Sunday, June 23, 2013

Hikes and Bikes


 Yes, went hiking.  Weird.  But it was great fun and adventurous.  I thought I'd do some hiking because my coworker wants me to climb Mt. Nebo with him sometime this summer so I am trying to get ready for it.  I went on a few hikes and the first one I hiked a little up Pioneer Trail.  I started from the bottom.


I took Jeri and Duke with me and they were having a time of their lives.  As I was hiking, I was kicking all the rocks off the trail, this a bike trail I like to ride on.  Before this hike, I haven't ridden my bike on it yet but I just barely did yesterday.  It's pretty packed down and I was amazed that it was.  I guess a lot of dirt bikers have been riding on it.  It's a great trail and it's all cleared up.



 I turned around at the swamp area and walked back down, it was really nice in the canyon since it was very windy down the valley with gusts up to 40 mph if I remember it right.


A couple days later, I went on another hike, this time I parked my truck up above Taylor's Flat and started walking along the top part of the Flume.  I started to plan just to walk along the top part then I decided to walk further down towards the bottom.  I turned around at the top of the very steep section down close to the bottom where the jumps were.  Then I hiked back up and it was quite a workout.  After I got back to the truck, I decided to hike up to Virgil's Yeart from there, but first I took the dogs to some stream so they can get a drink.


The Backbone Trail was very steep but it gave me a good workout.  It was a fun one and I enjoyed it very much.  Duke was very tired but still chased a few squirrels along the way.


This weekend, I decided to get back on biking.  Last Thursday night, I did the West Mountains loop on my mountain bike and it was a great ride, no wind.  Also, the West Mountains gave me shade along the way as the sun went down.  I tried to avoid the pageant crowd in Manti but I made it.
Then I went on another ride Saturday morning.  I parked the car at Major's Flat and decided to climb up the road a little ways and go down the Pioneer Trail.  I was struggling on the climb and took it easy most of the way.  It was hot and tiring though but it felt great.  The Pioneer was a blast and it was the first time this year.  I remember mostly of the view and Haystack Mountain and Ephraim Canyon when I got up top.  I forgot my phone at home so I couldn't take pictures, wish I did though.  It was beautiful.
Today, I went on another ride, I actually missed church because I didn't really care much.  I just wanted to ride.  I went up the Flume this time and took it easy again.  It was also hot but great!  Loved the downhill.  It was a beautiful day and hardly anybody up the mountain.  Got to love summer!