hot-hot-hot

Almost immediately after my family returned to Maine (where it started raining and didn't let up until about ten days straight), it got really, really, really hot here in Utah, hitting the low 100s for multiple days in a row.  Sure, it was a dry heat (about 12% humidity) but, if you ask me, once you get to 100, it's HOT.  H and I were determined to get back into our routine of hiking and biking, however, so we just adjusted for the heat. Which means doing outside things earlier and then hunkering down inside, out of the sun, with drinks with ice cubes during the hottest part of the day, which tends to be 3-6 p.m.

Saturday (6/29) H went for an early road ride while I hied myself up to Alta to do my 6.9 mile loop: from the Albion parking lot, to the Catherine's Pass trailhead, to Catherine's Pass, up past the Sunset Peak trail junction to the top of Supreme, down the ski lift access road to the campground, and back to the car.  I like this loop and do it a lot when we don't have bigger hikes planned; it doesn't take me that long and it's a pretty way to get some exercise.

That evening we went back up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird's Cool Air concert series where we heard the Jaden Carlson Band.  We didn't really know anything about the band - a trio of a lead singer/guitarist, bass player and drummer - and thought it might be a folk rock, singer-songwriter sort of gig.  We were pleasantly surprised when they really started to jam out the '70s classic rock; we were shocked and amazed when we learned that singer/guitarist Jaden is only twelve years old.  This girl is an incredible guitar player, ripping it up with some original tunes as well as songs from Lenny Kravitz, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Clapton, Hendrix, U2 ... if you just heard her playing, you would never in a million years guess that she was a little girl.  She's touring all summer and if you get the chance to see her band, do so.

Sunday was MTBing at Round Valley and we managed to get over there about an hour earlier than we usually do, which made a huge difference in the heat.  The singletrack was really dusty and sandy in spots because there just hadn't been any rain to pack it down.  Still, I'm continuing to improve on my climbing and now only have trouble on switchbacks 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the sixteen uphill Rambler switchbacks on our loop.  Afterwards we grabbed some sandwiches and sat in the shade at Park City Mountain Resort for lunch and PBRs.  Things were pretty quiet that day and we enjoyed the calm, figuring things would pick up next week over the July 4th holiday.