Thursday, May 10, 2012

Lots Of rain....Long post be bored!

Not like I would be riding if it wasn’t raining but the fact that it is makes me feel better. This week is ripping fast by as we get ready to head out Saturday on a weeklong trip. There will be no mountain biking on this trip but adventures will be plentiful. I will be with my whole family, but will have plenty of time to get some good quality time with LuAnn which she deserves. This will be our last big trip for a long time and it will be cherished. Nothing will be happening here on the b log for over a week that’s for sure. So enough pictures and reports on bike rides, let’s see some hiking or camping recaps! I did some in Utah but not nearly as much as I would like but what can you expect from a dating man. This trip was up Bell’s Canyon on my first Spring of 2007 in Salt Lake City. The Canyon is a long slit in the mountain that runs steeply just south of Little Cottonwood Canyon which many of you may or not know is where Snowbird and Alta remains. It’s pretty straight for the first few miles then makes a turn to the right where the unknown to me remains. I decided to see what was up there since I had walked up to the little reservoir and had wanted to go further. I was not expecting trails or anything spectacular but low and behold I was amazed what I found. The hike starts right off the main road going up Little Cottonwood Canyon, it’s a nice 15 minute walk up to the first pool of water. From there I found a trail on the other side of the reservoir and it went up so that’s where I was headed. Things were at a mellow incline as it followed a flowing stream some 10 feet wide at times. Then the incline increased and soon I was huffing up a steep rocky old riverbed at a good clip with no relief in sight. It eventually finally gave way to some less steep terrain but only to get good and bad at times. The view was opening into the valley as the more altitude was gained. It was amazing to say the least and just got better and better. By now the water was moving at a good pace and I could hear it in the distance but never getting close enough to see it but I certainly could hear it ripping. Soon I hit a waterfall and couldn’t believe my eyes, it was beautiful, water was tearing over the rocks as I felt the cool moist air hit my face it provided relief on this warm day. I took some photos and had to be off since I had plans to go higher despite feeling a little fatigued. I eventually came upon a level area and I couldn’t believe it, for the first time I was not on an incline which was strange, the trail had diminished and I found myself in lush tall grass that glowed bright in the afternoon sun. The stream ran shortly nearby in a very peaceful calm motion and I couldn’t help but want to just sit down and spend the afternoon in that magical spot but had to press on with the mission. Soon it got steep and the water began to rip again and I came upon yet another big waterfall. This one was taller and bounced from side to side as gravity and the mountain brought it down to earth, it was nothing short of incredible. Here I was on some random canyon on a great warm sunny day I chose to hike. I did not expect to find much but had already stumbled upon two magnificent waterfalls. Some photos were had and a good head dip at it’s base and off higher into the mountain I go. The hike became a boulder field and I really questioned going further into the unknown but loved the thought of the adventure. It was a while of on all fours and navigating a heavy mine field of avalanche torn pines but I did reach a beautiful alpine lake called upper bells reservoir. I could see fish swimming in the crystal clear lake as soon as I arrived and was in awe. I cirque lied in the background of the lake where I sat down and admired it’s beauty for the next 30 minutes. If only I had brought a pole I could have done some fishing. My stay had to come to an end so I did eventually head down and what a long ride down it was. But when I did it was the end of the day and the sun was setting after a long day hiking and that hike to this day has still remained close in my heart. One day I will re live it, when I am back living in Salt Lake!

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