Keep the ear muffs ready - it’s springtime in the Wasatch!

A note from Rob:


It was snowing hard on Parley’s Summit this morning but spring is apparently trying to come to the Wasatch.  It’s a welcome transition but it can be quick.  One of these days it will suddenly be in the 80’s and we’ll be saying “so, I guess that must have been spring.”

In the meantime, it rained worms a few days ago.  Worms everywhere, but the flowers are great and the grass is looking exceptionally good; I assume due to all the dead worms.  

Good Times in the Windrivers and Tetons

Cliff, near the base of Fremont Peak - 1972

A note from Rob:

We finally got around to adding some galleries to the Summit section of the website.  Fremont Peak in 1972 and East Temple in 1976 standout as exceptionally fine trips in the beautiful Windriver Range.  For me, another excellent adventure was a 1966 “miss-adventure” in the Tetons when we unexpectedly ended up climbing the South and Middle Tetons.

Dave, near the saddle between the South & Middle Tetons - 1966

Rim to Rim Adventures at the Grand Canyon

In what could be a PR photo for the TV show The Amazing Race; we have L/R:  Barbara, Carolyn P, Art, Art's friend, Carolyn D, Cliff, Nancy, Nancy's sidekick & Rob S.

A note from Rob:

I love this 1971 photo!  The juxtaposition of elegant Barbara in her shinny black shoes and red dress along with  Art in his spiffy blue socks and plaid shorts; as they remain unfazed while Nancy appears to be having a major meltdown on the tarmac of the Kanab Airport.  The unnamed side-kicks of both Art and Nancy seem to register mild concern for Nancy’s situation as Carolyn D and Cliff assume stand-by mode and Rob S blissfully smiles.  Carolyn P is just happy to be out on another lark in the fresh air and sun.

In the photo below, the trans-canyon backpack team has made the 70 mile drive to Page, Arizona.  No small accomplishment with eight people and equipment in a seven passenger VW bus – 135 miles to go.  Meanwhile, the Carolyn’s and Barbara drove to the North Rim Lodge for a relaxing Labor Day weekend among the ponderosas’.

After a long slow climb from Cameron to the South Rim, it appears to be time to consult the map in search of the South Kaibab Trailhead.

As noted in the Quill Traders Gallery, a stop at the permit office yielded the backcountry permits only after everyone had a hat; a problem Nancy quickly resolved by fashioning hats out of discarded newspapers.  

Early Monday the hikers emerged triumphant from the canyon tired and very thirsty.  As I recall, we all united in the lodge dining room for a joyful breakfast that consisted mostly of pitchers cold Roaring Springs water.  As was generally the case, the restaurant staff was sad to see us go - or was that glad?

We added a new gallery: Outings>Backpack Trips>Stevens Arch



Stevens Arch as viewed from the Weeping Dinosaur bench.

A note from Rob:

As our winter slide scanning project nears completion we wanted to share a family backpack trip we did over Memorial Day weekend in 1999.  Julie and soon-to-be husband Matt joined Christy and me for a trip down lower Coyote Gulch to Stevens Arch.

For me, it was exactly 30 years after my first trip to Jacob Hamblin in 1969 and provided many contrasts.  Most notably, we traded cows for campers.  As much as I prefer cows, I would have to admit the canyon vegetation was much healthier and despite tents on every viable campsite the canyon was still spectacular.  

 

Ready to get truckin - Matt, Julie, Christy and Rob’s excellent JanSport backpack. 

You will note the rich Kodachrome color but a lack of sharpness in this batch of images.  I was between cameras in 1999 and have no idea what we were using.  Thus, we see that great film and scenery can’t compensate for a poor lens.

 

A brief escape from the snow and ice…

Its 700 miles from our frozen, snow covered driveway to the beaches of California’s  Newport Coast.  

For us it’s a day and half of driving, but with our long-time friends, Tony and Ilene the drive was quick and fun.  Thanks to their sons connections at Marriott we found ourselves in a setting that made winter a distant memory.

 Nearby Crystal Cove State Park provided the backdrop for morning walks and great views.

Alas, all to soon we were back on the road heading north through a Cedar City snow storm and home to a driveway that had to be shoveled in order to get the car back in the garage.

Now, the sound of the ocean waves seems like a far distant dream…

Reelin’ in the years…

One of the highlights of our recent trip to Southern California was enjoying an evening with Cliff and Liz. 

Rob, LuJean, Cliff and Liz – photo complements of Liz’s iPhone.

It was fun to get acquainted with Liz.  We especially enjoyed hearing about her younger days in New Jersey and when her family did a cross-country excursion in their VW bus.  Turns out Cliff also had a bus which he loved driving on dirt roads when he lived in Denver.  Aside from sharing VW stories, Cliff reminded me of cold, wet times at Dead Horse Lake in the Uintas (a trip I had managed to forget) and fun times touring southern Utah with Hank as a viola duet.  Cliff and Liz live close to the beach in Culver City with three high schoolers while their oldest studies forensic psychology in New York.

It was great fun for us to meet Liz and once again enjoy Cliff’s contagious smile.

A Time Warp at Café Rio



L/R:  Jeff & Sheri, Nancy & Sam, Linda & Gordon, LuJean & Rob's chair.



So here we are after how many years?  The picture is a little fuzzy, but that may be a good thing.  How miserable would it be for the wives as the guys relived adventures during the 70’s?  Apparently not so bad, since Sheri generously offered to host a BBQ on Jeff’s new deck.  Meanwhile, Gordon suggested we climb Lone Peak.  LuJean is already excited for the next “rendezvous.”  When we come up with a date, we will notify Quill Traders far and wide…