one of our favorites

 On Wednesday, since we had the truck fixed and back, we went over to Amasa Back for a hike (after H did his road ride: 22.61 miles; 1:15:31 time; 17.9 m.p.h. average speed; 28.2 m.p.h. top speed).  It isn't that long and it isn't that hard and it isn't that far away, but it's gorgeous and fun and never that overrun with people - all of which combines to make it one of our favorite hikes.

Dunno what this is, but very small and very hardy

We did our usual route - up the Hymasa singletrack to the Jackson's Hole overlook/Capt. Ahab intersection and then down via the Cliffhanger 4x4 road.  We were a little surprised not to see any jeeps or side-by-sides, although those folks don't tend to get as early a start as the hikers/MTBers; and we only saw a handful of MTBers.  Of course, weekends are much, much busier.

Yucca

Hike stats: 6:15 miles; 2:01 time/3.0 m.p.h. moving; 2:15/2.7 overall; 850' elevation

These have a light, pleasant fragrance 

Oh!  We also did some MTBing once the truck was available.  We still didn't want to drive too far, so we went to Moab Brand trails twice: on Tuesday afternoon (12.02; 1:22:00; 8.7; 21.9) and Friday morning (12.71; 1:24:00; 9.1; 19.8).  Milton was getting some cumulative fatigue so we didn't bring him either time.  Temperatures were just about perfect and it was never too crowded on the trails.  And although I didn't get any photos, the Sego lilies (Utah's state wildflower) were all over the place on the back half/downhill portion of Lazy EZ - gorgeous!

living the pipe dream

In addition to cycling the bike path while the truck was in the shop, Milton and I also had several Pipe Dream excursions, since we can walk to the trailhead from our house.  We did a short south-bound out-and-back on Saturday, an out-and-back to the Hidden Valley trailhead and back on Monday, and a north-bound loop on Tuesday.

Claret cups were bangin'

We got early-ish starts each time and barely saw anyone out there: one MTBer and dog (Lila? Stella? in any event, we've met them before and she is never that impressed with Milton) Saturday; a couple of hikers and a trail runner on Monday, although the Hidden Valley parking lot had quite a few cars in it; and only one older lady on Tuesday, who told us to be careful on our descent as it was a little loose.  Advice taken and appreciated!

Dunno what it is but it was everywhere

While we didn't encounter many people, there were lots of critters, most chaseable, according to the dog: rabbits, lizards, ground squirrels and tons of birds, including some chukars, which are a kind of partridge.  At one point, Milton took off after some squirrel, following it WAY up the hillside (see next to last photo below) before it lost him by diving into some rocks.  I called him back down and he was unfazed, happily pouncing (and missing) on a lizard moments later.

Penstemon, southern Utah version

The desert wildflowers were in all their glory as well, and will likely be past their prime by the time we get back down there, except for the prickly pears which hadn't started yet.  We need to get a book on southern Utah wildflowers; we're pretty good on the northern Utah ones but are pretty limited in identifying the ones out in the desert.

That black dot = the dog

By our third time on Pipe Dream, I was getting a little bored with it - not Milton, who obviously lives in the moment and was just glad to be out there, chasing stuff - but still appreciative that this trail, for both hikers and MTBers, is so accessible.

Prince's Plume (I know this one!)

river(-adjacent) cruises

 Spring in Moab is usually pretty awesome (which is why it's such a dang busy time of year) and we were recently lucky enough to spend a few days down there.  Less lucky was that we hit a pothole on the way down (Utah's roads are appalling right no) and the truck ended up in the shop for a few days.  This stranded us somewhat but we were able to rally: H did a road ride each morning and we also put our cruiser bikes (his: 1989 Fuji Club, hers: vintage 1960s-ish Schwinn, recently christened "Alice") into action. 

