Mountain-Goat Grammie

Earlier this week a friend posted a photo of her and her walking buddy, Cooper, on the trail that runs above our houses- the Bonneville Shoreline trail. It looked so glorious that it tempted me right out of the house and up onto the mountain.

I grew up right at the base of the mountains in our little town in the Indian Valley, California. I used to take off and explore all over the mountains. It always refreshes and rejuvenates me to take a hike (which is different than a walk!)

Harley could hardly believe his good luck! I never let him off the leash when we go on walks. But since this was a hike and we were up the mountain I told him he needed to stay where I could see him or he'd have to go back on the leash. (Yes, I talk to him like he's a person... a little person in a hairy-suit!) He understood and was quite obedient to my conditions; well, most of the time.

We hadn't gone far when the view opened up across the valley to Utah Lake with the cerulean sky overhead.

At this point I couldn't tell where the trail went next... silly me, I should have just looked on Google Maps on my iPhone which clearly shows the trail. So I doubled back and headed up the side of the mountain on a mountain goat deer trail.

I wanted to get up to the power lines and survey the fire damage (which is almost imperceptible after the wet September we had). I quickly realized that this mountain goat trail went up and down each of the gullies that one almost doesn't perceive when looking up on the mountain. After one such gully I was seriously doubting the wisdom of where I was (what if I tumbled down the mountain and had to call for a rescue? Now that would be embarrassing!) and decided that I needed to just start down hill until I hit the real trail again.

There is a lovely rock that was just right for resting on. I spied out my house. It was easy since my other neighbor has a wonderful bright red tree in her yard.

I'm always surprised at how a camera diminishes distance. This photo doesn't reflect how far this Grammie had hiked!

I've often thought I'd like to hike to the top of this mountain... but not this day!

We got back home just as the light was turning all golden and lovely.  We'd had a happy outing on this golden, stolen November day!

MY SITTING ROCK.

I know that all too soon we will have snow and it will be months before this kind of hike will be possible.

Fire!

We live in a small area called Spring Cove tucked right into this, erm... little cove up against the mountain.

MY mountain.

I love looking out of my office or sewing room windows to watch the changing beauty of this long ridge. So you can imagine my distress when I got up to close the windows and saw this!

I'd smelled smoke in the night but wrote it off as lingering from Friday afternoon's lightening fire up on the mountain just north of Maple Mountain (that is behind our house) that was put out very quickly with water dropping helicopters.

Apparently teenagers playing with fireworks, in an unauthorized area, started this blaze just one street west from us at about 2 am. Fortunately, they were smart enough to call 911 when they realized what they'd done! (Poor stupid kids! I'd ask them what they were thinking, but obviously... THEY WEREN'T!) Folks who live up on the mountain-proper got a wake up knock at about 4 am telling them to be ready to evacuate.

I can't say enough about all of the many people who sped into action to save the many homes that are located on the foot of this mountain! There was a perfectly choreographed team of workers who got this fire under control.

This big orange dragonfly-looking helicopter was my favorite!

They set up a staging area just down at the high school for all of the responding agencies. They had a portable pool, about the same size as an above-ground pool, where the helicopters would hover and refill their water tanks.

When this fellow opened his *bombardier doors* a huge waterfall would plummet to the ground, dousing the fire. It frequently looked like water shot out of a cannon.

Then there was this dashing little fellow! He was much more methodical. He would circle around and hover over the hot spot then let go. I observed that he had the ability to release all or part of the load.

As soon as the water was dropped he was right back into high gear and speeding away for another fill-up. I didn't realize until I looked at the photos on my computer that he had this cool paint job on his 'copter! I love how he flies so fast that his paint is dripping!

Many of the neighbors brought out their lawn chairs to a shady spot to watch the show. One group even had a pizza party! Finally this little guy joined the fray.

He had the same kind of upside-down-badminton-birdie shaped bucket.

This pano from my sitting spot belies the size and scope of MY mountain and the fire. Each of the peaks has a small ridge with a canyon on the other side. The fire burned up the draw to the left of the middle peak and around the back of the mountain. You can see the red line of fire retardant that was dropped while I was driving (hence, no photos!) It was so interesting. I watched the duo of tiny spotter plane and huge tanker making repeated drops. The spotter plane would fly first and drop a marker (of water?) that the tanker would use as his drop area.

I just heard on the local news that the fire has burned to 145 acres and is 15% contained. This call was a little too close for comfort.

Thank you again to all of the people, in the air and on the ground, who responded to this fire.

An Autumnal Explore

Our sweet Kevin (Camille's-kind-of-Kevin) told us he would be working up at the Timber Wolf today and asked if we'd like to come up for lunch. YES! We always love it when Kevin cooks! We dined out on the deck with this beautiful view and the warm September sun adding to our enjoyment.

As we were leaving Gordon asked if I was up for a drive up the canyon. This time we decided to take Right Fork instead of Left Fork. Right Fork almost immediately turns into National Forest land. It was a perfect fall day for a drive!

The aspens have started changing... this isn't the best specimen but beautiful nonetheless.

One of the things that I like best about this drive is all the free-range cattle. The *alpine air* must agree with them because many of them are enormous! Not fat... just BIG! I convinced Gordon to stop and let me take a photo of this cute mama and baby.

However about fifteen minutes later we came upon the KING OF THE MOUNTAIN! Holy-freakin'-cow-BULL! This dude started giving us the stink-eye as soon a we rounded the curve in the road and we didn't even think once about stopping to ask HIM if we could capture his likeness! He will have to remain in my mental photo album.

I had no idea that bovines could give the stink-eye!

