Biking in the Mountains

Ian/Jack had his first mountain bike race Saturday. We got there at 9:00 for his group photo, and left at 6:00 after the awards ceremony. It was a long day.

They started way back and to the right, with many rows of about eight abreast. This was Jack's first race ever, so he started near the back.

Here, after the start, they are all funneling down to single file as they enter the narrow part of the course. From then on, they had to ask if they wanted to pass someone. Race rules say they have to let you go.

Jack's age group did only one circuit of the 4.5 mile track. Here he is, nearing the end. By this time he was in fifth place.

With no challengers.

I didn't see the very end, but apparently he was so dazed, he had to be helped off his bike, taken by both elbows, and walked to a seat. Water helped.

Here he is, recovering.

Since there were 58 people in his race, they gave medals all the way down to fifth, so woohoo!

Timp

I drove Sam down to Provo for his new school year. Pete is just leaving Provo to go to grad school. The three of us hiked Mt Timpanogos Monday (Labor Day). There were bazillions of people there!

So, it was like a Buddhist pilgrimage to the top. Everyone, it seemed, was there.

These first two are of the saddle, below the summit. You could look over the back side, like this, or you could look over Utah Valley on the other.

Here we are at the summit. It was a pretty steep scramble to get the last few hundred feet up.

Sam and Pete, on top of the world.

The weird little temple at the top was so crowded, we didn't go in.

Pano of the back side.

We decided, in order to avoid the crowds, to go down the other way, hiking further along the ridge at top, and then dropping down to the "glacier."

Skidding down the talus, to get to the snow field. 

We all tried sliding at first, but only Sam had gloves, so Pete and I were killing our hands, trying to steer and brake. So, we just stood up and walked. The scallops helped, so we didn't slide down.

More on the snow field.

At the bottom was Emerald Lake, where we had lunch, and refilled our water.

Lunch spot. After lunch, we hiked over that little rise behind the lake, to rejoin our trail back.

There were a couple spots of flowers still. Here is Pete's lupine shot.

And his columbine shot.

Because we did a loop around the summit, and over to the glacier, and because we had to park about half a mile down hill from the campground (because of the crowds), we ended up hiking almost 20 miles. But I was astonished at how many other people did the hike too. Young children. Old geezers. It was unbelievable.

Cresting Near the Tetons

Adam and Jack have not been on the Teton Crest hike, so we decided it was time. We hiked from the tram at Teton Village, to Leigh Lake, and out at the String Lake parking lot in four days.

We started out at Teton Village.

On the tram, to Rendezvous Mountain.

From the tram, we hiked down to Granite Canyon, where it started to rain just a bit. And thunder.

But, it didn't amount to much. Here we are at out first camp.

Mmm. Oatmeal. (Homer Simpson)

Even this late, the wildflowers were spectacular in places.

Snacks the second day, at Marion Lake.

Death Canyon is down there somewhere. I love the green slopes on the other side.

On a rock on Death Canyon Shelf.

Sitting on the shelf for lunch.

Preparing to enter the wilderness area part of the hike.

Alaska Basin.

Adam, adding to the signage.

Dropping into Alaska Basin, on our way to our favorite camp site.

Adam, resting on the veld.

It is difficult to show in photos how awesome our camp site here is. Adam kept saying "I love this spot."

A small part of its attraction is its proximity to the lakes, and the jumping rock.

Adam, showing his style.

Jack, leaping.

Sam, showing us all what awesome is.

Adam, again showing his form.

The eating rock.

Jack, waiting for supper.

Jann, resting while the boys check out some caves.

View out over the meadow, from the eating rock.

There were mountain bluebirds all over the place.

The bear tree. Ten feet up, and four feet out?

Sam, on the rocking chair.

Mmm. Oatmeal.

All the boys, with Battleship Mountain.

Third day, at Sunset Lake.

First view of the Grand, on Hurricane Pass. Where is everyone? (I'm the slow climber.)

Hurricane Pass summit.

On the way dow to Schoolroom Glacier.

Lunch, finally.

This was a long slog of a day. We went from Alaska Basin, down South Cascade, and headed back up to North Cascade. Here, we're finally stopping for our last snack.

And replenishing our water supply.

All of the official camp sites at the north end of North Cascade were take, so we had to find an unofficial one. Sam said, Let's do some more climbing. I was pretty spent by this time, and didn't want to. But he found us an excellent place.

Well worth the additional climbing. There was just enough level grass to put up two tents. There was a creek running by for water. And there was the view of the whole valley, with the Grand down below.

Jack, showing his hat hair.

Cards after dinner.

One more bear tree.

Sunrise, the fourth day.

Today will be a truly grueling day, so let's get an early start..

The trail to Paintbrush Divide. You have to blow it up bigger, but you can see it as it steadily climbs the canyon wall. It's a thin line, just under the lens flair, and down to the left.

I got up the the summit 45 minutes after Sam and Adam. Here, you can see them headed off again, just over the scrub bushes in the background.

There were several small snow fields. Jann is skiing down the biggest one, to the trail at the bottom.

Looking back up.

Hmm. Am I left alone again?

Oh, nope. There's Jann. She waited.

After 12 long miles on our fourth day, String Lake, and the end. Thirty five miles in all. I love hiking, except for all the walking.

Thanks for picking us up Grandparents, and the Saras, and the Eds.