I spent four days in Salt Lake City, and only one of them involved me doing something on my own. After multiple days of solitude, doing things with other people was a welcomed change.

On a hazy Thursday morning, I sat down in the drivers’ seat and headed north to Antelope Island. I saw no antelope, but I saw plenty of bison. I also saw plenty of sand. Under the high summer sun, my grand plans to ride twenty or so miles shrunk to just eight. It still counts, so the ride counter for the trip can be incremented to 5.

Untitled

The day wasn’t over though. After fighting SLC traffic home and nearly being run over as I did, I rested a bit before Scott came home and we headed out on a short trail near the edge of the city.

75 minutes after starting, winded, gasping for air, we stood on Grandeur Peak looking down on the city and took in the setting sun. It was worth every step. The run back down took 30 minutes less time, but we still lost the race to the setting sun and returned home in the twilight.

The next day, Scott got the morning off and we travelled to the nearby Heber Valley, so we could travel on of Scott’s favorite trails. The coyote loop winds around a local prominence near the Jordanelle Reservoir, providing 20 miles of mildly rocky, twisting trail with spectacular views of the Wasatch mountains to the west. Riding with Scott reminded me of former times when we would go out on Moscow Mountain; like then, Scott beats me up the hill. Another ride in the book.

With just two days left before it was time to move on, we focused the weekend on other important things in our life. It may be August, but at Snowbird, Oktoberfest starts early and the timing was right. It was a Beer Chasers Reunion—John, Darcie, Quinn, Avery, Scott, Annie, Alex, and I gathered at a table and celebrated friendship with beer. It was here that I was told that I would be returning in the winter. Together, we drank our low alcohol beer and caught up. I will happily admit Utah’s ridiculous beer laws make for good Oktoberfest beers—you can drink all afternoon and still be walking at the end of the day.

I slept well that night.

Snowbird tops out at 11000 feet. For most people, visiting the top of the mountain is as simple as standing up as the tram hauls you from the base. Sunday morning, we walked. We were rewarded with a few scrambles up knife-like ridges, a bit of vertigo, and a stunning high elevation view once we arrived. Then we walked back down and drove home.

Thus ended four days in Salt Lake City. Monday morning, it was time to pack up, turn the car north, and drive. Next destination: The Park.