Some new material...

Ben went on a great trip down in southern Utah. This is the leprechan canyon area...

The end of a good thing

Two nights ago, in the morning hours, we pulled into our driveway groggy after a long tired drive. Two days ago, at this same time we were snuggled in our warm sleeping bags in Moab Utah up Kane Creek road. We had found a great camp site Wednesday afternoon where we could fit 16 people and still be comfortable. After we staked out claim we went exploring and hiked to the top of a few mesa's in our area. We took the dogs on this hike and needless to say, wore them out by the end. Poor 11 year old Bailey tore her front two pads and was out for the rest of the trip.

That night many people arrived, one worth mentioning...a silver Toyota pickup truck blaring it's high beems throughout camp and yelling. "Rae!" There was no mistake who had arrived. :) Despite a few interuptions sleep outside was better then any sleep recently had at home. The next morning we split up, a group to Arches and a group to bike Amasa Back. The best story to come of this bike ride is Pete's murdered shorts. They slit from bottom to crotch in the first 5 minutes of the trail. Pete had a breezy ride. The trail was fun and the new fork gave a new meaning to smooth. :)

After the bike ride and Arches trip we decided to hike to a obvious mine across the valley. we hiked up about 20 min to a large wooden structure that looked ancient by desert standards, fairly new by more wet climate standards. The structure took form as a tower of wood and nails that once used to transport some mineral to those waiting below. The mine attached to this structure was not extremely deep, but it split into many fingers and went far enough back to keep me away. Ben explored of corse and found nothing too exciting. The way down was more exciting then anything else, we went straight down a huge boulder field, hopping like mountian goats, trying to keep up with Ben. The puppes came along and did great.

That night we all went into town and ate at the best Moab Mexican restaurant then had a fire and played capture the flag with lanterns. Joel sprained his ankle and Garrett lost some skin on the rock somewhere, the usual carnage of night games.

After sleeping in, we all went climbing just down the road at the Ice Cream parlor. I was quite impressed with theis adventurous crew, they all wanted to climb, so they did. We found a couple good routes, a 5.7 and a 5.9 just 10 min from out camp site. I led the 5.7 and Josie led the 5.9, a first for Ben, not leading anything. After a few hours, everyone got a turn and we headed down the rocky approach trail and on to Goblin Valley.

Getting to Goblin Valley proved to be more of an adventure then actually being there. Ben, Pete, Joel, Andrea and I all went back to camp first to pack up and the others went on to Goblin Valley. Needless to say, we got there only 5 min after they because they all missed the big brown sign that pointed to Goblin Valley. Everyone in different cars, not even traveling together, ended up in Hanksville, about 30 miles south of Goblin. Anyway, they all called me and we got them to the right place. We all explored the little HooDoos and at the end ate So Cupcakes. Thanks Amanda and Josie. ;)

Captain Morgan

Roommate photo, cute! (Andrea, Garrett, Amanda, Ben, Sydney, Rae, Turkish)

Moab trip cont'd

BIKING: There has been interest in riding bikes so for anyone who wants to rent...Poison Spiker Bicycles has daily rentals for $40, that's the cheapest I could find, you can reserve them and I would suggest it (435) 259-7882. You can get rentals cheaper at the ORP at the U, but you would have to rent them for multiple days and haul them down, then its way more expensive.

If you are going to bike you should bring closed toed shoes (tennies are good), shorts, biking shorts if you have them, a breathable t-shirt, a helmet (if you don't have one you can get it with the rental), water bottles (at least 2), sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves (i have a few pair if needed), food (energy bars or pbj).

CARPOOLING: Anyone who can drive and is willing to drive please say "I". This will help me plan carpooling because yes, we should carpool for sure.

I also need an accurate count of who is coming, please say "ME" if you are planning on attending. :)

Here is the list of everyone going so far: Ben, Rae, Josey, Amanda, Andrea, Garrett, Cendy, Katie, Pete (Ben's bro), Desi (Rae's sis), anyone else is invited, who did I forget?