This is from mid April (Milton is not pooping)

The paved town bike path is fantastic, running from beyond our house, through town, past Arches National Park and up the hill to end at Route 313, which is the road to Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.  There is also a spur that goes up along the Colorado River, almost to Grandstaff Canyon.  On Saturday, we went from our house to the end of the river spur and back, veering to cross the river on the foot bridge to check out how high the water is.  It's high, and moving quickly, and is only likely to get higher at the snowpack in Utah and Colorado keeps melting.

Also mid April - note sign

Other Saturday activities: a short hike on Pipedream (more on that later), yard work, washing bikes, resealing our picnic table, walking to town for a beer and the Kentucky Derby.

Early May.  Same sign.  Lots more water.

I had so much fun with that cruiser ride on Saturday that I wanted to do it again on Sunday.  So we did, and I got a flat tire not long after we turned around to head back - nearly as far away as possible.  I did have a spare tube, and H did bring the pump, but Alice predates wheel quick releases and we had forgotten to bring crescent wrenches.  So we did the only thing we could do: walk the bikes back, with a stop to refuel at the newly-opened Proper Brewing.  

In the second photo above, you can just see those

 pipes on the far left (not Milton swimming btw)

Proper Brewing (which has a couple of locations in northern Utah as well) looks to be doing quite well.  It was busy when we got there, sometime after 1:00 p.m., with tourists and MTBers on their way back to town from the Porcupine Rim.  We had vegan burgers (pretty good) and beers (of the twenty or so on tap, at least half of them had fruit, which is not really our thing).  Thus replenished, we were able to make it the rest of the way home.

Got my shoulders right up there around my ears

Ride stats: H's road rides - Friday 12.03 miles/0:42:09 time/17.1 m.p.h. average speed/28.8 m.p.h. top speed; Saturday 18.5/1;00:58/18.2/28.3; Sunday 19.09/ 1:05:03/17.6/26.4.  Cruisers - Saturday 12.87/1:16:00/10.1/17.8; Sunday 12.53/2:04:00/6.1/21.2.

oops we did it again

 We went to Moab for a few days where the river and creeks were high, the flowers were going off and the weather was very pleasant indeed.  Now - four loads later - it's taken almost a whole week to get the laundry done.  (Not folded and put away done, but washed and dried.)  Suffice it to say, actual posts with photos will be put up soon(-ish).  

closing day 2022/2023

Sunday, the closing day of Alta's 2022/2023 season, was nearly opposite from Saturday in every way.  It was bright and clear and sunny, and if it was a little cool ambient temperature-wise, the strong sun made it very pleasant.  And it was crazy-crowded!  As we drove up, traffic was diverted along the bypass road in Snowbird since the main road was still covered in avalanche debris.  What surprised us, however, was that the line of Alta-bound traffic was at a standstill even before we got to the bypass road.  They were checking everyone's parking reservations upon arrival at Alta and since most people wanted to park at Wildcat base - where the big parties are - it was very slow going.  Although H would have preferred to have parked at Wildcat, once we got to the Peruvian Lodge, we were able to get out of that line and drive up to the Albion lot instead, where there were hardly vehicles yet.  The parking attendant checked our license plate and waved us on.  

Yay sunshine!

That wasn't the only long line.  The lift lines weren't bad until 10:15 but after that, the corrals were just swarming with people.  The singles lines weren't too bad, however, since everyone wanted to stand in line with their friends.  With the revellers out in force, there was lots of good people-watching - we reckoned 80% of the people there were wearing costumes - so the lines at least weren't boring.  We even went through the Wildcat double chair once (that was enough): there was a small, half-hearted Frank competition going on but honestly, I think the Alta employees were just too tired to want to build jumps after all the shoveling they've been doing all winter.

That'll take a minute to melt

The skiing was really good too.  Since it had been cloudy and snowing the day before, the snow never melted, so it also didn't set up overnight.  It was soft and fairly quick and didn't get the slightest bit sticky until well after noon.  We skied all over - although we declined to stand in line for the Devil's Castle rope drop - and it was all good, by far the best closing day snow conditions we can remember.

