X-Country Skiing up Green Canyon

When I moved to Logan I told myself this was the perfect opportunity to get involved in the winter sports I had never participated in up in Washington. I'm here in the mountains so I better get into the mountain sports right? Plus, winter is just too long and I get stir crazy and have to be outside doing something. I've been X-country skiing twice before in my life and have been dying to go since the first flake of snow fell. But being new to the area it is unwise to tramp around the mountains alone and I couldn't find anyone who had the free time to join me. Two weeks ago Wednesday I finally harpooned my buddy L into joining me and it turned into quite the adventure. 

We started up Green Canyon (just north of Logan Canyon) about 9:30am and the long but gradual incline gave me the chance to re-learn the movement and get into a rhythm. We went for several hours until the road we were skiing on ended and then the path we were skiing on ended and we still went a little further! It was then when we finally turned around and headed back down the mountain. I 

thought going down was going to be easier but it was then when the real work began! By the time we got back down to the car we were both pretty dead. But I feel like I was finally getting the hang of it and skiing like a pro!

 When we got home we pulled out a map of Green Canyon and discovered we had gone about 10 miles round trip! It was quite

 the accomplishment and I felt it for the next day and a half in my legs! So, now I know Green Canyon and I'm anxious to get one more good run in before the snow melts. Come next winter I'll be ready with at least this snow sport under my belt!

Gymnastics with Red!

When I was younger my sisters Tamarah, Christine and I did gymnastics for a while. Christine and I were on the Jr. High team together and then I did it for half the season my sophomore year and then I just didn't have the time to continue. I really enjoyed it while it lasted. A little over a month ago the Logan Institute rented the Sports Academy in Logan for a Friday evening and they have a gymnastics room. I played around in there for a few hours and things started coming back! By the end of the evening I even threw a round off back tuck! On my drive home I called Tam and Christine to share the news! They could really appreciate that after a ten year absence from Gymnastics.

Since then I have been dying to go back. I finally convinced Christine to come with me this weekend while she was up in Logan for family things. We both realized we were terribly out of shape and not as flexible as we used to be. But we had a lot of fun doing it. Here are some videos and pictures of the evening. Please keep in mind that we took these at the end of the night and we were already tired. Our tricks had all been worn out. Next time we will remember to get video when we are fresh!

Winter Hike

Looking West, down the canyon and over Cache Valley

I'm feeling like I have something to blog about again so here goes. Last fall I didn't really get to fully appreciate the hiking that is available here in Logan before the snow set in. Since October I have been dying to get out and do something! I am still on the hunt for a cross-country skiing partner that would go out with me once a week but today it was too much to bear! I could wait no longer. So, I took Ryker and headed up Dry Canyon. Dry Canyon is a tiny canyon just to the south of Logan Canyon and it is not so full of snow that we couldn't hike a bit. Plus it was still in cell phone range so I could go alone. Ryker did a great job off-leash. He is learning his place in the family pack and recognizes that nothing changes even when we are off hiking. The sun was out and the air refreshing. It was just what I needed. I love the snow but I have to say, its March, and I'm ready for the Spring and more great hiking!

One beautiful dog!

Looking east, up the canyon