawmill Trails for a small hike.  There was a little fall color left to be had 

and I even stumbled upon this aster at the end of it's bloom cycle.

We saw a couple of deer (not that this was a great photo of one...it is missing it's head).

  These are my crazy trail running children & hubby.  Apparently they are in pretty good shape since they managed about a mile.  I guess I will have to dress for the occasion next time!

Hike: Horsetooth Park
Trails Used:  Soderberg Trailhead to Tower Trail, to Stout Trail, to Sawmill, and back

Distance:  4.89 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Overall average: 2.4 mph
Overall Time: 2 hr, 2 min
Total Ascent: 836 ft.

Biking 56 Miles through Rist Canyon and Masonville

Started at 6 this morning and had a beautiful but tough bike ride up Rist Canyon, around to Masonville and back home.  I saw 2 deer and quite a few other riders (lots of waving and encouragement from them).  Some lady even told me that she was impressed I'd made it so far with my bike (it's not an official road bike, but not a cruiser either).

I didn't really know if I could go that far going up so many hills so I enlisted the family to be my Sag Wagon just in case. They were suppose to leave at 8:30 and go the way I went so if I was too tired I could just stop whenever I wanted.  I had done 50 miles before but it was with an elevation change of 100 feet (no joke) and not this year.  I actually passed someone on a steep part!  I was feeling good once I knew I had made it over most of the hard part (Rist Canyon.) I had no doubt about my finishing at that point.  Lucky for me since I didn't see my sag wagon until the 50 mile mark! They had taken a nice leisurely morning and jeep ride.  I talked to them and a stop light and finished the bike ride.

I'm now ready for bed (it's only 2:50 pm) and quite sore.  Hopefully, a nice sleep tonight will reinvigorate me for tomorrow!

Bike: Rist Canyon

Trails Used:  Harmony to Overland to Bingham Hill to Rist Canyon to Masonville, to Harmony

Distance: 54.84 miles

Difficulty: Difficult
Overall average: 11.7 mph
Overall Time: 4 hrs, 42 min
Total Ascent: 3644 ft.

60's and beautiful @ Horsetooth Rock

Hiked Horsetooth Mountain Park this morning.  Saw 4 mule deer, one with a rack!

 

 

Had fun experimenting w/ my new camera but didn't take anything very different or spectacular.  Oh well, I still had fun and enjoyed the early spring day. 

Distant views of Long's Peak:

 

Views of Horsetooth Rock:

View of the trail hiked up:

 

Hike: Horsetooth Mountain Park

Trails Used: Foot trail to Horsetooth Rock to West Ridge to Spring Creek to Falls and Back
Distance: 7.05 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Overall average: 2.9 mph
Overall Time: 2 hrs, 27 min
Total Ascent: 2027 ft.

 

Last Visit to Canada Creek Ranch!! Sad :(

Where else can you see elk and deer, swim on the beach, kayak, play on the sand hill, go berry picking, play tennis, have bonfires, get married, have baptisms, or propose to your wife? It's been in the family for 48 years...the end of an era!

Lake Geneva up to Tamey Land
Distance: 4.22 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 6.1mph
Moving Time: 41 min
Total Ascent: 315 ft.
Lake Geneva
Distance: 2.15 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 5.2mph
Moving Time: 24 min
Total Ascent: 147 ft.
Little Joe (Out and Back)-Site of a wedding proposal and two baptism's
Distance: 5.29 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 6.1 mph
Moving Time: 52 min
Total Ascent: 594 ft.
Little Joe (The Back Way)
Distance: 4.91 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 3.7 mph
Moving Time: 1 hr., 19 min
Total Ascent: 594 ft.
Out Back
Distance: 5.03 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 5.3 mph
Moving Time: 57 min
Total Ascent: 620 ft.

Horsetooth Mountain Park

Went for a hike today hoping it was going to be a pleasant day. It was but the weather sure didn't cooperate. It was 35 and snowing (yes, snowing on April 23rd) when I started and 37 and snowing when I stopped. I was dressed for the weather so it didn't make much of a difference except for my mood: Gloomy! I got to use my new GPS watch (very cool) and tried to take at least one picture today but I forgot to charge my battery in the camera (duh!) I did see 3 mule deer hiking and 3 by the side of the road as I was leaving. I really didn't see much else since my hat was blocking the view and my eyes were locked on the ground! Hopefully, my next post will have much better pictures (or at least one :) ).

Horsetooth Mountain Park
Trails Used: Foot Travel Path to Horsetooth Rock, Wathan to Westridge, Spring Creek Trail, Horsetooth Falls Trail
Distance: 7.12 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Moving average: 3.2 mph
Moving Time: 2 hrs, 13 min
Total Ascent: 2259 ft.
Maximum elevation: 7132 ft.

Picture Rock Trail (Heil Valley Ranch)

This post took almost a month to get around to so it was an October hike not November. It was an overcast fall day. The scenery was still pretty with much to be seen. This ranch is old farm property that still has a silo,
farm equipment,
automobiles (albeit not functional),

and even some old masonry work w/ flagstones. However, I didn't get a picture of this. The views were long and unobstructed. The trail itself was very quiet that day. I saw a couple of mountain bikers near the end but that was it. I guess people don't like hiking when the weather isn't warm and beautiful!
I was able to see quite a few mule deer who were very unconcerned w/ me.
and some far off turkeys!
The best part of the day was the 90 minute massage following the hike. If only I could get one of those every time I went hiking. I would be in the best shape of my life! :)

Picture Rock Trail (Heil Valley Ranch)
Trails Used: Pronghorn Loop Starting at far Entrance Gate
Distance: 10.6 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Moving average: 3.5 mph
Overall average: 3.3 mph
Moving Time: 3 hrs, 02 min
Stopped Time: 12 min, 47 sec
Total Ascent: 759 ft.
Maximum elevation: 6377 ft.