Cendy, you can park in our garage.

Moab Trip April 8-11

Okay, many people have asked for details and a gear list. Here it is...

Ben and I will be leaving Wednesday morning by 7:30am so we can be in Moab by lunch time. We will secure our campsite (its 4 wheeler weekend so its going to be busy) then we will most likely go on a hike.
Thursday will be bike day, please reply if you want to rent a bike or have your own and want to bike with us. Depending on who's coming will determine where we go. For those not biking you will do arches and hike the delicate arch then we will all meet up in the afternoon and see Canyon lands.
Friday will be climbing day and everyone can do this, we have enough stuff and we will most likely hit up wall street or the ice cream parlor (I think thats the name) Friday night we want to travel to goblin valley and camp around there and Saturday morning either hike Little Wild Horse or play with the goblins, then we will leave about 1:00pm on Saturday to head back home. Friday is still up in the air a little so, there are other options for play that day.

Here is the gear list, if you don't have any of these things, let me know and we will find it:

• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Tent (we have some and can share)
  
• tennis shoes/hiking shoes
• water bottles
• backpack/daypack
• shorts
• pants
• t-shirts and longsleeve shirts
• sweat shirt/jacket (it will be warm in the day and cold at night)
  
• socks (clean pair for each day)
• sandles or flip flops
• toiletries (we will try and get a campsite with a bathroom but no garuntees)
• towel/face towel
• pj's and underwear :)
• swimsuite in case we can poach a hot tub
• hat
  
• sunscreen
• flash light or headlamp
  
• pillow (optional)
• any gear you have (bike, climbing shoes, harness, stove, lantern, etc)

We can either go in together on food or fend for ourselves, I would appreciate some feedback on this before Monday the 6th so I can plan and go shopping at Costco if I need.

If you are going to bike let me know, I can tell you the best places to rent and what you will need to bring for that. Ben and I want to do two rides, one advanced and one intermediate...so just let me know who wants to do what.

This is going to be fun. I'm excited. Just respond to this post or give me a call. 801-520-6658.

Saturdays events

Yesterday we took part in a long standing outdoor gear tradition in Salt Lake, we sold and bought at the Black Diamond swap. This is a parking lot teaming with Subarus, Tacomas and beard laden men, dogs on leashes of webbing and carabeaners and lots of old and new killer deals. If you haven't attending this wheeling and dealing event it is a fun thing.

We (Ben, me, Mike and Mieken) set up some camping chairs and threw out our unused stuff in hopes someone else could find some value in it. We sold my old Yakima bike rack, some ski poles and pants and some skis and boots for a friend. We made sold enough to buy a few items and come home with cash. It was a good haul after all. Most exciting I have some more cash for the fork...

Heelers really heel, go figure

www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/dogwalk.htm

So we have had some issues recently with our puppies. Apparently they do exactly what they were bred to do, they heel things that run from them. This desireable trait in this active bread is amplified when there are siblings living, eating, sleeping together. They work as a team to heel and without training to hone their skills, they heel people and other dogs and anything that moves.

I found this cool website when researching our puppy breed. This particular page explains how to walk your dog and use it as a tool for training. I have been doing this such walk for a while with the puppies and I see it's benefits. I have also read a book by Cisar Milan, "The Dog Whisperer". As much as his title makes me gag, he does understand the canine and he has great words of wisdom to help creating a happy life for your pup. The biggest mistake we all apparently make is to humanize our animals. They are not humans, they do have emotions, but not like we do and their reactions to this world do not come from the same place ours do. So, remembers you dog is a dog, not a human.

Anyway, I have made a new resolution to make sure our puppies get at least one long and vigorous walk/run a day and hope to fit two in, they need as much exercise as I can give them. When you see me or pass me on the street, ask me how this is going. If you all hold me accountable it will be easier to reach my goal.

If you are a dog owner, check out this website, it was very useful.