Timmy's Graduation Trip

 For Timmy's graduation trip with the Stapletons, I suggested that he should go to Utah.  While all of the southern Utah stuff seems pretty standard for me and my family, it's pretty dang exotic for Timmy.  So Dan planned out a nice little roadtrip for us.  We started out driving through the BYU campus so that he can check it out, even though he won't be going there for a few years.,

We first headed down to Bryce.  On the way, we checked out Red Canyon and hiked around a bit

Then we spent a few days at Bryce.  We hiked the Fairyland trail, Queen's Garden to Navajo Loop, and drove the entire canyon.  It was pretty cold still, which I prefer more than the heat.

We left for Escalante, but stopped at Willis Canyon, Kodachrome State Park, and Petrified Forrest State park.  

The next day, we went out on hole-in-the-rock road and hiked Peekaboo Canyon and then hit Spooky.  We got a bit turned around and ended up going up Spooky the wrong direction.  I was getting a little claustrophobic, and then when we started having to pass people I just couldn't take it so we turned around.  Pretty wussy:)

Hoe-in-the-rock roded is a bear by the way.  It is so wash-boarded that it is pretty hard to go faster than 15 mph.  I did this last year when I went into Coyote Gulch in an old Subaru Forrester.  I thought that the truck would be better.  It was, but not by much.  It was still a bear!

We decided that we wanted to try to pop into Coyote Gulch after Spooky.  My dad was awesome enough to drive us all the way out and then wait for us while we popped in.  We hiked straight on the direct route, following the Cairns in the open dessert.  We found the drop in and approached.  We were really haulin', trying the minimize the time my dad had to wait in the truck.

I brought some strapping as a backup and Timmy and I downclimbed to the bottom. It was awesome seeing the contrast of the greenery in the canyon vs the barren wasteland out of the canyon.

We had like 20 minutes to check out the canyon.  I have been there a bunch and have a lot of memories there, so it was fun to talk with Timmy about it.  One of my favorite places on earth!!!

Tacos in Escalante afterwards!

The next day we went to Capital Reef, stopping at Calf Creek along the way.

Then we headed to Capital Reef, checked out the views

drove around the park and found this cool little canyon

We hiked the Grand Wash, and took the detour to Cassidy Arch, which was also quite a haul.  We practically ran up the steep trail and ran back.  Here's the arch from the other side of the canyon.

Then we hiked Capital Gorge, and took a small detour to these really cool pools:

On the way back we went through the classic Goblin Valley!  It was a great trip, and super thankful for my parents for taking us!

Backpacking with Goggs

I don't really know why, but I really enjoy winter backpacking.  It's hard and there are a lot of things to figure out to make a good trip.  Unfortunately, my enjoyment spills out to the other unfortunate members of my family.  Goggs and I went for an overnighter to Liberty Springs Tentsite.  It's something like a 3.4 mile hike, with the last mile being very AT-White Mountains steep.  There was a big storm warning, but we decided we were up for it.

On the way in, it was ICY!  The snow had melted in the last few days of warmth, and then re-frozen just for us!  We knew we were going to get some snow overnight, so we dragged out the snowshoes too.  Always tough to decide exactly what to bring on these things, and I always have decision paralysis in the parking lot!  

I've determined that the way to have a good time is to keep the clothes light and breathable on the hike in, so that you are pretty cold in the parking lot but heat up about 20 minutes in to minimize sweating.  Two pads, a sleeping bag, and an extra blanket is a must, and a total change of clothes to sleep in is nice to get the moisture out.  I always struggle with getting fuel to burn at these below-freezing temps, but I built a little cardboard fuel insulator and it worked good enough.  

Here's Goggs on the on-set, fully loaded and off to the races.

I don't have pics of the evening because we didn't get to camp until after dark.  I knew there was going to be a storm overnight with wind and snow, so I spent a lot of time getting the tent very tight and put an extra tarp on the wind side to help with the snow load.  Not sure if it was necessary or not.  One thing that was critical was extra rope and I bought some ice screws a few years back.  Super heavy, but I couldn't have gotten normal stakes into the ice.  Another notable thing: we pitched on a 10-20 deg incline because of how the ice had formed.  I thought it would be killer, but we just put our backpacks underneath us on the downhill side and that seemed to keep us from sliding.  After setting up camp, eating, changing, and settling in, I got to bed around 11:30, which is way late for a winter camp!

