Friday May 31 2013

Lost in the snow

Explored the Little (and big) Cottonwood Canyon in
Wasatch National Forest.

The Ski resorts in and around Park City are all closed.
And hiking trails are open.
But going up the White Pine Trail to the White Lake
was ok the first 6 km up, but to much snow blocked
me on the last stretch.
No problem enough sight seeing in the Canyons.
Perhaps less Cliff Hanger style than this Guy.

And finishing the evening in the Squatters Brewery.
What a difficult choice the finish first...

May 30 2013

A few days along the way...

Feels like a mail package driving for a few days.
Endless roads, over Donner pass, the large desert, a Salt Lake.

Easy now, but when you see the http://www.californiatrailcenter.org/
you see the real hardship of the first pioneers.

Bud it was hard. The Donner Pass Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Party), stuck in the snow
for several months, ...

Now, in Salt Lake City.

The Temple. Amazing what they have build.

The Temple, tabernacle, Museums, Family History,
and also to world wide missionaries.

But, still so many people who hear voices in there head,
scary.


Good that I got a few Double IPA, Elephino, RedRock, Salt Lake City
to finish the day.

End of May 2013

Explore local.

No joke, saw this on my way to Pescadero.

And is this not unbelievably, 30 minutes from Silicon Valley,
you are in the middle of the woods (Old La Honda Road).

Discovered more of Butano Park, San Pedro park. and a few more.
Even if they all look the same, you can still admire
a wild orchid or any other wild flower

After a good hike in Alum Rock with some friends:

End of may 2013

Explore local.

The Bay area is so amazing. Within less than an hour
drive there are so many parks, mountains, coast line
and wild flowers.

Really a unique place, but you have to
adventure. What I mean, is take the car and just
start hiking. Or check out a pub (old la honda)
or a good restaurant in Santa Cruz.


Or for the more adventures....

Or you prefer this

Sunday may 19 2013

Bay 2 Breakers.

Just a local day in the bay area.

Starting with the real professionals (which I have
not seen, they where to early). But tens and
tens of thousands are really taking this race serious.
But the later in the morning the more the fun
and dress up or dress down become the important
part of the participation.
And even when alcohol is not allowed, I saw many
so called water bottles. Strange that you get so
drunk from that....

And I have so many more other pictures.
And perhaps some that I better do not show.




I had to save up for the beer tasting event.
What a fantastic collection of special Belgian
Beers.

For more info, check out this web side

http://waterloobeverages.com/

The seven sins, Westhoek XX, Arend Tripple,
Gageleer, and so much more. The last one has
a real story behind it, related to the swamps in
West-Vlaanderen and the church.
Just check it out for more details.....

May 2013

Not much to report. Mainly reading some books,
and observing the colibri's in my garden.

And enjoy also still some of the beers a brought
back from Utah.

The brewers have not only created some great beers,
but they wanted to make some interesting statements
within the Mormon state.

EVOLUTION, AMBER ALE. On the bottle:

This beer was part of our protest to the
Utah Legislature's attempt to mandate
the teaching of intelligent design in our
public schools. We think church and
state should stay separated, even in Utah.
Created in 27 days, not 7.
Darwin Approved.

Or this one:

The 1 St Amendment Lager was born as a
commemoration to our protest of the Utah
legislature's attempt to silence our
1 St Amendment rights. In response to our
sometimes irreverent ad campaigns, the
Utah beer excise tax was raised in
retaliation. Our response was to re-enact our
version of the Boston Tea Party by dumping
four kegs of beer into the Great Salt Lake.
Give me Liberty and give me a Cold One.

They are also the brewers of the infamous
"Polygamy Porter".
At least I can say that "I've tried polygamy".
Who said coveting was a sin ?

But still in most places in Utah, they are guilty
of blasphemy. They are really insulting in the name
of the gods, by withholding the people the best
things there is to enjoy.

