visitors from back east

Towards the end of August, we had a couple of visitors - the first non-family houseguests in at least two and a half years.  G and B had supposed to have been in Europe with the other half of their family, but B's brother ended up needing knee surgery, the European trip got postponed and the guys pivoted to come out to Utah.  B is a big climber so we had encouraged them to go to Moab (late summer heat notwithstanding).  They stayed with us in SLC for a couple of nights first, however, so they could work on logistics.  Milton was thrilled to make new friends: he was sitting in B's lap before we left the airport the night we picked them up.

Friday afternoon, the four of us went up Little Cottonwood Canyon for a hike.  G and B ski in Maine and wanted to see Alta.  We parked at the Albion lot and made our way up to the Catherine's Pass trailhead through the Albion meadows, then kept working our way up to the pass.  It was cloudy and cool and we kept our eyes on the weather; we did get sprinkled on just a little bit on the way down but lightning wasn't an issue.  From the pass, we continued up and across Catherine's Area, and then descended via the road.  The wildflowers are past peak, of course, but the guys were impressed with the scenery nonetheless. 

G and B at Catherine's Pass

On Saturday, the guys ran some errands to the grocery store and REI and picked up the van they'd rented.  We got them loaded up - Milton was quite concerned about the van but climbed in anyway, wanting to tag along with his new buddies - and sent them on their way.  They texted us a couple of times from the road (delay due to landslide across Route 6 above Spanish Fork) and told us their plan was to camp at Big Bend Campground on the Colorado River.  

Taking in the views

Then, as news reports and videos of Main Street Moab being under three feet of water started rolling in, we didn't hear from them at all.  We were a little nervous for them but knew that they were probably out of cell range.  We left them a message or two and then tried them again on Sunday.  We finally heard from them Sunday afternoon: the storm and flood had been so localized that they didn't know it had happened until they came in town for more water.  They'd had a good night camping, then did some bouldering Sunday morning ... and when they got to town and saw the flood damage - and their phones blew up with all the received calls and messages - they were like, huh.

All was well and they went on to fill their days in Moab quite nicely: a sunset side-by-side ride on Hell's Revenge and another night camping down by the river; climbing with a guide way down Kane Creek Road and a night camping at Oowah Lake; MTBing with a guide up at Dead Horse Point State Park, a quick evening tour of Arches NP and a final night camping at a campground in town as they were eager for showers by then.

Nope, nothing fun happening here

When they got back to our house in SLC on Wednesday night, they were full of stories to share (and belly rubs for Milton).  And then they were off again Thursday morning, back to Maine with their ears still ringing with our, "Please come back again soon!"  (And we made out quite well as the recipients of all sorts of groceries that they hadn't eaten and couldn't take on the plane with them - woohoo!)