Delicious Colors

I want to lick them!

While up in Provo/Orem today I noticed the beautiful colors on Squaw Peak so when I got home I asked Gordon if he'd like to go on a drive around the Alpine Loop via a side trip to Squaw Peak trail head. The colors were beautiful in spite of the Idaho wildfire's smoke!

TIMPANOGOS SEEN FROM THE SQUAW PEAK ROAD

I LOVE FALL!

It has become my favorite time of year. Not to mention the riot of color- the days are normally consistently warm with cool nights. It seems to be a very predictable season... none of the out-of-control-mood-swings that come with spring!

Gordon and I reveled in this beautiful, perfect, September day! We talked about the luscious colors and how we'd like to capture them... so he did!

We are toying with the idea of painting our front door (which badly needs it) in a wonderful Wasatch Front fall color.

Just look at the palette we have to choose from.

Bryce Canyon

Last weekend on our fun explore to southern Utah we decided to come home via Bryce Canyon. I'd never been there before and have always wanted to see it. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!


This is a composite panorama made from seven photos using this cool panorama feature in PSE7.

Our first happy thing was when we drove up to the park entry shack. I told Gordon I thought he was eligible for the Golden Pass. As it turns out it is really called the America the Beautiful Senior pass. But the bottom line is this: $10 purchases a lifetime pass to all National Parks for seniors! OhMyHeck! I can hardly wait until I'm old enough to get my very own!

Our first stop was at Sunrise Point. A short walk took us to the *scenic overlook*. Wow!



On the outermost point was this very weathered tree.



We ate lunch at the Bryce Canyon Lodge and contemplated a horseback ride (maybe next time). Then we trekked back to the car and drove over to Bryce Point. This one took my breath away.



It was apparent that I was not the only one effected that way. There was an unusual reverent feeling from all of the viewers. There was no loud talking... just a group of awestruck people.

The grottos appear all in a row in the same layer of pale sandstone. Following that layer northward (right), the alcoves become windows through a narrow, jutting ridge. The Wall of Windows may have begun as grottos, though the rock behind them has long since weathered away.

Returning [to this scenic point] in different weather, at other times of the day, or in low-angled sunlight the grottos and windows stand out in sharp relief; on an overcast day they virtually disappear.

Apparently we arrived at one of the primo-viewing times!



This is the largest of the arches/windows and, hands-down, my favorite. When Gordon pointed it out he described it by saying, "You see those four men?" As I looked at this photo today it made me think of the Nativity. Can't you just see the wisemen, the shepherds, sheep, donkey, cow, and, of course, the Holy Family. Is it just me?



Now this little fellow... I just love *chick-munks*! They were native to my the Indian Valley, where I grew up. Did you know that you can attract them by clicking your fingernails? True story! I've done it. But when one got up on my knee when I was 5-years-old I jumped up startled and scared him away! What does one DO when they've attracted this little rodent?



I found this phenomenon interesting. It looks like someone poured a large load of cement on the top of these hoodoos.

For the moment, harder caprock prevents the arch from collapsing. Lighter-colored caprock is visible all around this viewpoint, temporarily preserving the hoodoos.

I'm just amazed at what time, wind, rain and snow can do!



OK... now you see that little trail that winds around down there amid all the hoodoos? It is called Peekaboo Loop and on my next trip to Bryce Canyon I will come prepared with hiking boots or perhaps riding boots (as in ride a horse) but I'm going down there. It just calls to me!

296- Dumped in the Woods

You have to question your welcome when your host puts you in the back of his pick-up truck, drives you to the top of a mountain, dumps you off without food or water, spits gravel as he peels out and leaves you there!

OK I made up the part about spitting gravel! Yeah, and we kind of wanted him to drive us up so we could walk down... but that doesn't make as good a story!

Holly and Brian's new home in Idaho is beautiful and situated on the foothills over looking the valley. And we are having such a wonderful time.

Do you know how beautiful it is up there on this deserted mountain? Do you know how wonderful it smells with two little doggies stirring up the fallen leaves and sage? It was as wonderful as any Big Bear Weekend we ever had.

HOLLY, JOANIE, SONJA, PAULINE ENJOYING THE AUTUMN COLORS

Three of us pack cameras... one of us packs a 22 to keep away any stray coyote! Sonny didn't waste any time to start clicking (but obviously so did I!)



See the tree line? That is where we started and we're about half way down. This is also the view up the mountain from Holly's house.



Pauline and Sonja have been friends the longest they met when P was 19 and Sonny was 12. It is so wonderful to have old friends; and at our age we have old friends and OLD friends.



This is our first glimpse of Holly's house. P had the idea of the point at the house. And there is the view... ah, the view.



Now for a little minute it's *gonna be all about me!*

Usually I'm the one behind the camera, it isn't often that I am the subject of the shoot, but if P is around then it is likely that I will have some incrementing photos. As we were sitting around this evening P starts to howl with laughter... then she shows me some of her photos.

*Bwahahahaha, Joanie, you look like a homeless gnome!*



I was smelling the wonderful sage... and this was a telephoto shot!



But this is my favorite, *P, do I have something in my nose?*



Yes, it is wonderful visit with old friends.

293- Sunrise Over Mt Olympus

I took my Stuey to the airport this morning. Shortly after left the airport I was rewarded with this beautiful sunrise over Mt Olympus up in the Salt Lake Valley.

275- Autumn Color

I've been waiting patiently for this day! I love the autumn colors. I caught Buckley Mountain at just the right time. (As viewed from East Bay in Provo)

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.


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!


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!)



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.



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.


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.



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.



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.



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.


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.



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

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