Last summer I made a really fun trip out of hiking Battle Creek Falls. When my group and I reached the top we rappelled off of the first waterfall about a mile up from the trailhead (see earlier blog). This winter it was way to cold to rappel through a waterfall but I decided to revisit Battle Creek Falls anyways! My boyfriend Jesse and I decided to snowshoe up. I rented my snowshoes at OutNBack- they were the MSR Denali Evos and they were awesome! The hike up Battle Creek falls is pretty short to the first waterfall but it gets very steep and the Evos are nice because they have a heel lifter to reduce calf fatigue and make hiking up a hill easier! We were the only ones on the trail on the way up and everything was covered in snow and so peaceful and beautiful. At the top we found a nice lady to take our picture. On the way back down we hiked down underneath the frozen waterfall and took more pictures. Snowshoeing is such a great work out and so fun. I would highly recommend getting out there and trying it out before the snow completely melts away this season!!! Rent your snowshoes at OutNBack, they are only $10 per pair and include poles (the poles made it so much easier!!)
Archive for March, 2010
Battle Creek Falls
Mar 31
Springtime in Zion
Mar 31
Whether you pronounce it like Neo & Morpheus or Bob Marley & the Wailers there are few places in Utah, or the world for that matter, as beautiful as Zion National Park. Early spring is the perfect time to hit the park. There might be a dusting of snow on the mountains, but the temps are nice, the crowds are still in hibernation and the roads are open all the way through the park which means no shuttle, yay!
This time we had our two year old and the baby, who is four months, so we picked something fairly easy. The Emerald Pools loop is perfect for an afternoon with kids. The hike itself is very similar to the Stewart Cascade trail, for all you Utah Valley folks. It takes about 2.5 hours at the pace of a two year old boy scrambling over rocks like a miniature Bear Grylls. The payoff is a fantastic series of waterfalls and pools. We felt hot starting out, but in the shadow of the canyon, standing near the falls it was quite cool, hence the jacket zipped over the baby.
At Upper Emerald Pools Water Fall
So, now’s the time. Bust out those shorts (or come get some at ONB *wink*) and get some sun on your pale self. Winter is over, long live Spring!
I took my wife and favorite daughter down to Moab this past weekend to help scratch that spring itch that has been bugging me. We had a great time. Camped by the river, had a great dinner in Moab, and played in Arches all day Saturday March 13th 2010. Delicate Arch is still there and as splendid as ever. We found a new climbing route through climb-utah.com for U-turn and had a lot of fun scrambling up the chimney crack, traversing the sandstone, taking pictures, and rappelling down into the Park Avenue gap. I highly recommend this route for the experienced canyoneer. Sandstone always makes my day and remembering why I love Utah in all of its majestic glory makes me happy to be alive and enjoying life with my family. Just remember to get out and PLAY!
