2007 Hikes, Climbs, Camping Trips, and Vacations Galleries

2007 02 10 Twin Lakes Pass : Christy and I booted up the Grizzly Gulch trail to Twin Lakes Pass and had some nice views of Mt Superior. We were planning to go to the top of Honeycomb Cliffs, but Christy wasn't feeling well so we stopped at the pass. We found a small snow pit there; almost the entire pack (not that that was much that year) was facets.

2007 02 10 Twin Lakes Pass

Christy and I booted up the Grizzly Gulch trail to Twin Lakes Pass and ...

Updated: Jun 13, 2008 11:01am PST

Canyonlands, Presidents Day 2007 : The last time we hiked in the Needles, we only spent one day, and liked it too much not to come back for a full holiday weekend. We dabbled with some mountain biking (most routes were closed), and did a couple of short hikes. The highlight was the last day, when we hiked to Druid Arch and back from the campground (15 miles). I lost a toenail from ill-fitting boots.

Canyonlands, Presidents Day 2007

The last time we hiked in the Needles, we only spent one day, and like ...

Updated: Jun 13, 2008 11:56am PST

2007 03 17 Mt Olympus : This was the maiden voyage of my new ice axe; I went here because the avalanche danger was high everywhere else. I got some funny looks carrying the thing since most people don't use them on Mt Olympus, but when I explained that it was my new toy they understood.

2007 03 17 Mt Olympus

This was the maiden voyage of my new ice axe; I went here because the ...

Updated: Mar 01, 2008 4:51pm PST

Belize, May 5-11 2007 : We did this trip through International Zoological Expeditions. It was three nights in a hut in the rainforest at Blue Creek, with guided hikes, cave swimming, and ethnobotany lessons, and four nights on South Water Caye for snorkeling, scuba diving, and relaxation.

Belize, May 5-11 2007

We did this trip through International Zoological Expeditions. It was ...

Updated: Jun 13, 2008 11:30am PST

Lake Blanche, Memorial Day 2007 : With 2007's terrible snowpack bringing an early summer, we went for mountains instead of desert for this May trip, and spent two nights at Lake Blanche. Day 2 we did nothing but sit around and read; it was very relaxing. Day 3 we hiked up the basin a couple miles before heading down. Sundial Peak was looking its best for us during the evenings.

Lake Blanche, Memorial Day 2007

With 2007's terrible snowpack bringing an early summer, we went for mo ...

Updated: Feb 17, 2009 11:42am PST

2007 06 03 White Pine Lake with WMC : For our first hike with the Wasatch Mountain club, we went to White Pine Lake. I tried out (and tore a hole in) new gaiters (thank the gear gods for REI's return policy), and demolished old shoes. I also drooled over White Baldy enough to go back and summit it the next week.

2007 06 03 White Pine Lake with WMC

For our first hike with the Wasatch Mountain club, we went to White Pi ...

Updated: Sep 17, 2008 4:36am PST

2007 06 10 White Baldy solo loop : I went up White Pine and came down Red Pine, and saw a bear behind White Baldy. Trip report at http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/319758/My-solo-loop-over-White-Baldy.html

2007 06 10 White Baldy solo loop

I went up White Pine and came down Red Pine, and saw a bear behind Whi ...

Updated: Sep 25, 2008 11:53am PST

2007 07 01 Little Squaw Peak : As part of the Heaton family reunion, while we were at Christy's grandparents' house in Provo, we (Christy, her parents, and I) climbed up the foothill ridge to Little Squaw Peak one afternoon.

2007 07 01 Little Squaw Peak

As part of the Heaton family reunion, while we were at Christy's grand ...

Updated: Feb 27, 2008 12:34am PST

2007 07 07 Gilbert Peak : The longest day hike of our lives, 19.5 hours. Trip report at http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/312487/-Day-Hike-to-Gilbert-Peak.html

2007 07 07 Gilbert Peak

The longest day hike of our lives, 19.5 hours. Trip report at http: ...

