Hiking and Horses

Despite the freak snow storm we had on Saturday and Sunday, I hope I can safely say that it is now Spring in Logan. I have a feeling the sky is snowed out. I may be wrong but I hope not, I'm ready for Spring to be here. Regardless, I have been getting out of the house again and it feels great! Last Friday I got up early with a friend from the ward and went up Logan Canyon. We stuck to a lower trail because I have a feeling the higher ones still have snow. Ryker got to join us as well and it was really fun. The hike was simple enough that I had a blast getting to know my friend C better. It was a great first hike of Spring. 

Then today I went back up the canyon with L, my x-country skiing friend. We took the high road this time and after too many switch backs found our selves on the side of the mountain without a way down! The map showed the trail to be a loop that would safely return us to the car, however, we did not expect the loop to be quite so long. We could have turned around at any point I suppose, but each time we passed one ridge and then worked our way around to another outcropping we expected to  see the trail down. We even considered booney crashing down the mountain. Eventually we did find the right trail and made it back safe and tired. 

The other thing I have been doing to get out is horseback riding! I set a goal when I moved to Cache Valley that I would get back in the saddle. But without a horse, this becomes somewhat of a challenge. I finally made the right connections and I am working the Human Society rescue horses. Yes it is true, people are abandoning their horses. Whether for illness or simply the expense, several people are deciding retire as horse owners. My friend T does the rescuing and she has way too many horses to handle. That is where I come in! We are working on getting the horses back into shape to be adopted in the Spring/Summer. So I have been out there working the horses and loving every minute of it. I'm excited to make it a weekly routine. 

So, the world is turning green in Logan and Cache Valley is awakening its beautiful color. I'm excited to be out in it and start capturing it again! 

Stuck on the ridge!

If we only had a rope!

Salt Lake with Sarah

I have been blessed with such great friends in my life! Last Tuesday I got to spend the day with one of them. She was in SLC for the day and I drove down to discover the city I have been living next to for the last 3+ years. There are all kinds of things I have wanted to do in SLC. We only hit a few of them. Hope you enjoy the pictures of our day!

We met at the Stake Capital building. I have been wanting to tour it since it was re-dedicated. We ditched the touring group and spent some time just wondering on our own. Those of you who know me, know that is how I prefer to tour. We wondered and enjoyed the beauty of that building and tried to stay out of trouble! :)

Next stop was Temple Square. We met up with Christine for lunch on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, also something we had never done. Lunch was delicious and the view was perfect. Then Christine headed back to work and Sarah and I did some temple work in the Salt Lake Temple. Nothing is better than being in the temple with friends! We finished the day in the Beehive House and the Lion House, both of which Sarah had never visited. Everything we saw and did was wonderful but mostly it was just great to spend the day with a wonderful friend!

The White Witch of Logan

It seems the White Witch has made a visit to Logan, UT and decreed a never-ending winter. For the last month we have had random wonderful warm days that have filled us with a hope of spring only to be followed by a snow day and several more inches of snow! The snow has been beautiful and enjoyable in its own right but it is time for spring. The perennial flowers are peaking their green heads above the cold earth testing the air for spring and their grand entrance into the world this year. While the cold and snow have been slightly frustrating, I have still managed to have some fun with the snow. Frosty the Snowman visited our yard during one of those snow days and brought a smile to my face for a week as he greeted me each time I arrived home. However, I hope the following pictures are the last of this snowy winter.

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

Tour of Room and Ryker!

Here's a tour of my new room. I got it all clean for the Sabbath so I thought I'd better get a video while it stayed that way! Its nice to have my own space and its quiet down in the basement. The only downside was it was pretty cold down there. But now I have this great space heater and I'm sleeping like a baby at night.

And here's a short clip of our new dog Ryker! He's a chocolate lab/golden retriever mix and doing a great job for being in a new home with a new pack for only two weeks. He's learning all the rules and some new ones. I think he's going to be a great addition to the family.