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For those of you with time to waste:

Ski Naked

Setting up the TT (travel trailer)

Loving Boise!

Web sourced photo

 On my fantasy list of places I would like to live, Boise, Idaho has moved into the top spot.   It has it all - great climate,  beautiful parks and bike ways, uncrowded streets, an REI store, and three ski areas within a two hour drive.   This city of 600,000 is comfortable - no pretense or snobbery about it.   The relaxed friendliness of the residents gives it an all American appeal.    And did I say no mosquitos?

The main event for our visit was riding our bikes along the Boise River Greenbelt with our good friends Anne and Greg Roegiers.   This 26 mile paved bike path follows the Boise river and stretches from outer suburbs east and west of Boise cutting through the heart of downtown - a bicycle commuters dream.  

Kathleen belays Dashel up a 5.14 at Urban Heights

Anne Roegiers checking the rig ridden by the super friendly guy without arms.  No kidding!    Snowmelt swollen Boise, River

Two good looking ladies on the Greenbelt.

SNOW bird!

Energy Vortex on top of Snowbird gave us all sunburns.

 727 inches.  Thats the current season total snowfall at Snowbird ski resort near Salt Lake City.    Most Colorado ski areas would be happy with 300.

Temperatures in the 60s and bright sun had some skiiers in T-shirts and shorts.   It was spring skiing at its best. 

Local Hoodlums

Snowbird and its neighbor, Alta, are a short drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon just east of the suburb of Sandy, Utah.   Leaving the ski area around 4:00, it was a mere twenty minute drive downhill to the closest REI store.    4,000 feet lower the temperature was 78 degrees!   Salt Lake City claims itself to be the only city where you can ski and golf in the same day.

W enjoys gravity.

Apres ski hot chocolate.

Flying in Moab

Having fun in Moab!

Ham Rock

I have been deeply concerned about a feature in Arches National Park.  It is named "Ham Rock" due to its purported likeness to an actual ham.   But does it really look like a ham?  Or is this just the product of POWER OF SUGGESTION and clever marketing?  I am here at your service to put this serious issue to rest.

Ham Rock

Actual Ham

Given that I have never seen an actual ham with the foot attached, and visualizing the actual ham without the foot and comparing it to Ham Rock, I hereby conclude that Ham Rock is accurately and appropriately named.

Flying in Moab

With my amazingly realistic pilot license and airman's medical certificate I actually talked the guys at the Moab airport into RENTING ME AN AIRPLANE!    Suckers.

I actually managed to get the thing into the air and back on the ground with wife and kids on board.   It was quite fun.  I may have to do that again some day.

Federal Land Management

Yes, we drove down this.

Last evening we went on a wild 4x4 tour in the Sand Flats Recreation Area.   While I was expecting a tame tourist ride, our driver "Woodie" took us on the Hell's Revenge trail, rated 4+, the most challenging rating for off road trails.  We went places I would have never expected a vehicle of any kind could go.   Dashel laughed so hard he nearly peed in his pants.

But that's not my point.   Sand Flats lies immediately adjacent to Arches National Park.   The terrain is largely petrified sand dunes and sand fins intermixed with sand flats that have the identical cryptobiotic soil  the park has.  Damage to that soil was everywhere from off road vehicles.   It got me thinking about the inconsistent management of our federal lands:

Zion National Park: We do not sell bottled water because bottled water is destroying the environment.   Please fill your own bottle at our convenient filling stations.
Bryce National Park:   While you are here, please enjoy a bottle of Bryce National Park branded water.


Death Valley National Park:    Feel free to hike anywhere you want.
Arches National Park:    Anyone caught walking off trail is subject to a $150 fine.


Arches National Park:   Do not touch the fragile cryptobiotic soil.
Sand Flats Recreation Area:     Drive your 4X4, dirt bike, or ATV anywhere you want.   Spilling oil, hydraulic fluid, and fuel is just part of the fun.