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 !!

little parts

I Think These Are The Only Two Wild Ring Neck Pheasants Alive !

          You have to look close , these are two different roosters !!

     I have been lucky enough to watch this truly wild, none ranch raised pheasant, in the field behind my house all spring. So tonight I am trying to take pictures of the the old bird and he came running right up to my fence. It made for some great pictures. Then from underneath the strawberry patch the second rooster appeared. He was inside my fence testing out the strawberries. OK tough decision here ! The hunter, protector of the garden said, " Get The Gun " !  Now it made sense why the old bird came running up to the fence so fast. He has protecting and claiming his two hens that are always with him. Until then I didn't know that there were two roosters in the area. No I did not get the gun. It was just a quick thought. LOL  :)  It really is a rare event to find a wild Ring Neck Pheasant anymore. The top picture shows how long his tail feathers are. This only comes with age. I'm sure most pheasants don't live through their first year.
     As a boy I so remember going out with my father and grandfather. Grandpa had an old black lab named Blacky. I was pretty little then and that black lab seemed to be so big .Before he jumped into the old scout with us he always had to jump in the ditch to get wet, and come shake all over us.I can still smell the aroma of wet dog sitting on your lap. He was just as excited as we were. You couldn't get out and hunt on the first day till 8:00 am. Well like normal you would always hear shots at 7:45 am. There was nothing to compare to the excitement and anticipation pheasant hunting brought. They always flew up and startled you to death. The anticipation was always there. Seemed like you were trying hard to always be ready. Walking along a ditch bank then all of the sudden a rooster flies up, you are never ready. We always talked about the one that got away. It used to be such a fun family event. Now I feel lucky to even see a wild pheasant. Just try and sneak up on one for a picture. Needless to say it made my day ! Hope you will enjoy the pictures. They are truly one of the memories I cherish most about being with my dad and grandfather.
     I got lucky today !  I've been trying the past few weeks to get a good shot. Enjoy !!

                                                                                                                        The Bear !!   

The Sheep look a Little Rough

      I just took these pictures last weekend in Utah County. There were four ewes and this ram.  If you look at the ewe close you can tell she is getting close to lambing. The Rocky Mountain Big Horn is a cool looking sheep.  They are just starting to loose the winter coat. They look pretty rough but none the less well worth the find. I watched them for a while until the ram decided I was to close and moved on up in the rocks. Its kind of rare to see big horn sheep in Utah.  It is a once in a life time draw in Utah. The chance to hunt one will most likely never happen for most Utah hunters. Second best is to go find them and get some pictures.

        I hope I can find them again this summer when they have their slick summer coat on. It will be fun to follow them and see if lambs come soon. 

                                                                              Have a great weekend !          The Bear !!

I Wonder What Happend To the feathers On His Head ?

                              Yes its the Turkey Buzzard !

 Even though he is not an American Bald Eagle, he is still a real unique bird. The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is found all over Utah. It roosts in large community groups. Lacking a syrinx—the vocal organ of bird,its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses. These buzzards were just a block away from my house. They get their name from the coloring that some what reminds you of the wild turkey. My wife said they are just waiting around our house to see when I leave. She swears something on that mountain is going to get me.  I get a pretty good scolding every time I come home with a new story. You would think its my first time wandering alone in the mountains. Those of you who know me know that it is my second nature. Love you anyway honey.
      The buzzards are pretty cool looking, and are graceful flyers. Unless you are really close you would think it was an eagle flying. They usually fly in small groups and hang and roost together. With a head like that I'm sure no one else want to hang with them. They serve a good purpose in helping clean up the dead. How lucky are they ?

    

       When you see a close up of them, they really do look like they have the turkeys head. Well they were fun to photograph and hope you will look a little closer next time they are circling over your head.

                               Hope it is a great weekend !  Get out and enjoy a Wild Day in Utah !

                                                                                                                          The Bear !!!!

A Gentle Walk At About 8000 ft !!

                                                              So What Is It ?

