Utah Backyard Trekking: trails, views and ocassional waterfalls

With no major trip planned abroad this summer, I decided to do more exploring in my own backyard...

 

Ensign Peak: 5.3.14 ~This was my first time on this hike, so I didn't know what to expect. A couple of people were coming back down the trail as I made my way up...when I say "up" I mean straight up until you reach the top. It is only a half mile or so up, but it is good I brought my camera so I could have several rest/photo stops. I always think of myself as the "little engine that could". I am never first up the hill, but I make it eventually...after a bit of huffing and puffing. As I ascended I was amazed at the fields of yellow flowers blanketing the hillside. Some people zoomed pass me and jogged back down and I wonder if they even noticed just how beautiful the morning was. Once the sun broke free from behind the mountains, the colors brightened up and almost glowed in the light. Amazing! I had the top of the hill to myself for a while and enjoyed the breezy solitude. As with most difficult things, once the hard climb is over the rest is "all down hill". I am sure my knees will have something to say about that in the morning...

 

Battle Creek: 5.17.14 ~With spring in full bloom and the temps reaching 80, I decided to take a hike a little closer to home... I had been up Battle Creek about 15 years ago so enough time had passed for me to forget the tough bits. Now known as Pleasant Grove, Battle Creek was the sight of the first battle between Mormon militia and Native American Ute Indians. I saw neither militia nor Indian on the trail today, just a constant stream of high school kids on "group dates" and young couples backpacking their babies up to the falls. Turns out a lot of people head up there to repel down the falls and it was packed that afternoon. I was just happy to make it up and back without heat stroke or sunburn.

Red Butte: 6.28.14 ~ By June the summer is in full swing. I have never actually visited Red Butte Gardens, a famous spot for enjoying nature and an open air concert, but I did find the trails just behind them. Most of the wildflowers have long since faded and all that is left is amber waves of grain. Unlike my previous hikes that took me all the way up then all the way back down, this one was a bit more rambling. Below me was the familiar UofU campus where I spent the better part of 2 weeks in February 2002 working nonstop for the Olympics. I turned around just as I came upon the UofU Hospital.  It was a perfect way to enjoy the morning sun and sweeping views of Salt Lake City.

 

  
  

Bonneville Shoreline Trail: 7.4.14 ~ If you turn right at the "Y" trail head you not only bypass the hoards of holiday hikers. but you also see a different side of Provo. I started out early to avoid the promised 4th of July heat and to catch a glimpse of the hot air balloons racing across the valley. I ended up spending almost 2 hours, hiking, daydreaming and snapping photos of summer in full swing. Happy 4th of July!

Provo Canyon:7.24.14 ~ One of the nice things about living in Utah is the extra July holiday. The 24th is "Pioneer Day", commemorating the day Mormon pioneers made their way into the Salt Lake Valley. I took the opportunity to try out my new Schwinn bike on the trail from Glenn Canyon Park to Vivian Park. Technically, a northern extension of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, the jogging/biking trail up Provo Canyon is one of my favorite. It was first gear all the way up. Much more of a work out than I remembered. At least it was a cool coast all the way back. I stopped off at Bridal Veil Falls just as the sun was peaking over the cliff side. Perfect holiday morning!

 



















Provo River Trail: 8.2.14 ~ Geneva Road to Provo Lake...well almost. I was loving the hazy sky which held back the August heat. Unlike my ride up Provo Canyon last week, I was able to stay in 3rd gear almost the entire time. Sustained by apricots from Anya's "orchard" and a VERY old granola bar (I thought those things would last until the next century,) I was in a perfect summer daze as I biked along the river trail.Once I reached Provo Lake State Park I was sadly turned away...they now charge for all forms of fun on the harbor (bike riding and sunbathing included.) Oh, well, I decided I was in it for the journey, not the destination today. 

 
Provo Canyon 2: 8.23.14 ~ Fortified by CupBop Korean BBQ from the food truck at the farmer's market, I headed up Provo Canyon to once again bike the trail from Glen Canyon Park to Vivian Park. The Heber Creeper was heading back up the canyon just as I arrived at Vivian Park. Cool temps for August - even had snow on Timp - it was a perfect day to break a sweat.

 

 

Murdock Trail: 9.6.14 ~At the base of Mt Timpanogos is a canal covered and converted into the Murdock Trail. I wasn't sure how far 30 minutes out would take me on my trusty Schwinn, but i knew 1 hour would probably be my limit today. I made it to Pleasent Grove, just one stop short of the road to Battle Creek. Hard to tell exactly, but it was about a 10 mile round trip ride, a record for me. My initial pride at completion has been joined by sore legs and an aching bum. Definitely "earned" the Korean Cupbop for lunch at the Provo Farmer's Market.