South Fork of the Snake

We put together a last minute river trip over the weekend and headed back to Idaho to float the South Fork of the Snake. We floated the roadless section for 3 days and had an amazing time. Everett couldn't get enough of his first trip on a river. Between Sedona wanting to learn how to row the boat and Everett wanting to cast dads fly rod all day it was a busy 3 days.

Snake River Scenery

Me and Everett fishing the gravel bars

Family photo

Everett enjoying his camp chair in the boat.

Sedona trying out the oars.

Middle Fork 2009

After a 6 year hiatus we finally made it back to the Middle Fork. I might be a little bias but the Middle Fork of the Salmon is "the best" multi-day river journey ever created, and after nearly 50 runs through it's corridor I am still amazed and in aw of it's beauty. Sure there are other great river trips out there, but none have the diversity of the Middle Fork- Gin clear water, mountains, hot springs, incredible fishing, animals everywhere, mild temperatures, and tons of rapids.

This is when people started grabbing for fly rods

Stalking West Slope Cutthroat in Big Creek

Jenn, Mckell and Bri enjoying Sunflower hot springs

Tyty making the drop and dodging logs in Tappan III

Jenn hiking up Loon Creek to visit the hot springs

Intense Bacci Balling at Elk Bar

Lake Creek burnt forest

Why I love my wife

When Jenn told me she wanted to Climb Mexican Mountain for our 10yr. wedding anniversary I didn't argue and started packing my gear.  Nothing beats a great weekend in the desert.  Mexican Mtn. is a remote mesa in the San Rafael Swell that sits on a large bend in the river between the Black Boxes of the San Rafael River. 

The route requires a little climbing, a little rappelling and allot of steep hiking but well worth the effort. Spending the night on its summit gazing at the stars is an unforgettable experience. 

Crossing the San Rafael river

 Jenn 1/2 way up the route walking beneath the windgate santone

 

 Traversing the slickrock ramps

 Our camp atop the mesa just below the summit

 Enjoying the views

Summit of Mexican Mtn.

Mystery solved, Legend continues...

After reading the new article last week that someone had found the remains of Everett Ruess I still had my doubts. Today all doubts were put aside. DNA tests now confirm that the remains were indeed that of Everett Ruess the "patron saint of the red rock wilderness".

I have mixed feelings about this new discovery. Part of me liked the whole mystique about this 20 yr. old vagabond, flippin' the bird at society and heading to the desert to live life how he envisioned and disappearing forever. In the end though I guess its his vision and ideas that intrigue me the most.  Long live NEMO!

"say that i starved, that i was lost and weary 

that i was burned and blinded by the desert sun 

footsore, thirsty, sick with strange diseases, 

lonely and wet and cold, but that i kept my dream! " 

— Everett Ruess

Everett Ruess Found?

Has the mystery been solved? Although I have my doubts as to this story and the whereabouts of Ruess-the ultimate Wilderness Vagabond. It does seem possible. I can't wait to read the full story.

http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/04/everett-ruess/david-roberts-text

April Powder

Another week of 25+ inches at Parleys summit. The Wasatch has been getting pounded with storms over the last 10 days, I was able to get out Friday morning to try out the snow from the last wave of storms. Spring skiing this year in the Wasatch has been about as good as it gets.

Turns

Turns

More Turns

Sun starting to peek throught the storm

Argenta BCC

This morning we skied Argenta in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Argenta is an infamous avalanche path that lay quiet for 50 yrs until 1996 when it came alive and ripped out all the way to the road burying it with a 50 ft wall of snow and old growth timber. Now days conditions permitting it's a 2500 vertical foot natural ski resort( minus the lifts and people of course). Todd gets the "Committed to the Core" award today for getting out and skiing with me while fighting off a fever and flu symptoms.

Summit Park

This is the only photo that remotely worked on my temperamental camera today. Todd enjoying some cold smoke in Middle bowl.

Back to winter

25 inches fell this week at Summit Park and the skiing has been great. Todd and I did a quick late afternoon tour up Mt. Aire Saturday to get one more run in before the sun had her way with the powder. The snow was gettin heavy under the bright sun but still turnable.

Desert Reprieve

I took the family down to the desert this weekend where we spent the night gazing at the stars and playing on Swaysey's beach. Then we drove over to the reef and did some hiking. It felt good to camp under the cottonwoods and bask in 80 degree weather after a long cold winter.

Petroglyphs near Box Spring Canyon

The real deal near Swaysey's Beach, Green River

Powder day

Monday nights storm wasn't as big as expected, at least around the Parleys area but still produced enough snow to warrant a dawn patrol. The time change has made for some pitch black approaches but the full moon this morning made things a little more interesting. I kept glancing over through the trees thinking someone with a headlamp was following me but it just turned out to be the man in the moon.

La luna low to the west with lights of Salt Lake in the distance.

Moon over Mt. Aire

Alpenglow in mahogany bowl.

Middle bowl east face Summit peak.

Winter moon

After a heafty storm last night skied cleared to reveal a cold bright moon.

Summit Peak

Alpenglow

Tree rime

Winterized Mahogany

Turns in the sun

La Sals