     You have to look at the above picture pretty hard to see what it really is. I went on a 6 hour walk Monday climbing to about 8000 feet. I started at about 5400 feet in elevation. I ended up at the top of a huge ridge covered with snow. It was a beautiful day. The really small flowers are just starting to grow. I walk around the rim and started down a narrow backbone ridge. It was only about 10 to 20 feet wide and cliff drop offs on both sides. I had just left the snow line into the pines along the ridge when 30 yards in front of me was this animal in the thick oak and pines. I really couldn't tell what it was. It kinda startled me to see it. My first thought was it was a bear. I couldn't see its legs or head. I was pretty excited thinking this will be cool to watch. Well as soon as it picked up its head I could see it was a bull moose. They shed their antlers in December so he just had a couple of inches of antler growth. Funny thing though he didn't want to move so I could get down the ridge. He was below me about 30 yards down a decline. I made some noise and tried to get him to move away. He wasn't going anywhere. So being the mountain man that I think I am I started toward him and just kept talking to him. He put his ears back and gave me a 5 yard false charge. Yes that did get my adrenaline going. I backed up to reconsider my options. He was not the least  bit scared of me. I took a few steps forward and tried to get him to move again, and once again his ears went strait back as if to say " Hey I warned you once don't you get it ? "  I slowly backed off going back up hill and found a way to work below him. It was steep and took me an extra 45 minuets to get back below him on the trail. How could you not love his defiance of me getting into his space. I thought that was my trail, but As usual I was wrong. Nature is so cool. I loved the experience and would do it again in a heart beat.
     The next picture is to help you remember that you always have to watch where you set your fanny down even if you are at 8000 feet. Again reminded that it is not my mountain ! Big or small there is always something to prick your butt to remind you to tread lightly. Wow so many lessons in just one 6 hour hike. Oh and just for your info, If you feel something poking you in the butt, it is not always a good idea to reach around with your hand to see what it is. :)
      The few little flowers that were coming up were worth the trip alone." I Love the Mountain" . I came home reminded again how small and insignificant I really am. So thankful for the appreciation for what we have in our back yard.   Hope you have a great day. Get out and enjoy a Wild Day in Utah !
                                                                                                                   The Bear  !!

Spring !! Yes !!

Ive been waiting for spring to get here.This has been a weird shed hunting season. I haven't had much luck at all. With that said there has been some way cool biking days.   Along with several great walks in the mountains.  I always find some thing up there that interests me. Not sure what that mask I found was, but I am sure my wife did not want me to bring it home. My son was with me hunting elk sheds and all we found was this sweet bone and a few elk droppings to prove we had been there.   The top picture is up American Fork Canyon. My wife and I took a great afternoon drive on the Harley.  Yes that is the next best thing to walking in the mountains. The water was a beautiful turquoise blue color,with snow still on Timp. I know this will just be the beginning of many rides to come. I think the older I get the slower I walk and the more I really see. I remember walking with my grandfather and thinking he was slow. Funny how now I am starting to see what he would see. My only regret is that I didn't listen. I think we get so caught up in what we want to tell others that we miss the opportunity to learn and gain a new insight that they may see. I hope as you see some of the crazy pictures that I take, you will look just a little harder for the simple things. We are all in such a hurry that we don't take time to stop and smell the elk poop. OK maybe that one shouldn't be on the list.

            Have a great week !!                           The Bear !!!

They Are Not Elk Droppings and You Can't Eat Them

                                They are not elk droppings and you can't eat them. What are they ? 

  
     So another great trip to the mountain that netted no deer or elk shed antlers. What a beautiful day it was anyway. There was tons of cool stuff just to stop and see. I did see eight bull elk, but only one had shed his hardware. Guess I will have to wait another week to go try and find the needle in the hay stack. It's always interesting to see all the bones lying along the mountain floor.  Kind of a cool skull in the middle of a oak brush hill side. Of coarse I couldn't pas it up. So what is it from ? 
     The bottom picture was the first butterfly of the season. He was tearing up the mountain side. What could be better than a few wonder items from 5 miles up the mountain. It was worth all 7 hours of walking strait up. I came back a new rejuvenated old man.
     The short video is one of my favorite things to do on the mountain. There is nothing better than sitting down by the rushing stream and just letting your thoughts leave the craziness of life. I wouldn't trade the day for anything.
     So what are those sweet things in my hand in the first picture ?  Hummmm !  

