#2 Elephant Rock

" Write it on your heart that everyday 

is the best day in the year." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

January 9, 2016. It was 32 degrees. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, this will show how truly un-adventurous I have previously been, I didn't know that people went hiking in the winter! Ha! Now I've said it! When Max and I went to Elephant Rock I saw that my thinking that hiking wasn't a year round sport was very mis-guided! I love to hike and usually wait for the snow to melt so I can get back at it. The trail to Elephant Rock is well traveled. It is loved year round (Who Knew!- everyone but me apparently). We hiked in January and were laden with equipment that was mostly not needed because the trail is packed. Many of our fellow travelers that day, and there were many, were jogging in their sneakers up the snow packed hill, some were snow shoeing, some had on shoe claws and some wore snow boots. The higher we hiked, the more snow shoes were needed to pack down the deep snow. Not everyone is trying for Elephant Rock. There are lots of joggers that just go a mile or two. At Elephant Rock there are a couple of benches. We brushed off the snow and were about to sit down when a group of 8 or so women came up. We hiked just past the benches, hubby built a snow bench (or shelf) we put down our bum pads and had our lunch.(See equipment list below for more info on bum pads- make yourself one!) We wore snow shoes for a couple of miles heading down, just for the experience! It was a wonderful hike! When I heard 6.8 miles I wasn't sure I could go that distance but it was great and not too difficult. I would hike to Elephant Rock again! There are several different trails in Muller Park. 

 The hike is 6.8 miles round trip. The trail starts out in Muller Park in Bountiful, Utah at 5230 feet elevation. Elephant Rock is at 6255 feet. It's considered a moderate hike. 

Check it out on http:alltrails.com

What a beautiful day!

See that snow covered rock down there? That's it! Elephant Rock

This trail is a short distance from our home (25 minutes?) You don't have to travel far to have some serious winter fun!

A shelter we found on the way back down . We both didn't even see it going up! It was a short way off the trail.

What I took on this hike:

1. Clothing:

    a.  thermals, hiking pants

    b.  shirt and vest

    c.  coat, hat, gloves

 2.  Snow boots and gaiters

 3.  Trekking poles, snow shoes

 4.  Trail lunch, water, bum pad (closed cell foam pad - cut to a 12x12 square to sit on)

 5. Sunglasses

 6. Bandana (for nose), lip balm, hand sanitizer

 7. A buddy. I took my husband Max

 8. Cell phone for pics- you could also download the app found on alltrails.com to help you get there 

#3 Green Pond

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at,

but a manner of traveling."

Margaret Lee Runbeck

I'm excited about this one! A night hike to Green Pond. This trail is up by Snow Basin Ski Resort. This adventure was born out of a desire to find a place to go night snowshoeing. This is a trail we have taken our family on a couple of times in the fall. It isn't very long, .75 each way, nor very strenuous but it's covered in trees and has a great pond at the end for a picnic. 

At night I found that I was a bit more nervous than I expected. I wanted my husband to stay close because I started to scare myself with thoughts of the wild animals that were probably all around us. My husband assured me they were bedded down and I had nothing to worry about. Just a little paranoia. It was a beautiful night. Down in the valley we have inversions in the winter. Up in the mountains the air was clear and oh those stars! So many stars! Beautiful, peaceful, night. 

As we were driving back home the temperature showed it was 0 degrees. I was hoping it would drop one more, just because,  but no luck. It was cold according to the thermometer but we were dressed just right and I wasn't cold at all. 

My first time ever night snowshoeing!

The other exciting part about this adventure is that I got to repeat it twice at night and twice during the day with some of my friends! I love how others are wanting to try out some of my adventures. I loved sharing this trail with them.

At the Pond. There it is under the snow!

 Here's an article about the trail with  summer pics so you can see how beautiful it is when the trees are leafy and green!  http://www.sltrib.com/coolstuff/

Night time winter equipment for a short hike:

1.  Dress for the weather
     a.  Thermals
     b.  Snow pants
      c.  Warm shirt or sweater
     d.  Coat, gloves, hat, scarf
2.  Snow shoes
3.  Headlamp or flashlight
4.  Trekking poles, optional
5.  We had taken a sled with a fire barrel, wood and lighter. We propped the fire barrel on some wood. It was a fun treat to have some hot chocolate at Green Pond. You could also have a thermos full in the car for when you finish.
6.  Water to drink, always a necessity!
7.  Take a buddy. It's more fun and safer too.

Day time winter equipment for a short hike:

1.  Dress for the weather
     a.  snow pants
     b.  warm shirt
     c.  coat, gloves, hat
2.  Snow shoes
3.  Trekking poles, optional
4.  Water to drink
5.  Sunglasses
6.  A buddy- it's a lot more fun to go with a friend or two or 15!

#1 Donut Falls

January 1, 2016 . What a great way to start my adventures! Blue sky, brisk and beautiful! The hike to Donut Falls was perfect! It is a short hike (.5 miles each way) and not steep until the end. We took snowshoes and I had my shoe claws- not their official name- but they weren't needed on the well worn trail until the snow got deeper and the trail steeper right before the hill up to the cave. At times we stepped through the snow a few feet or slipped on icy spots. Inside the cave it is unbelievably beautiful! So worth the winter weather to see it in this glorious way! The falls come through a hole in the top of the cave and they are partially frozen so icicles cascade down from the ceiling and the water flows in. The inside of the walls are frosty. Donut Falls is a popular hike, especially in the Spring and Fall, but I'm glad we went in the winter because it's breathtaking! All the way back down we were treated with snow laden trees and beautiful vistas of majestic mountains. Beautiful eye candy!

Me and hubby inside the cave with the awesome partially frozen waterfall in the background


Check out this trail on utah.com

My suggested list on what to take on this hike:

1.  Dress according to the weather-

      a. I had on thermals

      b. warm fleece pants

      c. a shirt and vest

      d. a  coat, scarf, gloves

      e. ear band and hat 

      f.  snow boots and gaiters...a new thing I was trying out.      They were warm and kept my legs dry. I love them!

2.  Shoe claws and snowshoes (didn't need the snowshoes)

3.  Water and snacks (especially if you have kids along!)

4.  Hubby had trekking poles...good idea
5.  Take a buddy! I had my husband Max and we had our friend Matt along too.
6.  I always take along a bandana (or tissues), lip balm and hand sanitizer in my pockets
7.  Sunglasses- a must!

                            

Can't beat this after hike reward!

So fun! I'm adding this hike to my annul calendar!

    

                                       

                                                   

My 50 Adventures!

I'm turning 50 this year! Whoa! How did that happen? Right after my 49th birthday I started thinking about what I could do to make my 50th year something to look forward to instead of dread. I decided that I was going to leap out of my comfort zone and try 50 adventures. I've never been super adventurous, to my husband's dismay, but decided this would be a fun way to enrich my milestone year! The wheels started turning and I started making a list of some possible adventures I wanted to try.  At first, I came up with 23 ideas, then 48.  I was a little nervous but the closer it got the more I wanted to do it! I began this journey January 1, 2016. When I tell people about my adventures they either get really excited and want to have some adventures themselves or they say, "You Go Girl! Better you than me!" I'm going to share my adventures with you, thanks to my friends wanting to enjoy this journey with me, and I hope it will inspire you to get out and have some fun! My adventures are probably going to be close to home. This adventuring has really opened my eyes! I'm lucky to live in a four-season climate. I'm convinced that wherever you live and whoever you are...you too can have some fabulous adventures! A great place to start looking for ideas is your city's or state's website. Many list fun places to go. If you have National Parks or State Parks you want to visit, check them out as well.  Let's Go Adventure!