Leatham Hollow via Millville Canyon

The recent grading and excavation of Millville Canyon's road has made accessible a new world of recreational opportunities for those not owning an AtV or Hummer H1. Access to the top of Leatham Hollow is easily had, and if familar with the area one can even get to Providence Canyon, Mount Logan, or even back down into Logan Canyon's system of trails and roadways.

The transportation improvement happened very quietly and was likely born of economic purpose--a timber harvest or perhaps a fiscal year end attempt to dump surplus funds. Since being made privy to the new access I have made several trips to the top for various reasons. Jeremy B. and I spent a few good hours hiking the hillside the day before his fathers funeral. Shortly after that I explored, on my mountain bike, a game trail we had spotted in the distance. The end of the trail overlooked the valley from a paragliding launch that Jared S., Randy L. and I used to frequent. Approaching this familiar place from a completely different angle, geographically connected several separate memories, closing a strange loop in my mind.



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August Storm, White Pine Lake

Minutes after exiting the truck a low flying helicopter skimmed the trees and landed out-of-site on a nearby ridge. A troubled teenage girl, topped with green dyed hair, had been missing with her wolf-mix pup for nearly a week already, and my friends and I assumed the chopper was part of the resumed search. At first the girl's disappearance seemed intentional, but enough time has now passed that no one is laughing it off as someone trying to find themselves.

After a short detour it became apparent that the helicopter and small crew were not searching for the missing wanderer, but rather putting out a small lightning caused timber fire.

As we hiked from Tony Grove to White Pine I kept expecting to see the missing girl in the distance, scampering from one stand of trees to another, hoping to be seen in an indefinite way.

At dark, Jerod pointed out several constellations and asterisms which he learned about in a previous life as an astronomer. I favored a simple combination of stars which make up what he referred to as an "olde timey coat hanger". This particular asterism is located along the path of The Summer Triangle. While kinking our necks towards the heavens we also witnessed an Iridium Flare, a phenomena which occurs when certain communication satellites reflect an intense amount of sunlight on the very spot you happen to be standing. Those wishing to witness an Iridium Flare can search the web for a schedule of this predictable event.

Morning rode in quickly on the tail of my Ambien CR. Intense rain created a pleasant, yet deafening static on the crisp tent walls. Snow formed in the air around us but was only permitted to stick several hundred feet higher.

The storm broke and we hiked out, my eyes still scanning the meadows for signs of the missing girl. It goes without saying that we had an incredible time.














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Providence Cave; as Claustrophobic as I Remembered

It had been a few years since I have scurried around like an over-sized rodent, so I rounded up a couple friends and we tramped through dense mountainous underbrush for an hour looking for Providence Cave--a hole in the ground that boasts a moderate level of popularity with those who like spikes in their claustrophobia intake.

Normally I could have hiked directly to the site, but we thought it would be a good idea to bring a GPS unit--since the area is quite woodsy. Unfortunately the coordinates for the cave, courtesy of a Google search, were apparently only accurate enough to lead one to the correct county.

Once in the cave the usual straw-drawing to see who would plunge feet first into the storm drain sized chasm (locally known as castration rock and the birth canal) ensued.

Eventually the three of us, all on the other side of the constriction, giggled like little girls and wrote our names in the air with flashlights. Ryan is going to practice writing his name backwards at home before we venture out again.










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Vernal, Utah: Pork Chops, Mountain Bikes, and Dinosaurs

Nothing fuels a full day of mountain biking like a breakfast consisting of a gravy covered pork chop, two eggs, dutch oven potatoes, and a side of flap jacks. The laid back country folk in Vernal, UT are starting to get used to sweaty mountain bike tourists invading their mom-and-pop diners, cleated shoes clicking with every step.

Recently, Bike Magazine ran an article proposing that Vernal may be the next Moab, and since then, a local told us visitors from all over the county have been brapping the Vernal trails. The naming convention for most of the rides oddly revolves around a bovine and dairy theme. During our short visit, Jerod and I biked Can You Moo and Got Milk.

Two nights of accommodations were kindly provided by the lawn at a local Church, and a lively city park. Let's see you pull that off in Moab!

Vernal is definitely a winner, and I can feel her trails calling me back already.


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Green Canyon Single Track

When it comes to accommodating thrill seekers with a quick-access mountain bike adrenaline fix, Green Canyon has really got things together lately.

Just a few minutes from downtown Logan, Green Canyon dishes out flowing single track that rivals most trails in the Cache Valley area. RJ and I went for a quick ride during lunch break and pitted our skills at this little dirt jump section.

What the video doesn't show is the first three times I attempted this and went into the trees... and the one time I had to completely ditch the bike.
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Attention Steelhead: Do not fear.

Last month I spent a few days presenting Juniper's rugged field computers to NOAA in Seattle, WA. Jeremy and Becca live just outside of town and so we hooked up for some fun.

We had killer food in town, spent a night or two at their house, then Jeremy and I graced the river for an epic 12 hour day of fishing for Steelhead. That is pretty much "end of story". Zero fish caught. At the end of the day my arm was sore, but my attitude wasn't. We would have been right back out their the next day if permitted.
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Sovereign Trail Base Camp, Moab

I wish I had some crazy mountain bike pics to post, but luckily I spent more time behind the handle bars than I did behind the shutter.

We did manage to bag the best camping spot in all of Moab: a secluded box canyon of giant red rock boulders, far enough from town that it is free and often vacant. Braaap'd Porcupine Rim Trail, Slick Rock, and Bartlet Wash (a new favorite). A fun reunion of old friends made complete by a dinner at Pasta J's.


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