Left Fork of North Creek AKA the Subway!!!!!

There are a few rules that I tend to live by
Rule #1- Do not talk about fight club
Rule #2- Do not talk about fight club
Rule #3- When subway permits are offered, take them!!! Fortunately I was able to follow rule #3 a couple weeks ago. My buddy Evan Campbell called and basically said, "Dude, I have Subway permits and you are going!"  and I was like "Dude, Rule # 3 mandates I go." (Yes, I teach middle school) We (Rory, Evan, Clay and myself) met early and were the first ones on the trail and we didnt see a soul until more than halfway through the hike, they started from the bottom.  That meant we had oodles of time to goof around, swim, jump in the deep pools, go under the waterfalls, swim beneath underwater arches, make fun of Evan for being cold, take lots of pictures, etc, etc, etc! I have hiked the Subway four times, but this was the first time as an adult (I guess I could be called that now but I dont know for sure :) ) Before it was a fun hike, splashing, repelling, swimming, etc, as an adult it is all those things and more. In fact it is difficult if not impossible to accurately describe it.

Cave Valley Part Deux

Renee's "Crazy Canadian Aunt Kaye" sent me a text telling me that if I did any hiking over labor day she wanted in. Heck all I need is someone to say they want to go and I'll find a hike! I decided to take Kaye (Crystal and Jon also tagged along) to the Cave Valley Pictographs in Zion National Park just off Kolob Terrace Road. It is a short hike and pretty unique pictographs. The hike was enjoyable as usual especially since I found an arrowhead. Of course this being in the National Park I left it, ok really I buried it so nobody else could find it!

After finding the pictographs I ran back as fast as I could so I could go explore and look for another cave with archeological artifacts. I didnt follow the instructions to this gave given to me by good friend KDIDDY B but rather made my own trail. This was a huge mistake as I cut the heck out of my legs. I had little bleeding scratches all over them from running, ok I probably looked more like an elephant pushing through the undergrowth! I did find the cave but am not sure it was worth the blood lost :)

Perhaps even more rewarding was the flora along Kolob Terrace Road. I have never seen as many sunflowers blooming as there are this year. If anyone has some free time and doesnt like to get too far out of the car but want to see an amazing natural wonder drive up there!