9-2-06
Start: 2 mi. from Cainville, UT
Destination: 5 mi. from Torrey, UT
Elevation: 6717 ft.
Miles: 27.0
Weather: Mixed
The morning weather was perfect for hiking. We had clouds with a cool breeze blowing until about 11:00. Then the sun came out and it got hot. But that only lasted until about 4:00 - then the wind picked up and cooled things off. We actually walked into the wind for the last half of the day, but at least it kept us cool.
Mom and I saw some awesome scenery. It started with big hardened, gray sand piles, which we were told by locals haven't changed since they've lived here. It looks like it would all wash away with a couple of good rains. The big rocks that look like they fell yesterday have actually been there for a very long time. After a little while, we started into red sand piles and huge walls of rock with the Fremont River flowing and following the road. It was a gorgeous walk. We were in the Capitol Reef National Park for quite a while, and we even got a cold Coke from the Visitor's Center when we went by.
We are finding Utah to be really, really weird. Right now we are in what is considered "high desert," and there is a lot of sand and sagebrush and every plant seems to have some sort of thistle on it. There are mountains with trees, and then canyons, and the real shocker - we walked through a valley full of fruit trees today! We picked pears and apples, and they even had peach trees. The peaches were all picked, but the pears and apples were everywhere - and they were very sweet. That was a lot of fun.
Gopher and Ba-ha went with Scott from the Visitor's Center to our trail to drop water. It sounds like they had a great time, and Scott is an amazing guide! They saw all kinds of wildlife - antelope, grouse, turkeys, a snake (a dead one), mule deer, and we can't forget the cows - bulls, too. Goody for us! But they tied ribbons at all of our turns, clocked the miles for us (33 mi. to Antimony), and dropped 3 gallons of water. Those three were busy! A HUGE thank-you goes to Scott for his help, too! :)
Back at Granny's Diner, Chef Granny was cooking up Pork Chops. When we got in from our long day, we had another great meal waiting for us. It sure is going to be hard to see these guys go. We are being fed so well, and taken care of so well. I think we're having steak tomorrow! We are hiking about 10-12 miles tomorrow, running some errands, and then relaxing with the Ogema Clan. It'll be fun. It's Gopher Mary's Birthday, too - so that'll be really cool to spend that with her.
27 miles is a lot for Utah - we're beat and our feet feel like hamburger - and they don't smell so pretty, either. Anyway, bedtime. It was an Aleve kind of night - we'll be ready to go again in the morning, as always!
Sorry - Comments are disabled.