My last blog
post told the story of our trip to the Grizzly Ridge Yurt in the Uinta
Mountains of northeastern Utah. Back when the ground was buried deeply in
white, the trees were bare, and the scenery was often obstructed by falling
snow or dense cloud cover. Now only one season away from that same beautiful
scene, I want to share the photos and a few stories from our spring and summer
excursions and the first few weeks of fall.
Almost every
mountain range in the western US was full of snow through April and May, many
well into June. While this certainly makes for nice photos, it also makes for
muddy, wet shoes on a hike.
Speaking of
wet shoes, running rivers after a historic winter season will leave you soaked
head to toe, often with 50ᵒ F water. Many of our trails had dried out
by the time July rolled around, though we were able to still find a patch here
and there at the highest elevations. Another benefit to the summer season is
dry rock and warm belays.
I am
slightly biased about winter being the best season, but after the warm months
of summer provide never-ending light and jacket-free recreation I find it
difficult to yield to the changing of the leaves. Fortunately fall brings
gorgeous sunsets, long shadows and a color palette too exquisite to comprehend.
