A Favorite Place, A Secret Retreat

We all have our favorite places. Spots we only share with our closest friends and family. That sounds a bit selfish I know, but it's true. As our outside world grows increasingly popular there are just some special places you keep in reserve. Places that recall fond memories of past adventures. This spot always calls in June when the winter snow has retreated and the bugs have yet to emerge. It's a place with special meaning. 


My friend Rose loved this plateau of towering pines and dramatic sunsets. The trails meander along the rim and traverse flagstone terraces providing endless views of sky and water. Osprey, eagles and vultures share the airways and bighorn sheep visit during cocktail hour. Rose is gone now, taken too early by cancer, but her voice remains. No one laughed so long and hard as Rose, even when she forgot to bring her clothes bag and we all pitched in to make sure she was taken care of. She always made the best of every situation and made me a better person.

As sunset approached on this years camping trip, Rose said hello from the clouds as they morphed from scarlet to a soft and soothing rose. Miss you my friend, thanks for visiting!

Ann and Kathy's Trail Challenge Has Begun

Ann and Kathy are getting the Park City Broads excited about the Trail Challenge and kicked the year off with a fun hike in Lambs Canyon. Ann's challenge: "My goal is to hike at least 5 new trails this summer. The first I did with my good friend, Kathy Turner, who took me up to Lambs Canyon. It was a wonderful hike followed by a visit to her sister's place tucked way up high in the canyon where hummingbirds will perch right on your hand! Fantastic day!!"

 

Celebrating 50

Ann and Kathy have been hitting the trails in the Park City area with friends and having a great time exploring new places and views. Here's one they did a few weeks ago.

"My friend, Kimberly, turned 50 and we celebrated with a birthday hike on Gambel Trail! Set up ahead of time were photos of Kimberly’s life followed by a picnic at the top. Such a special hike!!"

Ann B

Di's Excellent Adventure in Montana

Di, Zinnia and Amber on the trail in Montana.

Di has been out and about in Idaho and Montana as she visits with family at the cabin in Island Park. She's working toward her trail challenge of reaching Lewis Peak in October!

"Targhee Creek Trail, Montana. 6+ miles with my daughter, Carmine, and Zinnia. I forgot to turn on my trail app so don’t know elevation gain but fairly gentle. It’s a beautiful hike with Targhee Creek beside it and new wildflowers for me, Sugar Bowl being my favorite. The birding was good. Family is my COVID pod and hugs at last were grand!"

Soon it will be July

How did this happen? July just a few days away? Where did our spring and summer run off too? Have they been hijacked by the novel coronavirus, COVID 19? 

I find myself hijacked by the Pandemic that is sweeping through our world, our country, and communities. But during these uncertain times I cling to the trails, open spaces, and public lands that are so near my doorstep. Each day I find a new appreciation for the lush brush, wildflowers, and canopy of green that greet me on the trail. The spring feed stream that parallels my favorite trail-a playground for butterflies, bees, and my dogs-never disappoints. I know I'm lucky, and I am learning to be more thankful for these spaces. I'm becoming a vocal advocate for their preservation. None of us can forget that many of the wild places we love and care about are under attack and we must take action to keep them safe for now and future generations.

Our trail challenge has begun. We started out slowly, planning on visiting all the trails on the 2019 Trails Foundation of Northern Utah map. There were 66 of them so we started early, in May. Then, two weeks ago we got the 2020 map. Trouble! Now there are 77 and the pace must pick-up since we need to have them done by October. Thank goodness REI has opened back up, I really needed new shoes. So off we go!

To date we have concurred Winter's Grove Nature Trails (6 times). This is our Greater Wasatch  Broadband adopted trail so we get their a lot. In addition we have hiked the WSU Discovery Trail, Bues Canyon, Taylor Canyon, Pine Creek Trail at Nordic Valley, parts of the Centennial Trail (Church Loop and Uinta section), Jumpoff Canyon and the North Bonneville Shoreline Trail, the Ogden Valley side of the Pioneer Trail, and on our bikes the Mountain View Corridor, Pleasant View Parkway, and the Independence Parkway. Most of these locations were new to us and we always found something unexpected. We saw cranes and pelicans at Winter's Grove, found no humans on the Pioneer Trail, and witnessed so many early wildflowers on the Centennial Trail my camera ran out of battery. 

Get outside and find your unexpected!

Wild Rivers Running

Several years ago I started trail running as a a way to release my brain after hours or days of studying for my Environmental Science degree.  This need for an outlet has evolved into an something I do just because I love getting outdoors and moving my body.  It has become a way to experience wild places, national recreation areas, forest reserves and river pathways.  We are lucky to have so many protected places to nourish our mind, body and soul!

Wild Rivers Recreation area sits along the spectacular Rio Grande Gorge just north of Taos, NM, where I call home.  It lies within the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument, which was established in 2013 and runs from the Colorado border to just south of Taos.  Home to big horn sheep, river otters, and many other species, you are sure to have many wildlife sightings as you walk its trails and boat its waters.  I like to spend my early springs and late falls here when the mountains get too snowy and cold.  Whether running the trails for exercise, sitting on the edge of a cliff enjoying a sunset or floating down the river, I have found peace, enjoyment and sometimes a little excitement in the RGDN National Monument.
                                                    

The Trail Challenge Begins

Remember to only leave footprints behind.

Get close and personal with natures beauty.

STOP and take in the view.

The Broads View 2002 Hiking Challenge has begun! 

If you haven't registered it's still not too late. You can join anytime, but make sure you give yourself enough time to achieve your goal by October 17, 2020. 

A few Ogden Broads are going to work toward hiking to Lewis Peak from the Skyline Trail. A Broad and Bro are going to attempt to either hike or bike all the trails listed in the Trails Foundation of Northern Utah map (the new one is out and lists over 70 trails). A SLC Broad is going to explore urban and urban-adjacent trail systems close to home, and a Park City Broad is going to get to know more trails around her community and take a friend or family member with her.

It's going to be a fun summer sharing all of these great adventures. It's easy to register for the challenge. Register here and start your challenge. Tag your adventures with #broadsviewchallenge2020 on all your social media.  Let's get hiking!