Ice Feathers and Frozen Toes

I can't get my little Subaru in the parking lot at the Beus Canyon Trail Head because it gets high-centered in the snow berm the plow throws up over the entrance and so I've been concentrating on Taylor Canyon at the top of 27th St.

It's been beautiful for the past few days. Lots of new snow and cold cold cold. I haven't been walking up the canyon itself. I've been veering off to the right and angling up the mountain on the trail that leads to Waterfall Canyon. I actually made a loop the other day; going to Waterfall on the upper trail and then returning to Taylor on the lower one. It took me about an hour and a half because I was on breakable crust for about a third of the way.

Today I only had a little time so I hiked to an overlook above the condominiums at the top of 29th street and then returned. There was 6-8 inches of new, powdery snow and the top of this new layer was covered with ice crystals that were shaped like the tips of feathers. The sun sparkled off of them big-time but I won't say it looked like diamonds. It did, but saying so would be trite.

Still Out There

I haven't been posting, but I have been walking. The end of the year is a zoo at work and in life. I suppose I could have taken 15 minutes once in a while to post to this weblog but...I didn't. Sue me.

I have been to the gym once or twice in the last month. I've been on a hike 3-5 times a week. The snow has been piling up and walking is more difficult. That's OK though, I'm walking because it's difficult. I don't get as far these days since walking on the snow, even when it's been packed down by snowshoers, is like walking on sand.

These pics are from Waterfall Canyon. I started up from the 29th street trail head, thinking I'd see if the sign with the phone number for information on the via ferratas in the canyon was still there. (No.) But it took only 20 minutes to get there and since the beaten path continued up the canyon I decided to go another 10. In ten minutes it seemed like I should just about see the frozen waterfall if I got around the next bend. Actually it took another 15 minutes and several bends and by that time I figured I needed to walk right up to it. There was only a little water trickling behind the ice. There were some smaller chunks that broke off and fell while I was there, along with a few rocks from the cliffs surrounding the falls. If you go here in winter, you need to stay well away from the ice unless you know lots about ice and physics and etc. I've been up here in winter and seen some biblical chunks of ice come crashing down. But even a fist-sized chunk falling 100 feet and making its acquaintance with the top of your head will get you in the newspaper. (Obituaries.)

Great place for a hike though. I think I'm going to stop paying the Ogden Athletic Club every month and just ignoring them. I've proved to myself that I'll hike in any weather. No need to go indoors.