Updated: Feb 27, 2008 12:46am PST

2007 07 21 Deseret Peak with Tim and Nimisha : After not only failing to summit Devil's Castle and Pfeifferhorn with Tim and Nimisha but also getting a reputation as a bad guide for leading them off-trail, or the wrong direction entirely, without warning of the evils of talus-hopping and alpine thistle, I'm surprised Nimisha ever went hiking with me again, but Deseret Peak has a trail the whole way, and we all made the top in good time and without too much "adventure".

2007 07 21 Deseret Peak with Tim and Nimisha

After not only failing to summit Devil's Castle and Pfeifferhorn with ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2008 11:29pm PST

2007 07 27-30 Sawtooths : Alex invited me and Christy on his annual trek through the Sawtooths, and took us to all the best campsites along the route from Hellroaring Creek to Pettit Lake over Imogene and Snowyside Passes. We swam in lakes, camped on an island and a ridgetop, and nearly summitted Snowyside Peak, an Idaho county highpoint.

2007 07 27-30 Sawtooths

Alex invited me and Christy on his annual trek through the Sawtooths, ...

Updated: Feb 17, 2009 11:32am PST

2007 08 11 Dromedary solo loop : I left the S-turn trailhead at around 8 or 8:30 AM and headed up Broads Fork. Stopping briefly for sunscreen application, snacks, and water filtering (well, that is not so brief with my slow pump), I reached the summit of Dromedary around 1:40 pm by way of Tanners saddle and the south face. There was almost zero snow in Broads Fork, which is unusual even in August, so it was talus-hopping the whole way. The last push to the saddle was quite steep and devoid of sturdy talus, requiring me to dig my fingernails into the dirt and almost crawl up, grabbing onto holds on the gully walls where possible. The south face was much sturdier and a fun scramble. To make a loop of the trip, I descended the northeast face, and part of the north ridge, which were both also loose. A great trip, but it was sad to see the effects of a poor winter.

2007 08 11 Dromedary solo loop

I left the S-turn trailhead at around 8 or 8:30 AM and headed up Broad ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2008 10:28pm PST

2007 08 25 Mt Nebo with WMC : With my car in the shop, I took Trax to Sandy all decked out in hiking gear to meet the group. I met Jane and Rally on this hike, and got to pick the brains of two geologists who were along. What a group! We all climbed the north peak and everyone was nice enough to wait while I tagged the middle peak (which is where I got the best photos).

2007 08 25 Mt Nebo with WMC

With my car in the shop, I took Trax to Sandy all decked out in hiking ...

Updated: Feb 17, 2009 11:18am PST

San Rafael Swell, Labor Day 2007 : A weekend of moderate success walking that fine line between too much rain risk for committing slot canyons vs. too hot for being out in the open. Oh yeah, and we got lost a few times. Trip report at http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/333383/Swell-at-routefinding.html

San Rafael Swell, Labor Day 2007

A weekend of moderate success walking that fine line between too much ...

Updated: Jun 13, 2008 12:01pm PST

2007 09 08 Bullion Divide with WMC : I met the organizer of this hike on the White Pine trail during my White Baldy solo climb, and when she said she does this route every September I made it a point to show up. There must have been a fire somewhere because the air was hazy, but it was a fun day with nice people. We followed the ridge from Sugarloaf to Red Baldy, which was my favorite. We also made a side trip to the "Bastard Son" (third "twin" of Am. Fork Twin Peaks).

2007 09 08 Bullion Divide with WMC

I met the organizer of this hike on the White Pine trail during my Whi ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2008 9:31pm PST

2007 09 14-16 Escalante with Jane and friends : Jane told us she was meeting her friends Hillary and Jeff in the Boulder area to hike Spooky and Peekaboo Gulches, and invited us to come along. So we threw out our plans to hang around at home for the weekend. In addition to those hikes, we also hiked to upper Calf Creek Falls, and Jane, Jeff, and I did a bike ride on Route 12 across Calf Creek and Escalante Canyons. Jane rode all the way to Escalante, but Jeff and I turned around after exiting the canyons, for "only" 28 miles. Either way, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more scenic road ride anywhere. Unfortunately, the camera only came along for the hikes.

