Here are some nostalgic pictures I took while living here in Provo. Just remembering...

Sheesh. I really am feeling sentimental. Different pictures that I took of BYU campus, from the mountains:

Inspired by Matt Beatty, I decided to post a picture of my own earth art. Its a little "grim reaper"-esque, and its definitely not an Andy Goldswothy, but I thought it was cool.

Frogs and Sunflowers

I am headed to Ave Maria School of Law, and I realize I am going to miss this beautiful place that I live in right now. Here are some pictures from just around our house:

Knotted Rope Canyon
I did this canyon once after a storm, and it was fun but easy to just swim across all of these great pools. Only spanned one narrow gap. This time it was dry as a bone, and I was amazed at how deep some of those potholes were. We spanned tons of stuff. Nothing difficult, but it was a taste of how canyons can bring unexpected surprises no matter how many times you've done it before. We brought a 100m rope for the ultimate alternate finish, but opted against it for time sake. Its a beautiful hike.

Got down and did Heaps a second time, with five other guys, only two of whom had ever done it before...I was worried that it would be another "struggle to survive" experience, but everyone was extremely capable, and we had a GREAT time. Different experience altogether compared with last time. Water was a little bit higher which made things nice, and I did not let anyone borrow my wetsuit... Its amazing what twice as much neoprene will do to keep your body feelin' comfy. Here are some pictures...

Wow, a year since my last post. Just trying to graduate I guess. Here is something cool that I saw in Zion National Park last month:

Cascade Mountain Backcountry

Well, its time to sell the good old Land Cruiser. It was my dream to own one, and my wife's dream as well, but we have both decided to get a more kid friendly and gas friendly car. The LC only gets about 11 miles to the gallon. That sorta goes against the tree hugger side of me. Here is a tribute to the most amazing vehicle I've ever owned.

We went to Pt. Reyes National Seashore with Sierra's fam over the holiday. It was amazingly rainy and beautiful. Eli was a huge trooper the whole way, despite the look on his face in this picture. It was a beautiful trip.

I don't know why I didn't publish this post 2 years ago when I saved it as a draft, but here it is.

Baptist Draw into Chute Canyon, and up out the back door. Temp at night while sleeping was easily below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Tested my old sleeping bag's temperature rating (0 degrees). Lucky I had a biv sac, or I would have froze. In the daytime not so bad, but still pretty cold. All of the puddles but one were frozen solid. Total hiking time about 4 hours...was it worth the drive? I thought so...

Thanks to Brendan for a good shot of me rappin' into Chute. Shots of me don't happen as much anymore, so this was a pleasant surprise.

Here it is, the next big adventure. Englestead Hollow has been postponed to try and do "The Grand Traverse"...

One side to the other, across the Timpanogos Massif. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Tomorrow I hope to get down to Zion and do Imlay Canyon, the canyon of all canyons, this very Saturday...Unfortunately, the weather forcast is pretty dismal looking, and any chance of rain would shut me down. I've done Imlay only once before, 2 years ago with Dan Myers. I have since done quite a few canyons, leading all but one of them, and I feel ready to take two of my friends through this adventure. I'll post a pic of our trip when its over.

ZION
Sierra and I hiked Talyor Creek last week up to the "Double Arch Alcove", which actually doesn't even have one real arch. We left early, and made it there and almost back before the first of the crowds got there, and in the last fifteen minutes of our hiking we probably passed about 25 people on their way to the same spot. I also went a little ways (about a mile) up the canyon which is next in line to the south of this one, just to explore. It looks like a real winner, but I told Sierra I would be back in 15 minutes, and I can only jog so fast...

Eli really loved this hike, and I am excited for a summer full of trips with him to the most beautiful places on the earth, or at least the most beautiful places in Utah. Maybe Eli would like Imlay Canyon...? ;)

Flip Time

Last week Josh Heck and I were almost to the top of squaw peak, when time cut us off. Our wives wanted us home within about 20 minutes of this picture. Those who know where we are know this is possible but only by sprinting down the entire way...Anyhow, we couldn't let a good opportunity go to waste. Josh actually did a backflip, but I don't want to look less cool than him, hence no picture:) (actually his sweatshirt makes him look like an upside-down blur, and I have to get to class right now, so I'm jost not posting it...)

The Y Mount

John B Hoyt and I climbed Y mountain this Saturday in just about 2 hours. At first we were headed straight up the west face, but came to a tricky spot and decided to cut around to the south face and just take the easy walk to the top. The first pic is coming around the corner between the two faces, and the second is on the top of the mountain. You can see a pretty good storm cloud on Mount Nebo in the background.

Muddy Creek...

On Tuesday of last week Dan Myers and I went to the San Rafael Reef and did the "Squeeze" which is the first canyon directly southwest of the muddy creek gorge. Part of the stipulation for our trip was speediness, so that we would not be gone from our wives for very long. Therefore we did not take many pictures in the canyon.

However, there were some sweet moments of photographic wonder. Here is a shot of the gorge that I particularly like.
The canyon itself was purely gorgeous, but pictures will have to come some other time.

Spanish Fork Reservoir
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We went swimming last Friday at a new spot. It's pretty fun. A little crowded and not too big, but the water is wonderfully cold, and deep.