San Rafael Swell, Utah - Camping

Tim and Brett invited me to join them for a quick weekend trip to the San Rafael Swell to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather.  We welcomed the arrival of spring with a camping trip to the same area several months earlier, so it seemed fitting to say goodbye to the warm weather with a similar trip.  We left Salt Lake on Friday afternoon and headed south, arriving in the San Rafael Swell a few hours later, greeted by red and white sandstone cliffs and hints of golden yellow foliage.  Tim and Brett have a favorite camping spot in Buckhorn Draw, and we found the site unoccupied when we arrived.  We quickly set up camp and enjoyed  the rest of the evening watching the shadows and light of sunset move across the canyon walls.

Tim and Brett setting up camp in Buckhorn Draw

My tent in Buckhorn Draw

Camping in Buckhorn Draw

Sunset in Buckhorn Draw

It was a clear, cold night, and our camping area was shaded well into the morning by the surrounding cliffs.  I decided to explore the surrounding area with my morning coffee and chase the sunshine to warm up.  With no wind and no people, the silence was remarkable.  The sagebrush, with its carpet of yellow flowers, filled the canyon bottom and signaled the arrival of autumn.

Buckhorn Draw

The sandstone cliffs of Buckhorn Draw

Flowering sagebrush

After a morning drive on several of the endless dirt roads in the area, we returned to camp with a pile of abandoned firewood that we planned to use that night.  I wandered into a small side canyon above our campsite and found the perfect rock for a nap in the warm sunshine. For me, there is a level of relaxation that only comes from being in the desert.

Side canyon above camp

Side canyon above camp

As the air cooled in the late afternoon, we started our fire and ate dinner while watching the sun set.  Later that night, a nearly full moon rose over the surrounding cliffs, illuminating the canyon in pale, white light.

Evening fire

Tim and Brett prepare their dinner

Vegan dinner prep and beer for me

Tim and Brett

Sunset at our campsite

As we made our way home on Sunday, we made a detour through Joe's Valley, a secluded mountain valley with a picturesque reservoir.  After some harrowing moments in deep mud on the Skyline Drive, we made it down to Ephraim and finally back home to Salt Lake City.  A big thanks to Tim and Brett for inviting me along on a great camping trip to the desert!

Joe's Valley Reservoir

Joe's Valley Reservoir

Tim at Joe's Valley Reservoir

Silver Falls State Park, Oregon - Hiking (and not running)

The Silver Falls 50K was my most difficult race because I decided not to run.  I fell and sprained my ankle while running last month, and despite the fact that nearly all of the pain and swelling had disappeared by November, I knew I wasn't ready for 31 miles of trail.  My plane ticket was purchased and I was still looking forward to visiting with Keith and Melissa in Portland, so I flew up to Oregon on Thursday night and spent the weekend with them at Silver Falls State Park.  It was heartbreaking to feel the excitement of race day, watch people run, and see the emotions at the finish line as I sat on the sidelines, unable to participate but wanting to so badly.  At the same time, it was a wonderful reminder of how thankful I am to have the health and ability to run despite an occasional setback or injury.  While Keith and Melissa were running, I had the opportunity to hike along some of the trails of the park.  It was a spectacular place!

South Falls

Keith ran the full marathon on Saturday and Melissa ran the half on Sunday.  They both had excellent races and I think they surprised themselves at how well they ran in their first trail races.  Congratulations to both of them!

South Falls

Walking behind South Falls

Lower South Falls

Foliage

Lower North Falls

Our cabin for the weekend

Sedona and the Superstition Mountains, Arizona - Hiking

The primary reason for this trip to Arizona was to see one of Roger's favorite bands, Atl-J, perform in Phoenix on Wednesday night.  This meant the trip was a little more luxurious than previous trips to Arizona, with a hotel room instead of a tent, and some moderate day hikes when we weren't relaxing by the pool.  Our plan for Thursday was to head north to the tourist mecca of Sedona and hike one of the most popular hikes in the area, the West Fork of Oak Creek.

