Mt. Nebo

Mt. Nebo

Utah Lake Overlook from about 8500 feet

We hiked Mt. Nebo today.  Jeff, Chance, Justin, Quinn and myself. Oh, and JK.  The last time we were up Nebo was about ten years ago when Jeff and I decided to drive up to the summit in the early part of May.  It was snowy, icy, slippery and with the narrow roads and steep dropoffs I was sure we were going to die. 

Thankfully, today’s trip was much more enjoyable.

Mt. Nebo is the highest peak in the Wasatch Mountain Range. Residents and visitors alike often erroneously assume that Mt. Timpanogos is the highest. Mt. Nebo is proud to surpass Timp by 179 ft. Mt. Nebo was likely named after the biblical Mount Nebo in the Old Testament. Three major peaks comprise the summit of Nebo, the highest of which is the north summit. It is visible for miles in all directions.

This is the first time I’ve been on the actual trail.   The trail itself is fine dirt particulates and very little stone or stump.  We were all covered in dry dust after the hike.  We also encountered these random wind gusts that would blow in every direction for about 30-45 seconds and then die down.  It was very odd.

Nebo Bench Trailhead

This is also the first time I have ever had to compete with [you’d never guess it] COWS for a good 1/2 mile on the trail.  JK was in happy heaven.  We wound through what felt like a cow meadow for the first part.  It included a water trough and about 20 cows.  JK thinks every animal is worthy of loving.  Sometimes they return his love, sometimes they don’t.  He found a black cow friend, though.  It’s just a little something to see a cow and a dog licking each other’s face down.

Best Friends Forever.......almost

Traipsing through the meadow

JK got a little too close after about three minutes and the cow started butting him with its head.  The friendship was short-lived as I made JK return so he didn’t get stomped on.

JK, by the way, must be the healthiest pug in all of Utah.  He averages about 25 miles a week hiking/walking/running with us.

Jeff

It is a very good thing Jeff has such a cute backside because I have spent the better part of two decades with this very view. 

Mt Nebo trail

Signs of human alongside the trail, a rock formation

The meadow right before the pines

Mt Nebo Trail, first creek

The boys on the trail

Justin, batting practice

 Justin found a good batting stick on the trail and commenced to lop off the tops of the round thistles, flinging them everywhere including the general direction of our heads.

Justin with stick on the trail

Quinn, Justin and Chance, posing under protest under a really cool tree

Big, downed tree

Serpentine Tree

Aspens in black and white

Looking towards the summit of Mt Nebo

pretty purple flower

Yellow Mountain Daisies

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Rainy Day Adventures

 

We woke up to unusually cool temperatures and the day promised to be overcast so we decided it was a perfect day for a road trip.  Jeff, Chance, Kayla, Justin, JK and I hopped into the truck so we could show them what we think is the perfect place for paintballing……at the huge ruins of an abandoned tintic mine down by Eureka.

It was nice and cool and wet.  And perfectly enjoyable. 

And the best thing about both locations?  Not a single, solitary soul in sight!  I felt like we had the whole world to ourselves.

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Weekend Warrioring

The new gun

 

Yesterday morning, for some inexplicable reason, I woke up feeling antsy, wanting to head to the hills and escape civilization. To satisfy the Xena in me, we rounded up the kids to go to Cabelas. I bought a new pistol, a Taurus M17 40 caliber, and it is very nice! It handles well, doesn’t kick very much at all, and is quieter than our .357 magnum.

Before I go on with this story, I have to share that I love Cabelas.  The most most interesting people hang out there!  There is a HUGE aquarium area where they provide daily Nemo feedings and the giant fish snap them up fast.  People of all ages, shapes and sizes come to ogle at this primitive barbarian highlight of the food chain.

I also love all of the taxidermist displays there.  You almost, almost feel like you are not in the middle of a busy city area.  Other shoppers help because they generally come in looking a little wild and unruly.  There is instant, unspoken comraderie that says “dude, I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling trapped in this godforsaken metropolitan area…let’s escape and go hunt a turkey together!”

The new gun

aquarium fishes

natural terrain

Animals at play in the middle of Cabelas

Animals at center stage

Cabelas birds in flight

Chance keeping score

Matt

Justin shooting the AR-15

Justin’s AR-15 bullseye. Not bad for a first try!

9 mm pistol from Czechoslovakia, given to Matt by his grandfather

Double barreled beauty

Matt and his little bro

Jared taking aim

Kayla shooting the Taurus with Chance, Justin and Matt behind her

Chance shooting the Taurus

Sun glistening on the water

JaKay, trying to get the leash in his mouth

Go, JaKay, Go!

Inlet

hot springs leading from pool to lake.

wonderfully warm water!

Hot springs

JaKay traversing the hard dirt mounds with his 3 inch long legs

Utah Lake Inlet

Kayla and Chance eating dogs outside of Cabelas

After we indulged in the smoked foods (dogs, brats and burgers), we went home to collect our growing arsenal.  I promise, I’m not a survivalist, or an animal hunter.  I just like to be able to hit my target when I’ve got my eye on it.  A trait that extends to all areas of my life, by the way.

We awoke to an absolutely gorgeous day today and headed for the hills just west of Utah Lake.  Chance and his friends Matt and his little brother, and Jared came with us.  They often go, and I expect they wanted to come along just to make fun of the rest of us noobs.  But Matt brought his arsenal (and I do mean arsenal) and it was great fun testing them all out.  Justin does really well with the rifles, and I do much better with pistols.    Kayla looks really good shooting both, but I am happy to say that she will not become a burgeoning criminal/hunter any time soon.  Jeff got expert marks at shooting in the military, so it goes without saying that he does well.

 

 

After we barrelled our way through a whole bunch of ammo, we headed back to Saratoga Springs to visit Jessica and Josh who have recently moved there.  We all took a jaunt to the hot springs by the lake.  JaKay went with us on his leash.  What a hoot.  Every time the leash flew in front of his eyes, he grabbed it.  He spent most of the walk with the leash in his mouth.  It should also go without saying that it is a hilarious experience to walk a dog that weighs all of 3 pounds.  Still, his ADD eyes seemed to enjoy the sights.

JaKay, trying to get the leash in his mouth

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