AN UNEXPECTED VACATION

 

 

In early September, I found out that I’d be traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah for work.  My boss had been promising me a one-week break for some time, so I asked if I could have it the week after the Utah trip.  He agreed, and I decided to spend my free week playing in Utah.

 

My job in Utah was scheduled for the last week of September, so I’d be taking my trip the first week of October.  I was hoping that timing would coincide with the peak of fall color in the mountains.  However, I planned to focus most of my trip on southern Utah.  After spending 4 weeks in the Canadian Rockies over the summer, I was looking forward to a dramatic change in scenery.

 

Christy and I had traveled to Utah several years earlier.  On that trip, we visited Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Anasazi ruins on the Cedar Mesa, and Little Wild Horse Canyon near the San Rafael Swell.  Since I’d already been to southeast Utah, I decided explore the other side of the state.  I planned out a route that would take me to Grand Staircase / Escalante National Monument, Bryce National Park, and Zion National Park.

 

 

WHY HAVE JUST ONE?

 

 

Today’s trip report was brought to you by the color gold.

 

 

I finished my work by 3pm on Friday.  Since I had a few hours, I decided to drive up into the mountains and look for some fall color.  I had already seen quite a bit on the flight into Salt Lake City from Dallas.  We flew right over the Sangre De Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado.  The slopes of the mountains were painted gold from all of the aspens.  We even flew right over Great Sand Dunes National Park.  The sand dunes are tucked up against the western flank of the mountains.  From 40,000 feet, it looked like a giant sandbox in the shadow of 14,000’ peaks.  If a giant bucket and shovel had been sitting in the middle of the dunes, it wouldn’t have looked out of place.

 

At the end of the flight, we flew directly over the Wasatch Mountains and into Salt Lake City.  The slopes of these mountains were colored red.  Now it was only four days later, and I was hoping that the color would still be there.

 

I had visited REI a few days earlier to buy stove fuel.  While I was there, I asked them for a suggestion for a scenic drive.  They had recommended Mill Creek Canyon, which is just southeast of Salt Lake City.  I drove that way, and paid $2.25 to access the “toll road” into the National Forest.  I climbed up through the canyon, passing numerous trailheads along the way.  I didn’t see much red color except among some shrubs.  However, towards the upper end of the road, I began to encounter aspens turned gold.  Just when it was getting good, I reached the end of the road.  I parked, but I wasn’t ready to head back down yet.  I wanted a better look at the aspens. 

 

Several trails leave from the upper parking area.  I decided to walk up one a little ways to see if I could find a better look at the fall foliage.  All I carried was my camera.  As I walked, views opened up to include the canyon below and the mountainsides above.  Every few feet brought more color.  This is how I accidentally ended up hiking 3 miles on Friday.  Before long, I reached a junction with a sign indicating that I had already walked more than a mile.  Another trail looped back to the parking lot, and that route was only ½ mile farther.  I still had plenty of daylight, so I opted to complete the loop.

 

The people of Salt Lake City seem to make good use of the recreational opportunities right in their back yards.  I saw people hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.  In fact, there were so many people mountain biking, it was a challenge to dodge them at times.

 

I reached another junction, where a trail heading higher promised better views and color.  I walked up it ¼ mile but found only limited views.  I backtracked to the junction, but continued ahead on a spur trail to the top of a knob.  This peak was mostly open, and the views were stunning.  I found myself looking up at higher peaks, draped in gold.  I’ve seen some good fall color in the Appalachians, but this was amazing.

 

I hurried back down to the car, as I still needed to get groceries and pack for my trip.  I stopped at an Albertsons for supplies.  While I was in the store, a six-pack of beer caught my eye.  The package featured a picture of a guy surrounded by several women.  The name of the beer was “Polygamy Porter”.  It’s slogan?  “Why have just one”.  This would be funny anywhere, but being in Utah made it hysterical.  Considering that the Mormons would probably love to give Prohibition another try, it’s a hoot seeing the local brewery antagonize them a little.





Continue reading about my trip in Escalante National Monument.

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