May 2013

Back from Zion, passed Bryce, Salt Like
City, the Salt Lake, Reno, Trucker, Sacramento....

Just passed Salt lake city:
Bonneville salt flats, famed measured mile-site
of world lands-speed record runs.

And after weeks of absolute dry / desert
weather, a storm was brewing. And yes, finally
some rain along the way.

Sat 4 May 2013

Angels Landing, So difficult to select some pictures
to give an impression of this monolith, and the views
along the way.

And how to bring Zion in a few pictures ?
Just Impossible.

The angle landing is small, and steep up.

Where else, I saw an angle coming down

Not being unfair to the Angels, but
if you up the next plateau, then you see
that they selected a down to earth place.
The landing is a small top, related to the
surrounding peaks.

The next miles, disappeared in the back
country. Even a few (small) springs
in unexpected very high places.  Causes
small dipping down of water. But imagine
what a huge thunderstorm would do

The way down. What goes up, comes down, and this
is always easier. For Angle Landing, there are 3 major
sets of switch backs. And this is the last in the series
on the way down.

And Zion has unlimited views of sky high
rocks. But next time, I should plan for
for going up 18 miles the Virgin river in full
wet suit gear.

Fri 3 May 2013

Kodachrome canyon, must be colorful.

Small park, but some nice hikes.
Only try to avoid mid day. It is really
hot to hike in the sun.

I would have called it "the chimney park'.
It is full of this kind of monoliths.
But it would also be a disgrace to the
official name of the 'ballerina'.

And then, why highways, when there is
a shortcut over 'dirt' roads. And this
one was very colorful dirt. From pure
white, deep yellow, soft pink, firing red,
and all in between.
Probably all the layers, one by one, and
way more.

Arrived late in Zion. Was lucky to find
a camping spot. Checked out the 1 mile
tunnel into Zion. The views are impressive.

On the way in, and close to the camping
was a huge Buffalo range. An the only
restaurant in miles around.
So, went for the Buffalo steak. Quite good
only due to the upscale place, way to
expensive.

Some wildlife along the way, watching tourist,
or was it opposite ?
Does this have an intelligent look,
or just looking as the fool of the park ?

Thu 2 May 2013

On the way out of Capitol reef,
needed to take some pictures of the gooseneck.

Again, beyond any belief, the power of a
'small' water flow, carving 1000 ft deep
in the rocks.

And then out of the park, south on HWY 12.
What a difference.
Over a peak of 9600 ft. In the snow again.
Amazing, the sprinkles on some places where
making snow. So cold at that altitude, and then
an hour later, a desert heat again.

But then, between Boulder and Escalente.
An amazing 30 miles.
The road itself was a project of president
Roosevelt. The views amazing.

And the top of the bill. The Hole-In-The-Rock
road. Never expected that I would see that, but
thanks to the Mormons, which needed 3 months,
to make the road, it took me a few hours
from Escalante to the hole.
And still I can not belief how they did this
more than 100 years ago.
And especially the hole in the rock.

An unbelievable landscape to pass by horse wagon. And then this
passage, small and so steep, that just walking down is absolutely
impossible.

And then the real surprise, an impressive collection of  beer,
And a waitress how know the beers.


The 'white label' and 'hop rising' are really outstanding.
Sorry that time is that limited, could not try all of them.

www.drinkwasatch.com
Wasatch & Squatters Beers

Wed 1 May 2013

On, to the next park: Capitol reef

Camped in Fruita.
A midst the rocks, an amazing valley,
cultivated by the Mormons, and now plenty
of orchards: apples, peers, cherries....

A nice hike was from Fruita, the campground, an old town,
up the hill, 1000 ft,, passing a canyon, to the other side,
now hwy 24. Where there was an old 1 room school,
All grades from 6 to 18 years in one room.
Education was important for the small community.
And walking 2 miles, over a 1000 ft cliff is probably
less common nowadays to walk to school.