Sep 10, 2010

253- The Squaw Peak Trail

What do you do when you have so much happening in your life that you can't blog about it all on one day?

I don't know about you... but me? ME? I bag it all and do two posts the next day and maybe a few more in the days to come. But then again... sometimes I'm a slacker and just need to go to bed after a busy day!

SOOooo... lasterday Gordon and I accompanied DeLoris and her son-in-law, Blaine, on the Squaw Peak trial (bwahahahaha... sometimes I just HAVE to leave the typos!!!) I've never been and have wanted to go. Blaine has a 4-wheel drive vehicle and graciously extended the invitation. This trail runs from Squaw Peak (duh?) to the left fork of Hobble Creek Canyon.

253- blaine and gordon
GORDON AND BLAINE... YOU CAN'T SEE DELORIS, SHE'S IN BACK... AND YOU CAN'T SEE ME... I'M HIDING BEHIND THE CAMERA AS USUAL.

Our first stop was at the Squaw Peak scenic overlook, which I have been to many times. But never in 65mph gale force winds! I couldn't even keep my camera steady the wind was blowing so hard!

253- squaw peak overlook
MY BEAUTIFUL UTAH LAKE IN THE DISTANCE...

You notice we already have some beautiful fall color on the mountains. It seems a little early, but then again we frequently have the first high frost just after Labor Day. (Again with the high winds... I had to brace myself against Blaine's SUV!)

253- fall color

Since this was my first trip I discovered all sorts of new and interesting things. This is looking down Rock Canyon. Do you notice that it has its own version of the Palmdale Bulge? I just love fault-line activity.

253- rock canyon

From Provo and Orem one usually only sees the closer yet lower range of mountain that hides Provo Peak and the rest of its range of mountains. Back in the 1930s the CCC did extensive terracing on this range of mountains to prevent erosion. I love to peek up Rock Canyon in the winter and see all the snow on the stair steps.

253- terracing
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TERRACING.

My favoritest thing about trips like this is getting to see all the trees. I just love them... I love how the aspen merge seamlessly with the conifers. In another few weeks this mountain side will be drenched in gold with splashes of crimson, vermilion and pink.

253- alpine beauty

Another of my favorite things are mountains (What are men to rocks and mountains?). I love how there are just range upon range disappearing in the distance.

253- range upon range

The Squaw Peak trail winds around between the two mountain ranges and through little hidden valleys. There are lots of opportunities to peek down the canyons (all of them rocky and craggy) into Utah Valley. I love this view across Springville with West Mountain in the distance.

253- west mountain

I love this bird's-eye-view. One of the first things I picked out was Hobble Creek meandering across our little section of Utah Valley towards the East Bay of Utah Lake.

253- hobble creek
YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE CREEK BY THE LINE OF TREES. I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THIS CANYON. IT LINES UP WITH 1400 NORTH IN SPRINGVILLE AND LOOKS LIKE HALF OF THE MOUNTAIN JUST BROKE AND DROPPED AWAY FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

We had a lovely time. We took a picnic lunch and ate it just above Springville. From my perch up-on-top I could even see my neighborhood! How cool is that? First I had to find the *Pizza Hut Church* (Don't tell President Jacobsen I said that!) Then I just followed Canyon Road up to my street where it dog-legs off... but so sad for me, I couldn't get around the brow of the hill to see my actual house... just a couple of my neighbors.

253- my house

What a lovely trip with friends... it was one of the fastest 5.5 hour road trip I've ever made.

2 comments:

Laura H said...

I had to click on the Palmdale Bulge to see what you were talking about. I remember now. Its been a while since I thought about that. In 3 years I will have lived longer in NV than CA. That is crazy to me.

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous trip. How come we don't do that. Oh, probably cuz we always have projects to do. At least so far anyway. missing you.