In the night a few bathroom trips for both of us were rather chilly, but we both slept well and warm.  The night time low was 14 degrees, and with an extra down quilt I was pretty toasty.  I tried to shake the snow off of the tent every time I woke up, and here is the scene we woke up to: 

We slept in as late as we could to let everything warm up, and then packed up and made our way down.  Here's us before we started hiking:

Notice that we were smiling.  This didn't last long.  While I felt pretty prepared with the gear, I don't think either of us were prepared physically.  Day 2 we were super sore, the trail was steep, and there is a lot of extra gear to bring in the winter.  I wish we would have summitted Mt. Liberty, but in the end I was glad that we just made it down.  Here's a pic of Goggs at the end of her rope on the ground eating snow because we didn't want to stop to pump water:

And finally we were the only car in the parking lot that was had braved the night and was covered in snow!  Oh, and we could smile again once the car was in sight.  Funny how that happens.  Shakes on the way home didn't hurt either.

The day after in church we were so sore that neither of us wanted to get up at the end of sacrament meeting.  Goggs asked me if this is what being an old man was like.  I said it was, and that she should be nicer to old men like me because we always feel like she feels right now.  Always.  

Just a fun picture!

Cora 

August 2019

Age 6

and for a 6 years later comparison.....

Cora

November 2025

Age 12

Our Utah Christmas Trip Part 6: The final weekend

We ventured into Wyoming and back into Utah on our drive North to Bear Lake.

Murdock's was a favorite accidental stop

So western!

We were greeted with an amazing steak dinner by Papa Tim!  And the kids watched Star Trek.

The Bear Lake Cabin - watching a movie

 

Our big activity at Bear Lake was to SKI THE BEAV

I skiied here in the 90s just once and it was just the same as it was in the 60s.  Quaint.  Small.

They just opened a new lodge this year.  It's been known as a small lesser known resort until just recently.  During COVID it became quite popular when people realized what great prices they had, and less restrictions during the pandemic too.

This was the first year when Beaver Mountain was not open during Christmas since 1972!

They just opened two days before we arrived finally.

Very beautiful!  We were thankful there was finally enough snow to ski.

Scott even came for the afternoon!

This was the ski rental with the vintage boots and Beaver. :)

We have never bought tickets and rented skiis at a resort before.    We always have some deal and our used gear and homemade lunch.

It was a huge splurge, but something the kids definitely wanted to try.  I'm glad we went.  We still brought a homemade lunch, but it was interesting to just walk up, get your gear and return it after the day was done....instead of hauling it to your car.

They had a new RFID system that was super glitchy.

It took an hour just to buy tickets and rentals the night before...... even with no line at all.  There were SO many issues to print the cards and just to get us in the system.

That was nice to have done, because on Saturday, we just had to get the rental then.....

not wait in line for it.

Sunday, we attended church, had an amazing lunch that Papa Tim made....RIBS!!  And then we packed and cleaned up and drove back to SLC.

We hung out at the sandy home for a couple of hours and then went to the airport.  Our flight was delayed nearly an hour, but we made it home in one piece!  Barely!  :)  Those red eye flights are brutal. :)

Amazing trip!  Amazing people!   We appreciated everyone's hospitality SOOOO much!  What a memorable Christmas and tour of Utah!  Thank you so much to our family and friends!   HAPPY 2026!

Christmas Trip to Utah Part 5: Utah County

 

We bid a fond farewell to Grandma and Grandpa and headed North again

We stopped in to see our dear friends, the Bursell's in their new Mapleton home.

It was wonderful to see them!  We miss them in New Hampshire, but are so happy that they are close to their daughter Emma, and closer to Dave's work and both of their parents, who all live out West.

We also had to stop in and see Christa, Kent and family!

My kids loved their home and hanging out!

I had to play Studio C's "Delivery" to Ollie the next day and say "Look!  You've been there! Remember?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MdQPAifDu0

I also loved showing Cora how they have stairs that go up one side of the house and come down the other side.  It's seriously cool!

I was dying to see Mel and Adam's new townhome

Adam has nearly 100% gutted and replaced everything in it.  There's very little he didn't newly install. It looks great and has a fantastic city view!

Scotty - don't these look like something you want to make. :)

Brand new shower

City views with a hiking trail right next to the house too!

The secret panels

The kids are sad that Melissa and Adam are selling their cool house.....they begged Uncle Adam to show them all the secrets of the house one more time!

The secret murphy bed

The secret bookcase

The theatre room will be missed!

Adam thinks of the most fun ways to make something boring .....magical!

And all the fun climbing