2007 09 14-16 Escalante with Jane and friends

Jane told us she was meeting her friends Hillary and Jeff in the Bould ...

Updated: Jun 13, 2008 2:18pm PST

2007 09 21-23 Thunder Mountain attempt : The idea was to camp two nights in upper Bells Canyon to spend a full day looping around on the ridges to summit North and South Thunder and Upper Bells Peak. Between settling for a lower base camp than desired, not starting early enough on summit day, routefinding delays, and bad weather, Duane and I didn't summit a single peak, and only got within 600 vertical feet of North Thunder. But as a backpacking trip and a chance to hike somewhere I'd never been before, it was a great trip. Trip report at http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/390771/Losing-the-Race-Against-Summer-s-End.html

2007 09 21-23 Thunder Mountain attempt

The idea was to camp two nights in upper Bells Canyon to spend a full ...

Updated: Jun 13, 2008 2:12pm PST

2007 10 06 Red Butte and Big Beacon : During what was a blizzard up high and a soaking rain storm in the valley, I thought it would be fun, and good exercise, to do a ridge hike from Red Butte to Big Beacon (aka Mt Wire). One of these fall days I'll have to do this again when visibility is good.

2007 10 06 Red Butte and Big Beacon

During what was a blizzard up high and a soaking rain storm in the val ...

Updated: Feb 24, 2008 10:05pm PST

2007 10 14 Brighton Ridge Run : Julie came to visit and we picked out this hike from among the alternatives of Raymond and Kessler. It was the day after a snowstorm and the lighting and weather was changing all day. We climbed Sunset, Tuscarora, Wolverine, and Millicent.

2007 10 14 Brighton Ridge Run

Julie came to visit and we picked out this hike from among the alterna ...

Updated: Sep 17, 2008 4:28am PST

2007 11 18 Mt Raymond : I went up Butler Fork on a November afternoon for a stroll, thinking I'd maybe go to the top of Circle Awl Peak. Partway up, I changed my mind and climbed Mt Raymond. With my afternoon start, my exit was by headlamp, and involved a forced detour due to a stubborn moose.

2007 11 18 Mt Raymond

I went up Butler Fork on a November afternoon for a stroll, thinking I ...

Updated: Sep 17, 2008 4:30am PST

San Rafael Swell 2007 12-22 to 12-24 : Christy's parents came to Utah for the holidays and we spent the first few days camping in the Swell. On their drive to Salt Lake, I-80 was closed for snow, and they detoured through Denver and we met them the next day in the middle of the Swell. Winter conditions prevented us from doing any long hikes, but it was nice to be out and see the winter beauty.

San Rafael Swell 2007 12-22 to 12-24

Christy's parents came to Utah for the holidays and we spent the first ...

Updated: Jun 13, 2008 12:04pm PST

2007 12 30 Santaquin Peak : Tim and I tried to climb 5,000 vertical feet to Santaquin Peak in a blizzard through steep, deep, upside-down snow and wind drifts. We made it half-way up, and on the way down Tim's snowshoe binding broke.

2007 12 30 Santaquin Peak

Tim and I tried to climb 5,000 vertical feet to Santaquin Peak in a bl ...

Updated: Feb 28, 2008 5:11pm PST

2007 12 31 Provo snowshoeing with Heatons : While staying with Christy's grandparents in Provo for New Year's, we, her parents, and her grandpa went snowshoeing on the Bonneville Shoreline trail starting from Bridal Veil Falls.

2007 12 31 Provo snowshoeing with Heatons

While staying with Christy's grandparents in Provo for New Year's, we, ...

Updated: Feb 22, 2008 6:48pm PST