Sigh. 2025, 2026

Went to Utah with my son Alex at the beginning of September. We camped up in the La Sals, which was kind of fun. I'd never really been up in those mountains before. They're not the most beautiful I've ever seen, but they were nice. And cool.

He really wanted to see Moab. I was worried about the weather in Moab at that time of year, but we actually lucked out and had a pretty decent time. I took him to see a bunch of things; Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse slot canyon, Mexican Hat, Factory Butte, Islands in the Sky and Arches, which is what he wanted to see the most. Our Delicate Arch hike day ended up being perfect; cool windy weather that kept us from overheating being out there exposed on the slickrock in the sun. 

I didn't take a ton of pictures, because I was just there a year ago too, but it was fun. What about 2026?

I've got a few things in mind. 

• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - My wife has kinda sorta planned this with some friends of ours. It wouldn't be a camping trip, because my wife doesn't really like camping, but it'd be a fun outdoorsy place to go.
• Red Castle basin - In the Uintas. We'd camp probably two, maybe three nights at the Lower lake, but go see the "regular" Lake, the Upper Lake and climb up to the ridge to look into Oweep Basin, and maybe also take a day going around the east side of the mountain to see East Red Castle Lake, etc.
• Mill Castle Trail  - in the West Elks Wilderness near Gunnison Colorado. I've actually done this wilderness, but not this trail, which is too bad, because I think it's the prettiest part. It's a modest hike; only 7-8 miles one way and then back again. One or two nights.

My son will probably get married this summer too—well, it's not probably, although the actual date and location is still TBD. I'm guessing late May or early June, and either in Utah or Colorado. Depending on the snow at the time of year he gets married, I could do one of those two western trips as part of the same trip as his wedding.

2024 December trip

I don't know why I never made this post. Probably because I don't think about this blog all that much anymore. I haven't been on a legitimate hiking trip in three years, I don't think, but I have done a lot of outdoorsy stuff. For instance, I was in Utah for a wedding last Thanksgiving, and I stayed the next week to go see a bunch of stuff in Utah. I didn't backpack, though; I drove up to stuff and looked around. Saw Goblin Valley State Park on Monday (nobody was at the office, and hardly anyone was there at all. I think there was one other car that left shortly after I arrived), and Little Wild Horse Canyon (I didn't walk all the way through it because there was a long puddle stretch near the end, and I didn't want to get my shoes soaking wet.) I later saw Factory Butte, the Moonscape Overlook, "Long Dong Silver", the Bears' Ears and Natural Bridges National Monument. Also saw Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands, and took my wife to see Delicate Arch.

She was supposed to do most of this stuff with me, but she was kind of sick most of the week, so most mornings, I made last minute plan adjustments because I was going to be by myself. Most days had highs in the 40s or so, but it was bright, I was active, and I rarely felt cold. There were hardly any crowds, either—even at really busy, popular attractions like Mesa Arch.

Here's a few pictures. I'll maybe do another post later and add more.