I started going to the Wind Rivers about 6 years ago; the first trip I took was the trip everybody takes, Big Sandy and The Cirque of the towers. Being the adventurous spirit that I am I decided instead of taking the conventional route I’d do the trip backwards. This would be the most rewarding experience in my life. The first Problem we faced was finding the right dirt road in the middle of Wyoming.
9:00 p.m.
The sign at the trailhead read “1.0 mile” but it seemed much further as I followed the rocky, switchback trail winding its way upward through barrel cactus, huge boulders, and wildflowers. The midday sun burned my skin and sweat trickled down my back, but I was oblivious. I was driven forward by myth and mysticism, by my own curiosity. I was hiking to Marshal South’s house near the top of Ghost Mountain in Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
We all know how hard it is to find the time to get out and play, so we thought we would compile some of our favorite hikes to save you time in looking for your next hike. If you ever thought there was no peace to be found in San Diego, think again. Rae lets us in on a sanctuary just a few miles from town. While J, a newcomer to Salt Lake City, gives some insider secrets to one of Big Cottonwood Canyons’ treasures. Jeremiah ends the article by revealing one of the easiest and most family friendly hikes in the Wasatch. We hope this article will help you, as well as us, to get out and play a little more often.
Lake Blanche Trail by:J
I am relatively new to the Salt Lake area, this being the case I hit the internet to find info. on some hikes I might enjoy. I heard an assortment of good things about Blanche Lake so off I went. For those who don’t know Blanche is located at Mill B South in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is approximately a 6 ½ mile round hike. I have been told that the Blanche trail is actually the Mill B South trail, I’m not big on technicality so call it whatever you like. The word I would call the trail is awesome, the word for the lake is… we’ll get to that later.
When I go hiking, I like to hike the trail less traveled. I take to the trail to get close to nature, to hear the wind blow, the birds’ chirp, not to bump elbows with strangers on an overcrowded path. It’s rather difficult to find even a hint of solitude in a county with a population of over 2.9 million people. Outdoor recreational areas can become quiet congested, especially on the weekends. I have a few places I like to hike that afford me the peace and quiet I desire, but Sycamore Canyon Open Space Preserve in San Diego is one of my favorites. Not only is hiking among huge oak trees, sycamores, wildflowers, and chaparral incredibly peaceful and relaxing, but the Preserve is only a few miles from home and doesn’t draw the crowds as do some of the other trails in the area.
Goodan Ranch abuts Sycamore Canyon Open Space Preserve and together they make up about 2100 acres with 10-miles of hiking, biking, and horse trails. In 2003, Goodan Ranch and Sycamore Canyon were devastated by the Cedar Fire when over 95% of the Preserve was burned. The area was closed for a short time, but life in the Preserve has come back stronger and more beautiful than ever. On a recent hike, I took a lunch break near the charred remains of Stone House, which was built in the 1930s, but burned during the Cedar Fire. I was able to sit undisturbed and watch a Red Shouldered Hawk, a woodpecker, and numerous other birds fly between the trees. On the hike back to my car, I was accompanied by only a cool breeze and a Turkey Vulture circling overhead. These are the moments I cherish during my hikes and why I always return to Sycamore Canyon Open Space Preserve.
When John Denver wrote the words Rocky Mountain High Colorado, He must have been talking about Leadville; this is the highest incorporated city in America. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at 10,152 feet. Lake County is the home of Colorado Mountain College, Mt. Elbert: (the highest peak in the Rockies) and home to the highest disc golf course OH YA! This will also be my home for 6 glorious weeks.
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