13 Hours of Pure Bliss ! Summit of Timpanogos Mountain !! 11,749 Feet !

     What an unbelievable trip. 
     
      When my son said he want to go to Tipanogos Mountain and climb to the summit I was excited. I had no idea how cool it would really be. This has to rank as one of my best hiking trips ever. Thanks Josh for dragging the old man up in territory that he will probable never make again. Funny I couldn't even sleep with the anticipation of waking up at four and heading to one of the highest and most rugged mountains in Utah. Sorry if it sounds like it was Mt. Everest, but at 57 it felt like it to me. I think we packed enough supplies to stay for a week. Josh, my son packed over fifty lbs and did it for the whole trip.  I of course took all my camera gear and a few snacks and Gatorade. That still was over thirty lbs. I think compared to all the other day hikers we seen, we were well over packed. I will say that when we stopped to have a late lunch at 3:00 PM we were the envy of all the power bar eaters along the trial. LOL. After eight hours of hiking it felt so good to lay down a minute and take my shoes off while Josh cooked a gourmet meal. Really ,Top Ramen noodles, a cube of butter, and Johnson Sausages. That was so good !  Thanks Josh.  I think some of the pictures will speak for themselves. The flowers were at their peak. They were totally unbelievable. So many and so much color. I could have shot pictures for ever. This should have been a 9 hour day, but we could not keep from stopping and taking in all that was there. My son and I would be shooting pictures and video around EVERY turn. Funny how most of the hikers just flew right on by with out ever stopping to really see the wildlife or scenery. I was amazed at the wildlife. So cool to watch the moose and goats. The goats we up in the rock and cliffs every where.  I think we saw over forty goats. We hiked over and watched two different sets of Moose also.

     Now I guess I should say a little about the hike to the top of Mt Timp. Wow it was a little more than I expected. It did push me a bit more than I planned for. The last mile to the summit made me a little light headed. What a cool experience to be at the shack on top. You do feel like you are on top of the world. I took over 300 pictures.  I hope to share a few more in a few days. I hope you will know that the few I put on tonight came with great effort, and were worth every step. Though so very tired walking back, I was on cloud nine !  Damn , oops dang I love the mountain  !!     Thanks again Josh. That was the best trip ever !
                                                                                         Enjoy !       the Bear :)

Short 11 Hour Hike Up Timp !!!

     My two sons and I decided to go on a hike up Timpanogos. So right up front I have to tell you we didn't plan or know where we were going very well.  It was going to be a good hike and we planned on being gone most of the day. Well Things don't always go as planned. We ended up going two and a half miles over to the falls . They were beautiful. After we took pictures we decided the only way to the top was up a steep rock slide trail. I was packing all my camera gear and a ton in my pack besides. It was hard to keep my balance with all that I was carrying. I knew I was to old for this trip. It was more like a cliff climb and the trail soon ended with no trail what so ever. We decided that we were to far south and that we would try to get up to the summit going this route and try and find the Timp trail when we reached the top. Well not to bore you,  it took us six hours of pretty extreme hiking to finally get to the face of Timp ! We were literally braking trail and climbing cliffs the entire trip up. It has to be one of the most taxing hikes I have ever been on. We were boxed in and could not get over to the trail so had to go back the same way we came up. There were water falls all the way up. Way cool to see but that also meant it was strait up most of the hike. My oldest son packed top ramen, polish sausage, and unions, and you would have thought it was the best meal in the world.  If I hadn't have had  it I would never have made it back !  Thanks to my boys helping the old man all the way, it was only an 11 hour walk .I don't think I will do this one again any time soon ! Enjoy the pictures. It was a trip to remember. I wasn't sure I would make it back.
        The snake on the trail was the first time I have ever seen one of these in Utah.  It looked like a long brown piece of clay. I think it is a Utah Blind Snake. I didn't want to pick it up !  Have a great day !  Get out and enjoy Wild Utah !!  Before it burns up !!                       The Bear !1

This One Is A First For Me !!!!!!!!

   
         This is a lucky follow up from this winters Sandhill Cranes. Last night I could hear that the cranes have moved back into the field behind me. I had hopes that they had extended their family. This morning I could hear them and put the field glasses on them. Sure enough there was one little extra tagging along. The adult cranes could walk through the grass fairly easily. The new little tag along was no way equipped to handle the tall grass. I sat a chair next to the fence and waited and waited for them to come my way. They just slowly feed back and forth through the field. Seems like they would stop at all of the small patches of alfalfa that are in the field and ate. There are a few bare spots around to. If I get lucky they will let me get some shots just behind my fence. After a bit more patience than I usually have they came right where I had hoped they would. This little guy hasn't got anything but peach fuzz. He tried to stand as tall as he could to look just like mom and dad. I have to say kinda cute for a crane. As the parents moved through the grass all I could see was the grass moving a little behind them. It  took two hours for them to cross the field to my side. They came over and fed right alone my fence. It made a fun early morning shoot. I have put quite a lot of pictures in today. I don't think I will see this one any time soon again. So If you have never seen a baby Sandhill Crane enjoy !  It was a first for me and pretty cool to watch and see.    Have a great Wild Day In Utah !     Hope you have a great weekend.
                                                          The Bear !!!

Unless You Are From Sanpete County Utah, You May Have Not Ever Seen This One !!

     I think this arch is one of the coolest in the state of Utah. It will never be on any license plate and will probably not be seen by the majority of people in Utah. There is no easy way to get there and the best view of it is from right underneath it. It is on the side of a steep mountain and a large pine tree protects the front view.  Until you hike up within twenty or thirty yards of it you can't even see it. That being said it is very difficult to photograph. When you hike under it and try to get behind it, rock walls climb fast up making a view from behind short and sweet. It appears to be made of cemented rock. One of the sweetest Arches in Utah for sure. When you sit right underneath it the size is amazing. This is one of my favorite natural arches. I hope you will enjoy the pictures. If you are lucky enough to go see this one do it ! It will be well worth your time. Good luck :)   Click on the pictures to see them better.         Get out and enjoy a Wild Day In Utah !!

                                                                                             The Bear !!

       P.S  There is another cool natural arch in Sanpete County know where ?     Pictures soon !!!

Beginning Of The Memorial Weekend !!

      These are some random pictures from a short hike this weekend. We were looking for a short hike with water and this one fit the bill. It was only about two miles round trip. There were a ton of things to stop and see. Even though it was a short hike it took two hours. Maybe that is why no one wants to go with me very often. I have to stop and look at everything. The mist off of the waterfall felt so cool. There is something about being around a stream that is so relaxing. It kind of drowns out the rest of the world and the sounds of busy every day life. It was a great way to start off the weekend. Made me stop and be thankful for so much and so many who have given me the gift of freedom and life. Life is tough and sometimes over challenging, but their is so much to be thankful for. Thanks Mom for all you gave unconditionally,never once thinking of yourself. I only wish I could have shared a portion of the love you gave to EVERYONE you came in contact with. There is beauty in everything. We just have to stop and take time to see it !  Have a great Memorial Day ! 

                                                                               The Bear  !!

Thanksgiving Point Flowers !!

  

      I hope this still qualifies as a wild day in Utah !!   I took a little trip up to Thanksgiving Point to see the flowers. I couldn't help but put them on my blog today. I spent a while trying to decide which flower I liked the best. It wasn't quite like sneaking around the mountain, and I'm not sure I wanted anyone to see me. None the less they were beautiful.  There are so many unique and intricate designs. This blog Is for my sister. She has been asking for some flower pictures. Hope you will enjoy  !     

                                                                                      Have a great day !!           The Bear !!

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