       Have a great weekend. Thanks for checking in.  
        
                                                           The Bear !!

                                                                       PS  Moose poop !  :)

New City Creek Project

  
                                   Good Day Wild Utah

    Now this has to qualify as a wild day in Utah if there ever was one !  I almost felt like I was walking in New York City. Wow,Wow,Wow. All I wanted to see were the fish in the stream. Yes there are Rainbow Trout in the middle of down town City Creek.  I took a little line and some borrowed power bait, Yes Chet I did say "borrowed power bait", and thought I would clean up. I made the mistake and did ask, and was told that I couldn't fish here.
     Now some one went way over board here to see if it would be possible to make these streets look like down town New York. The fact of the matter is that it was totally awesome ! There were bands playing, drummers drumming,and singers singing all over the place. It was a way cool atmosphere and we loved every minute of being there. It was wall to wall people in every direction.
     There were so many new stores that are unique to Utah. Way to go City Creek you did this one up right. I will defiantly be back. We only had time to stop at a few shops. They were all first class. It was  the kind of atmosphere  that you could have just lounged around and soaked it all up. The line to just get in and see the new Disney store was a block long. I walked by and thought it was way cool ,but I don't think I have the patience for that one.
     The high light for me had to be the way they have created the City Creek Steam that runs right down the middle of all the shops. It is beautiful and who can complain about watching Rainbow Trout  swimming in the stream while your wife is checking out the boutiques. You have to go see this one soon. Oh ya, there was a ton of wild life there to !   Hummmm :)   Ooooops

      Have a great day ! Get out and enjoy

                                                                           The Bear !!!!

I Wanted To Bring This Stump Home !

                                       Good Day Wild Utah

 Yes I'm back in the mountains again. Ive been dying to go for a walk all week. Finally strapped the boots on and headed for the snow.  While walking up some ridge lines checking out the wildlife I ran across this old ceder stump. It had so much character I had to shoot it . It almost looks like it has its own walking stick. Of course my first thought was how am I going to get this baby home and into my front room. I'm not sure my wife will approve. Think of the possibilities. I can see antlers lying around it , hats hanging off the limbs, and a big ole cigar hanging out its mouth. Wow did I really just say that ? Occasionally I let my imagination run away just a bit. Well just enjoy and you use your own imagination. Yes it's still stuck to mother earth. Ain't no packin this one out I'm afraid.  Seems kind of funny to be walking that high up in the mountains and wearing a t shirt. You have to love Utah weather.

     I walked up another mile or so until I was in about two feet of snow. I couldn't walk on top of the snow with out sinking in every step. It didn't take long to throw the towel in and head for home. I did watch 50 head of cow elk feed along the hill. I brought nothing back but a few pictures. That always makes momma happy. She just doesn't get that excited to see new elk and deer bone coming in the door.  It felt so good to get up in the crisp clean air.   Hope you have a great weekend

                                                                              The Bear !!

This Mornings Walk

                                     What a great Friday morning walk


     Ive been neglecting my blog for a while now. Ive been trying to do some schooling and its crimped my style. This morning I got up and looked out the window, grabbed my boots and headed to the mountains. It was going to be a hunt for shed antlers day for sure. Well as you can see by the pictures it turned in to be just a tremendous hike filled with sweet photos around every turn. Maybe that's a kind way of saying "I didn't find any antlers". As you can see I walked up into some cliffs. My wife just loves it when I send her pictures in the cliffs.  She always ask where I'm going so she can send some one to find me when I don't come back. I always tell her I'm just walking the flat ground today. Anyway I always take enough food for a day or two in case I get carried away. The weather was so unbelievably warm. I did see a few bulls still packing their hardware. They were further up the hill than I was going to go anyway.
     It felt so good to work up a good sweat and then finally reach the cliffs and just sit down. There is nothing like feeling that you are the only one up there. Its fun to look with my field glasses and watch all the craziness that goes on down in the valley. I get a little carried away just glassing the mountains and watching the wild life. I cant wait for things to come back to life on the mountain.

     I hope you will get out and take advantage of the weekend !    Till next week :)

                                                        The Bear !!!