Sheep Herders Canyon & Skyline Drive 7-5-10

On Monday July 5th I meet up with a number of members from the Utah FJ Cruiser club and a member from the Wasatch Cruisers too run Sheep Herders Canyon. Sheep Herders Canon (that's what I've been told it's called)is that last little stretch of Skyline Drive here in Davis Country here in Utah.

The trail in and of it self really isn't all that difficult and can be run in a stock 4-wheel drive vehicle . It ultimately ends up in a clearing with access to a hiking/mountain biking/horse trail and to a ATV/dirt bike trail. The later of which I'll hike at another time.

The attraction to this trail is the great views of Davis and Morgan Countries that are divided by the mountain range. We had stop at few locations along to the way to let those with kids play in the wildflowers and to take in the mountain air and views. Are lunch stop would take us down into the clearing and into the shade of the evergreens.

Once everyone had their fell at lunch, we headed back on out to run the remainder of Skyline Drive between Bountiful and Farmington and then on up to Francis Peak. Along, the way two members or group peeled off to head home to take care of family matters. The rest of the group made a brief stop up at Francis Peak before continuing north with the hopes of hitting up once of the retention ponds toward s the end of the trail.

Along the way we were greeted by snow pack roads (ya, snow on the roads in July but what do you expect at 9000 ft). The first of which required you to hug the snow patch as half the road was still under snow. This section added to pucker factor of the trail due to the fact the slick snow would kick the rear of your vehicle towards the edge of road (which in turn you would've rolled down a nice little cliff).

Once we all got our nerve back a little we headed down on the trail towards the pond. Unfortunately, we were denied at the last section of the trail. As three-quarters of the trail was still under snow with just enough clearance for an ATV without driving half way on the snow pack. Again, with a ledge on the opposite side of the trail, not to mention the three point turn that is required right before heading down.

So after some discussion we decided that it was far enough and that we should turn back (well kind of). I wasn't about to lead anyone down a trail I wasn't comfortable with. So how do you turn back on a single track road with a mountain on one side, a ledge on another and the road blocked ahead. Well, you back up of course. This in of it self was no easy task especially with the number of vehicles we had but it was accomplished.

After these little fail attempted we all decided to call it a day we had been on the trail since about 1015 am and 4pm was fast approaching. Once past the pucker factor spot the group split up and everyone went their separate ways (kind of most stayed in the group). I ended up staying behind and just poking around taking some photo's off an overlook.

Despite being denied at the end of trail it was a great day with great group of people.

Now on too the photo's if you've made it past my rambling.

The lone 4runner amongst so many Cruisers:




Pit stop for the kiddies:








Down to Sheep Herders Canyon


I took this photo a few days prior to run towards dusk, just beyond the trail it leeds down to the said clearing and trail.






Headin back out on Skyline Drive towards Farmington:








Up at Francis Peak




The trail that rides along the east side of globes reminds me a little bit of the trails in Ouray. Narrow with a drop off to one side.


This was the spot that had some pucker factor to it. The photo's don't do it any justice.






This is what we were trying to reach


Trail blocked, time to backup




The group heading out





Ended up sticking around and taking some photo's


Same photo just didn't use as many photo's were I created the panoramic.

Camping Trip 6/18/10

Last Friday night I meet up with an old friend from back home in Missouri to take his 6 and 4 year daugther on their first camping trip. Their original plan was to camp up in Little Cottonwood but due to his son being sick they didn't do so, they ended up deciding to go with me.

We meet up around 5:45pm to head up to Skyline Drive here in Bountiful with the hope of finding an open camping spot at the top. I kind of already knew where we were going to camp and hoped the spot wouldn't be taken.

Fortunately, for us the spot was still open and just in time. About 10 minutes later a few vehicles passed by us looking for a camping spot, which would be the case for the next few hours.



My friend and his two daughters (they remind me of my nephews with the way they act).



Dinner that was nothing more than chilly dogs and chips. The later which would haunt us though out the night and into the morning if you know what I mean.



The weather was perfect. It wasn't too cold where you needed a jacket and it wasn't too hot, with just a slight breeze. Clear sky and a starlite night awaited us.

One of the reasons why I picked the spot I did was that it provided some great views of the sunset and of the sunrise.



Unfortunately, for us and the rest of those around us around midnight a small group of cars made their way up looking for a place to camp. All the while honking their horns and using some foul lanuage. I got a kick out of it when the last driver got out of his vehicle said a few foul words towards the car leading him, all the while complaining that he kept bottoming out and dragging his car.

All I could think of was "what did you expect coming up here at midnight on a rutted dirt road".

I ended up staying up till about 1am just kind of watching over the site just to make sure those yahoo's weren't going to try anything funny. I found out later that the group camped next to us and some words with them about 3am.

The following morning provided us with a nice sunrise but some very tried campers.







After a nice breakfast of blue berry pancakes and bacon we packed up camp and headed on a little hike that would take us to just about 9000' too an overlook that would give us an excellent view of the surrounding areas.

Morning fire




This was one of the snow packs we had to cross, with me being the dork that I am.



We got a little side tracked trying to follow the trail as it split off into two different directions. The path we took ended taking us though some brush and onto another snow pack, which wasn't a total lost as it did provide some fun. We ended finding the trail again about 50 yards down from where we were.







My friend and his oldest daughter are making their way up the trail. You can see to the left of the photo the trail and the snow pack we ended up crossing.













At this point the trail became harder too see but there is a trail here. It just doesn't show up very well in the photo.




Just some random fungi growing on the rocks at the top, thought it looked kind of cool.




My friend daughters up top. The wind up there was kind of nuts. I can only imagion what it would be like during a storm.



The easiest way down the snow pack that we crossed (shown up in another photo)was to kind of dig your heels in and side down the pack. My friend decided towards the end to slide the pack instead.


Overall, the trip was great and you couldn't have asked for better weather. It did however wore us all out. On the way back down the mountain I get a call from my friend saying that his girls are out cold (meaning the feel asleep very quick once getting back in the car). As for me I was pretty drained for the rest of the day due to the lack of sleep and the hike. Lets just say the next day in church I feel asleep more times than I could count.

Would I do it all over again. Heck ya!

Storm Photos 2

These photo's were taken a few days after the Storm Photo's post. The previous day I was in the same area and you couldn't see more than 20 ft in front of you. Due to the low lying clouds and blowing snow.

Storm Photos

These are just some random photo's I took during a rain storm here in Utah.