We'd even experienced enough of the party while in the lift lines, so we weren't that upset for a mellow tailgate back at the truck when we were done.  The Albion lot was full and there were lots of folks camped out in lawn chairs, soaking in the sunshine and talking about the record breaking season.  They didn't technically hit 900 inches until after closing day but it was just a few days later when they announced the season snowfall total: 903".  I'm guessing we never see the likes of that again.

the snow just won't quit this ski season

I had only bought a ten-pack of Alta passes this season (as opposed to a full season pass).  Even so, by the time closing weekend - April 22 and 23, 2023 - rolled around, I still had two days to use, given my own late start to skiing (should have ordered those heated socks sooner) and then also all the avalanche-related canyon closures.  If the canyon hadn't been completely closed on the 14th and 15th, I would only have had one day.  To complicate matters more, the ski bus stopped running mid-April, despite the fact that all four Cottonwoods resorts were still fully open, so we had to drive up.  Which meant we had to get parking reservations because all Alta parking is reserved now (ahem *cashgrab*).  We managed to get a reservation for Saturday but Sunday, Alta's last day of the 2022/2023 season, was completely sold out.  We were annoyed but what could we do?

I'm standing on at least fifteen feet of snow

Of course, Saturday's weather was far from spring-like.  It wasn't too bad down in the SLC valley but up at the ski resorts it was cold (high 20s/low 30s), cloudy and snowing, with forecasted windchills well below zero.  It wasn't snowing much but it did snow all day.  Despite the calendar, I bundled up in my warmest gear and although it didn't end up being as cold as I thought, I wasn't overdressed at all.

Sign says: "Lake Shed Building Marker"

because there's a house under there

To say that it wasn't crowded would be an understatement.  We skied onto the lifts from start to finish and I don't think we ever had to ride up with anyone else.  The snow was fantastic, far better than late April snow has a right to be.  It had been snowy on Friday and then they got another three inches overnight, so by Saturday morning it was soft and creamy.  And, with a fifteen+ foot base, there weren't any rocks poking through.  The only problem was the visibility.  The light was very flat and, even worse, half the time we were skiing through the very low clouds.  I find skiing in fog very disconcerting and it made me tense, but I was determined to enjoy myself since this was likely our last day of the season.  With no parking reservation and no bus, our options were: park for free at Snowbird and walk up over a mile carrying ski gear; or hire an Uber.  Neither seemed likely so we made the best of it, including a couple of chilly beers with mittens on, so we could get some closing weekend tailgating in.

They dug out the snow gun, but it's not like we need MORE snow

Back down at home, it was nice enough to continue the tailgating in the garage.  H brought out his laptop and brought up Alta's parking reservations page, hitting refresh and refresh, just in case.  Suddenly, his phone chimed: someone had canceled their reservation and by a sheer stroke of luck we had snapped it up.  Woohoo - we're going to closing day!  (And even more woohoo, I would be using all my ski days!)

this is a milton appreciation post

I do have a couple of posts wrapping up the 2023-2023 ski season but before that, let us take a moment to appreciate the regalness that is Milton.  This past Sunday, after we did all the yard work (and H cleaned the whole house), we went up for a backyard hangout/cookout with our friends, E and K.  They've got the best backyard - huge, well-thought out and shady - and they've got four dogs, all of whom Milton likes.

He is never this majestic in real life

K is pretty much the only one who can take good pictures of Milton (he is camera-shy) and she did it again.  Look at him.

Taking his turn on the dog bed

He really is just the best dog.  He is sweet and chill and calm and loves people.  He minds pretty well (better for H than for me, if I'm honest) and is always up for a hike.  He's a complete weirdo and a good hugger.  And since K took such good photos of him, I wanted to share them so we could all appreciate the best boy.  (Who, right at the moment of posting, is snoring away on his bed, spotted paws twitching with dreams.)