Many Pools

Waterfall at the typically dry dryfall.

Frog Canyon

Frog Canyon: Hurricane Utah
With Renee (Wife) and Niah (Toddler) taking a nap I decided I had a couple hours to quickly explore a local canyon. I spotted the canyon last year on a hike to Molly's Nipple and had wanted to explore the canyon and area below the nipple. I also believe there was a TR I read on bogley but they started from the top and repelled down. It is an easy hike into the canyon itself but I quickly came up to an unclimable dry fall.









Dryfall 1

By backtracking a couple hundred yards I was able to scramble up and around the dryfall (also found a trail up to Molly's Nipple, the first time I hiked to the Nip we drove around the backside).

I then decended back into the canyon. Right above the first dry fall I found several waterpockets this was my favorite part of the hike.






Hiking back up the canyon I came upon another dryfall. At the base of the dryfall was a pretty stagnant pool.




Inbetween the two dry falls was a bit eery as there were quite a few bones, and Coyote (?) tracks





Once again I backtracked up and around the dryfall. After the second dry fall the cliffs became higher and the canyon become wider. The solitude also increased drastically! I havent hiked alone in quite some time and the silence of Frog Canyon was impressive.



It turned out to be about a 2 1/2 hour hike and I figure I hiked aboud 4 miles out
and back.

Some more pics



.

Fall Break

Every once in a while I need a reminder of why I am a teacher. Fall break happens to be one of these reminders! At first I had some big plans. I almost quit job number 2 because I was offered a ride into the maze (still thinking I should have quit), but because of low funds and family coming down I decided to stay close to home fortunately I live near the mecca of Zion!

Day 1- After work I grabbed my visiting nephew to hike East Northgate Peak. I have hiked to the viewpoint but never scrambled to the peak. What an amazing, fun, quick hike. In just under an hour I was standing on top a peak with an amazing view of the more remote sections of Z.N.P. and the best part was I only saw one other person! Next time I will try the more difficult West Northgate Peak.

The drive home also was spectacular!

Day 2- Took the nephews to Kolob Reservoir to skip rocks. If you live near Kolob I highly recommend taking a drive right now to see the fall colors. The colors were brighter than I remember for several years.

After going to the lake we drove down to just above the Hop Valley Trailhead and hiked to the hoodoos just of Kolob Terrace Road.

Day 3-
In an attempt to brainwash my 17 month old daughter into becoming a hiker (I recently noticed she was enthralled with one of those corny cheerleader/dance movies that was on TV. I do not want a cheerleader for a daughter so I am attempting to turn her into a hiker by making her hike IDK?? ) The wife, baby and I decided to hit up the East Side of ZNP and hike to Hidden Gardens (thanks Tonya site for the suggestion it was a fun hike!) Niah (daughter) loved the hike, well mostly to play in the sand and pick up rocks anyway. Basically I carried her whenever we needed to move but she still had a blast!

 

Day 4: Went fishing with my good amigo Kyle Ballard. We didnt catch anything but had a fun time! 

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!