Sedona, AZ at sunset

Just north of Sedona, AZ

Sedona, AZ

We though we might be able to avoid the crowds by hiking on a Thursday morning, but the small parking lot at the West Fork trail head was completely full when we arrived, with several cars ahead of us waiting for other cars to leave.  We considered hiking another trail, but the parking areas we passed along the way were packed with cars as well.  We decided to wait, and it wasn't long before enough people left for us to park and begin our hike.  I was anticipating tons of people crowding the trail, but groups were spaced enough to make the hike enjoyable.  The leaves were just beginning to change, but there were a few patches of brilliant color below the towering red and white cliffs.

Some foliage along the trail

West Fork of Oak Creek

West Fork of Oak Creek

Beautiful canyon scenery

The trail crossed the West Fork of Oak Creek several times, but it was easy to avoid wet feet by hopping from rock to rock.  We made it to the end of the official trail, about 3.5 miles from the trail head, where the canyon becomes tunnel like, similar to the Subway of Zion National Park.  We continued upstream for a while, walking through the river bed and patches of dense brush, before eventually turning around so that we could finish the hike before dark.

 End of the official trail

West Fork of Oak Creek tunnel section

Roger trudging through the mud

West Fork of Oak Creek

West Fork of Oak Creek

Roger avoiding wet feet

The weather was stormy on Friday, so we spent the day in the community of Cave Creek exploring some interesting shops and galleries.  Later that night, we met up with one of Roger's friends for dinner.  The weather was better on Saturday morning, so we headed east to the Superstition Mountains to hike near Canyon Lake.  The road to Canyon Lake passed Lost Dutchman State Park, bringing back memories of our snowy New Year adventure that we had there.  The scenery was spectacular as we drove to Canyon Lake Marina, and soon we were hiking on the Boulder Canyon Trail with great views of the reservoir below.

Canyon Lake from the Boulder Canyon Trail

View of the Weavers Needle

Roger on the Boulder Canyon Trail

Boulder Canyon Trail

The trail climbed steadily from the trail head to the highest point of the hike, eventually treating us to spectacular views of the Superstition Mountains, the Weavers Needle, and Battleship Mountain.  The trail  descended to the dry river bed of La Barge Canyon just before reaching the base of Battleship Mountain.

Boulder Canyon Trail

Descending into La Barge Canyon

Battleship Mountain

La Barge Canyon

We hiked up the dry river bed of La Barge Canyon for a bit before turning around as storm clouds began to build around us.  It looked like rain was heading our way, but we made it back to the trail head without getting wet.

La Barge Canyon

Potholes of water in La Barge Canyon

La Barge Canyon

Ocotillo leafing out from recent rains

Diamond Fork Canyon, Utah - Trail Running and Camping

Diamond Fork Canyon is a place I've passed numerous times on the way to somewhere else, most often on the way to Moab.  Diamond Fork branches off highway 6 between Spanish Fork and Price, but it never seemed as exciting as the red rock canyons waiting three hours down the road.  Diamond Fork Hot Springs, also known as Fifth Water Hot Springs, have been on my to-do list for a long time, but their popularity and resulting crowds have always been a turnoff.

Roger signed up for a canyoneering and climbing course that took place in Diamond Fork over the weekend.  When I found out they were camping in the canyon at the Diamond Campground, I decided to join.  Not for the climbing and canyoneering, but for some relaxing camping, foliage viewing, and trail running.  A much shorter drive than our typical adventures, we arrived at the campground just before sunset on Friday night.  The foliage was peak, and the cottonwood trees were radiating a brilliant yellow all over the campground.

Diamond campground foliage

Diamond campground foliage

While Roger was climbing on Saturday, I took advantage of the gorgeous autumn weather to do a 20 mile trail run.  Starting from the campground, I headed up the canyon road for a couple of miles and then onto a trail at Monks Hollow.  It was a rigorous climb the entire way out, but the views were spectacular and the foliage was impressive for Utah.  Aside from two people on an ATV, I had the entire area to myself.

Cottonwood trees at Diamond campground

Foliage in Monks Hollow

Trail running in Monks Hollow

Foliage in Monks Hollow

Diamond Fork River

I didn't make it to the hot springs as I had planned on Sunday.  The weather turned much cooler and wetter, and it was a bit of a hike along the road to get to the hot spring trail head.  Instead, I relaxed at camp, read a book, and watched the cottonwood trees shed their golden leaves.  It was probably crowded at the hot springs, anyway.