Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge, Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Utah- March 2024

March is here and the foothills have mostly melted out. Prime time on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail! I got the family out for an adventure and we decided to get my son out to see the Suspension Bridge over Bear Canyon. The trail is snow free, but is muddy in the shady sections. This was a really enjoyable walk, including a hike through some boulders that were much like a cave! A bit more trail and we arrived at the bridge! It kind os sways side to side when you walk on it. We crossed and then found a spot to post up.

We took a nice break and my son was having a blast climbing all the granite boulders where we were. We eventually made our way out on a different trail lower on the hillside that looped us back to the start. It was a very nice trail and provided some much needed shade after descending from the BST. A really fun day hiking! Enjoy the pics and check out the YouTube video linked! More adventures to come!

Quail Trail Loop, Central Wasatch, Utah- March 2024

Spring has come early here in the Wasatch Front! I decided to take a day off the snow to get out on the trail, and peek around at the fishing holes for the Tenkara rod. The trail starts just south of the middle school at a easment in the neighborhood. As a youth we used to hike this part of the trail down to a huge chunk of granite that was moved glacially millions of years ago call "Big Rock." I decided to cut this end of the loop down to this area to see it and revisit a plave I have not been in over 30 years! After Big Rock, the creek was shallow and empty enough to cross so I did and ended up at the first step down. I crossed the creek and began investigating the fishing holes. Getting down to one of them, I slipped and fell. Upon doing so my left middle finger jammed a rock and it was pretty ouchy. I continued my hike, and made it to a spot I have seen fish previously and I actually have caught a few. It was tricky with a hurt finger, but I was able to tie one on and I got a few hits, but alas nothing landed. I packed it up and continued on to finish the loop. The trail on the south section is probably the one I would recommend taking in and out if there was high water in Little Cottonwood Creek. I would not make this a loop if it was high water. Fall and spring are the best time to attempt this hike. As I reconnected with the first section of trail, the sky was omnious with grey clouds which the sun was shinning through. A good all around hike for when the upper elevations have been reclaimed by winter. Enjoy the pics and YouTube video! More adventures to come!

Cabin Run, Mill D North, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah- March 2024

I decided for this early March storm, I would visit an old haunt that I would visit when I was first getting into backcountry and splitboarding. It once again was snowing, and I was happy to be out in it once more. The walk in was beautiful with big flakes flying and the cold wind on my face. As I rounded the corner into the drainage, the flakes picked up and really started accumulating. I found the skin track I was looking for and made my way up. The area was untouched above here and I was breaking trail till where I decided to top out! I dropped in and had a really nice run in the trees and just a nice cruise all the way out. Great day in the mountains!

Bluebird Powder Day, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah- February 2024

Finally, I got a sunny day out on the splitboard! Another February storm refilled the canvas, so you know I was not going to miss my chance to get another day out there. I navigated the canyon traffic and got a spot. I put on the boots and off I went. As I climbed it definitely seemed the wind had its way with certian aspects. Other aspects were filled in and smooth like silk. The sun was strong as it begins to be at this time of year.

It was pretty quiet out there. The spot I wanted was untouched! I made my way to the porch and then switched it all over. The ride out was really fun and fast! Bluebird Powder Days are a rarity this year so I really enjoyed this one! Enjoy the pics! For the ride home watch my YouTube video below. More adventures to come!

Absolute Blizzard Splitboarding, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah- February 2024

We got another atospheric river event that collided with a cold front and you know I was going to get out to experience it! I made my way up the canyon and got a spot! I put on the boots and headed on up. It was snowing pretty good when I made my way to the first up. By the time I got up the third angle, it was a full on blizzard. It never let up! It just snowed harder as the wind was gale force at some points. visibility was limited, and anytime you could get in the trees to get out of the wind it was a pleasant thing.

After climbing in blasting winds and snow, I made my way to the top of my line I was shooting for. I made the switchover, then it really came in. It put down a good foot in less than an hour, and it was super deep and windloaded. I dropped in but could barely see anything and was really feeling it more than seeing it on the way down. Once I got in the trees it was a little better, but not by much. I got stuck thigh deep on a flat section that I usually just cruise through on the way out. this was still visible on the way up, but completely buried now! I could not believe how much had accumulated in such a short amount of time! It was a challenging ride out, but a really fun exit with a over the head face shot on the way out! Enjoy the pics and gifs and make sure you watch my YouTube video for a live action version of this report! More adventures to come!

Splitboarding Terraces To Elbow Fork, Millcreek Canyon, Utah- February 2024

Well it snowed again, so I decided to avoid the traffic in the Cottonwoods and just roll up the road in Millcreek Canyon. It was a beautiful day, fresh snow in the trees and the sound of running water. This was not a hard ski trail, it was just a walk from the gate at Terraces to Elbow Fork. Nice to get familiar with the area and I will for sure come back for a bigger adventure. The ride out was pretty mellow and just nice to be sliding on snow! Enjoy the pics and be sure to watch my YouTube video from this day!

Splitboarding Grizzly Gulch, Wasatch Mountains, Utah- February 2024

Finally back at it! A storm moved into the area and I decided it was time to get after it. The snow on the way up was nice, just enough fresh to keep the skin track from being icy! I made the climb as the snow became more intense. After a while I finally topped out. The ride home was a mix of powder, wind buff and wind scrubbed surfaces. Still a really great day on the splitboard! Enjoy the pics and watch my YouTube video for the full experience! More adventures to come!

Little Cottonwood Trail, Wasatch National Forest, Utah- January 2024

I have been looking for a new winter hike and I found it! The Little Cottonwood Trail here in the Wasatch! It is a great trail to microspike and you get that winter feel with being in the shadow of the mountain the whole time.

I made my way up the trail, paralelling the creek and really just enjoying being outside. I came to a massive boulder, and decided to hang out by the creek and just take in the area and the running water was so soothing! After a bit it was time to head out. The walk out of the spikes was very nice and just a great day on the spikes! Enjoy the pics, and make sure you watch my YouTube video from this day! More adventures to come!

First Hike Of 2024!

2024 started off a sub par snow season. We went over 25 days without a snow storm. Add to that near record temperatures and it was basically an extended fall. I did 56 hikes in 2023. That is more than one a week. So I took some time off for the holidays. Needing to get out and stretch the legs, it was time to hit the trail. Bells Canyon was well below the snow line, so I figured pack the microspikes and head up. The trail to the lake was dirt. One little section crossing the bridge had packed snow on it. But it was so dirt covered it wasn't even splippery. Up the switchbacks with a birds eye view of the valley since the south winds had moved the inversion north. One last switchback, and then it was up to the lake.

Once I arrived at the lake, I saw that the water was really low and frozen over, so that took fly fishing off the plans for the day. But I was having such a nice walk, I decided to put on the microspikes and do a loop above the lake. It was packed snow for most of the trail. There were some icy sections, but they were short lived. There were big patches of ground in the sun that had no snow. Most of the trails were packed snow. After making my way up to my spot, I continued the loop out across the creek. Compared to last year at this time I could not believe the lack of snow! One final descent to the lake and off with the spikes. It was dirt trail all the way out. This marks the first time ever I have hiked Bells Canyon in January. I have been up here every other month of the year, this noe makes it all 12 months I have now done a hike in this place. Enjoy the pics and check out the YouTube video I made from this hike. More adventures to come!