Sunday, March 25, 2018

February to March


After a dry and warm winter...we got snow but still not enough.  Right now we are at 70% of snow pack so we might be ok this year.


I went snowshoeing at someplace I've never been to and it's in Spring City.  It's called Grizzly Gulch and Canal Canyon trails.  They are non-motorized trails that go up all the way to Horseshoe Mountain.  I remember hiking down one of these trails during scouts when I was little but I don't remember which trail.


At first, I went up Grizzly Gulch and someone has gone up there before me on snowshoes so I just followed the trail.  It was a very moderate climb, not too easy or too steep.  We went up to the river crossing where it got steeper then we hiked back down.



Then we went up to Canal Canyon after we got to the bottom, I just wanted to explore.


We went a ways up and it was beautiful!  I will probably do this many times during other winters.


Another weekend, I went back up there and this time, the snow was off of the trees and the trail was more hard packed.


This is a popular trail for snowshoers.  I've lived about 15 miles from this area for many years and I have not heard of this!  This area is so much better than where I have been going to.


We passed the creek this time where it got steeper and we kept going.


It just got steeper and steeper then I turned around after a while.  Then I went back down and followed another snowshoe trail somebody had made which started halfway of the Grizzly Gulch way.  The trail went up another mountain that had a few dirt spots and it ended up somewhere along the Canal Canyon Trail where the river crossing was.  I went back down Canal Canyon.


Some clear water.  Looks drinkable but I wouldn't drink it though.  I bet it would have been cold and delicious.


I checked out a pottery shop in Spring City.  I want to take my big sister there this summer when she comes and visit.  She's a big pottery fan.




One nice weekend, I went up to my little sister's place.  I went biking on a trail on Antelope Island where I've never ridden on.  It's called Mountain View Trail.  It's mostly flat with a lot of easy to moderate hills...perfect for my base training this spring.  And it's long, the whole ride was about 25 miles.


As usual, Bison was great to see on the island.  I always see bison.  I did see an antelope during my ride but it just ran so fast so I didn't get a picture.  That was the first time I have seen an antelope on the island.



Snow in the foothills and the mountains while Antelope Island was dry with dirt.  Perfect for late winter riding.  I would do this ride again but I always need to go during a perfect time when the  island is not swamped with biting bugs.  This time of the year, there were no biting bugs.


Last weekend, I went up the Ephraim canyon road to the A frame house.  It's been really windy lately but I guess because it is March(March winds), so riding into the canyon made bike riding more bearable, no high south winds.


The next morning, it snowed.


So I did an unexpected snowshoe hike that Sunday, there was barely enough snow above Taylor's Flat in Ephraim Canyon.


I went along the top of the Flume Trail and turned around.


Then the clouds cleared up.




Then we went above Taylor's Flat up higher which had more snow but it was steeper.
It got cloudy again and the flurries came down.


Duke is trying to go out as much as he can so he can get some exercise.  Most dogs his age are in their homes with arthritis and they can't move.  Duke is in good shape for his age, he is about 12 years old I think.


I bought some knobby tires for my gravel grinder bike.  They are so much better and they are still tubeless.  I'm trying to make this bike more comfy and enjoyable.  I'm waiting for some funky gravel bike handlebars in the mail.  I've been waiting for a long time...I won't order from the company again called the Outside Outfitter's.  I give them two thumbs down.


Once I get these handlebars, I will go on more fun gravel road rides...because there are so many gravel roads in Sanpete County.  And it'll be good for my base training for the spring.


The shop cat disappeared for two weeks and he just came back last Thursday.  I was so thrilled because I thought he had died!  We were talking about that he must've took off with a female cat for a while...because he is not neutered.


More screwing around with the dogs.


And they made friends with some farm dogs.


This popped out on my Facebook one day.  This is my niece from around 7 or 8 years ago...


....and look how big she has grown!  And I've just become more goofy!