I guess the classes I took in Spring semester weren't exactly academically taxing to begin with. Mountain Biking, and Guitar class -- both were very educational, but highly replenishing to my spirits at the same time. I think some of my most hair-raising experiences in the spring happened while mountain biking. Utah has some spectacular hiking, as well as biking trails to explore, and there are literally scenes along the way that will take your breath away!
Bryce Canyon (pictured above) is only one of the many stops we made along the way - but it was an overnight field trip, and certainly a memorable bit of trail! Along one particular section of treacherous curves, dips, and drop-offs, I stuck my left foot out in order to catch myself should the bike come out from under me if it lost traction -- and my foot caught a small branch that was pointed straight at me. The edge of the branch hit the sole of my shoe, penetrated it, penetrated my sock, and for some reason (miracle? Guardian Angel?) stopped short of penetrating the skin on the bottom of my foot! I think I was a little shook up, or I probably would have taken some photos for show-and-tell!
All during the Spring semester, I had been looking at getting a motorcycle as my mode of transportation for spring, summer, and fall seasons up here. On May 29th, I found the motorcycle that would suit my needs, bought it with cash, and began to learn how to ride it. A 1996 Yamaha Virago, XV535cc -- a GREAT bike to start out with if I had to suggest one. To my knowledge, I think I might be the first person to own a motorcycle of this size in my family for over 40 years. It was something I always wanted to do, and now it was something that would be practical, as well as adventurous! The gas prices having topped $4 a gallon all summer long made the 45 mpg mileage for my motorcycle really appealing. In fact, it gave me a great reason to continue to find places to take my motorcycle! I guess you could say I'm self-taught. I'm a pretty cautious driver, and I believe I was equally cautious learning how to ride my motorcycle. I got my permit from the Driver's License Division in Utah, then started riding around on city streets. After riding around for 2-3 weeks, I went down to take my riding test at the same place, and passed it with flying colors (not that their road-test guarantees your safety as a rider in any way). After that, I started riding everywhere. I acquired the safety gear one needs to keep safe, and in no time I was out on the Freeway! In the last part of July and early part of August, I took a motorcycle rider's class from a local organization for $180. It wasn't bad, but if you are going to take one, I recommend that you take one BEFORE you get a motorcycle, and before you've ridden 500 miles on the streets on your own motorcycle. Anyhow, it wasn't long after that I decided to push my limits a little. I had some preventative maintenance done on the bike, and set out on a 500 mile round-trip journey to Idaho Falls to visit my Uncle Larry! That was quite the trip! First off, 500 miles on a motorcycle is a LOT longer than it seems in car! My seat wasn't designed for road-trips either, it's pretty hard! Second, there is a reason you see motorcyclists dressed up to the neck in gear, including helmet, gloves, boots, and rain suits. I hit rain about 30 miles outside of Idaho Falls, and let me say this, it's hard to call it gentle rain when it hits you at 70 miles an hour! Third, there are too many crazy drivers out there to ever get bored on the road on a Motorcycle. Fourth, drafting a semi on the highway might be fine in car, but it's NOT A GOOD IDEA on a motorcycle - you get continually buffeted by the 'baffle' of the semi, and it's just uncomfortable all-around! I learned a lot about motorcycling, myself, and determination on that trip!
Later that summer, towards the end of August, Towards the end of August, on Memorial Day weekend, some friends and I decided that w would attempt a pre-dawn summit of Mount Timpanogos, here nearby Provo. At almost 12,000 feet at it's peak, we would be climbing about 6,000 vertical feet from the trail-head to reach the top. I had tried this once before with another friend of mine, a little later in the season. Alright, it was WAY late in the season, getting on towards the end of October. We... didn't quite make it to the top. We reached about 8000 feet and had to turn back! It started snowing and raining on us about 5:45AM, and the snow was thick enough that it started covering the trail, and severey reducing visibility - we were both wearing cotton trousers, and neither one of us had water-proof boots. Luckily, we both knew our limits and decided against trying to make it to the top. Anyhow, I felt like we got spanked, and told to go home.
This next time, I would refuse to turn back.
On August 23rd, 2008 we left our apartment at 12:15 AM to head for the trail head at Aspen Grove up Provo Canyon past Sundance Ski Resort. It was dark, of course when we started climbing, but we had the luck of clear skies, and a half moon to light our trail in addition to our flashlights. We moved steadily, and reached the summit at 5:45 AM, just a while before the sunrise!
We were bone-tired, but it was still a great feeling to be able to look down on what seemed like the whole of Utah Valley from "way up there". We could see the spread of city lights all the way from Spanish Fork to the Southern parts of Salt Lake City! As we huddled near the summit hut, we paused to take it all in, and then find a good spot to watch the sunrise from!
In the middle of August, it was cold enough to make us shiver through a jacket, gloves, cap, jeans, and boots. I would always recommend that climbers dress in layers to get the job done properly, because we were sweating beads again by the time we got back down to the trailhead at 10:30 AM. Also, if i were ever to do it again, I would definitely try and spread it across two days, and camp at the meadow just below the trail to the summit.
Oh -- a little earlier in the summer we also made it up Stewart Falls from the same trail head - and that was another small adventure - my photos for it are on Picassa and Facebook I think. :-)
All in all, it was a refreshing summer! I feel like I made my mark this summer, proved myself in someways, discovered myself in others, and left myself ever so much better prepared to make this world a better place. I have settled on a major, recharged my batteries to take on classes - it was good to take time off to make my time "on" that much more effective!
Ahhh... what a summer!
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