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Since I'll be down recovering for a while, I thought I'd write up some trip reports from my work hikes that I did over the year. This trip was to my old stomping ground in and around Cache Valley, where I am originally from. I moved out of there about 10 years ago and I probably hadn't been back in at least 3 or 4, so it was pretty wild just to go back and see everything that had changed. During my one day trip up there I picked up 5 out of my 60 trail guides of the year.
I started out doing a couple of the super easy level 'healthy walks' that I won't go into here. They were just parks and paved trails, my client's purpose with them was to encourage even the most entry level folks to get out and move their legs a bit. After doing those two, I headed up Logan Canyon. First stop: Tony Grove. As I pulled into the parking lot, I was surprised to see a woman at the entrance charging a parking fee. Oh, how times change. I fumbled around to find $6 in cash, accidentally dropping more than $1200 in hundreds and twenties all over my lap. I had just stopped and sold my old ultrawide lens, but I'm pretty sure she thought I was a drug dealer or something. I couldn't help but laugh.
Even the paved trails in Cache Valley are beautiful. When I lived in this area, none of this existed. I used to roam this exact area on a network of dirt roads and trails back when I was a teenager. Now it's totally developed with this nice park and dozens of hundreds of houses.
The third trail of the day: Tony Grove Lake.
It was a Friday night and the lake was hopping. Lots of people out canoeing and fishing.
And loads of great wildflowers along the trail.
It seems like I always used to run into moose up here, but no sign this time around.
Next up, I cruised to the top of Logan Canyon, just before the drop into Bear Lake to the Limber Pine trail. This is another nice, short loop that is very family-friendly. There are lots of interpretive signs and the trail is easy enough for just about anyone. I know I hiked this when I was a kid, but I couldn't remember a thing about it.
The namesake Limber Pine was quite the site. A Limber Pine is basically a forgotten seed cache left by birds that usually come back and eat the seeds the next year. This particular Limber Pine is estimated to be 2,560 years old. It was truly massive. It reminded me of the Weirwood trees in Game of Thrones.
A glimpse of Bear Lake near the end of the Limber Pine Trail.
I started the drive home, feeling pretty accomplished to have knocked out 4 hikes. I had one more on my list but I didn't think I had enough time. But lucky for me, as I rounded the corner into Mantua, the sun was still above the horizon. I had just enough time to pedal most of the 4+ miles around the Mantua Reservoir trail before heading home. This one was another nice surprise, particularly nice for a little bike ride or if you like to fish.
Featured image for home page:
I started out doing a couple of the super easy level 'healthy walks' that I won't go into here. They were just parks and paved trails, my client's purpose with them was to encourage even the most entry level folks to get out and move their legs a bit. After doing those two, I headed up Logan Canyon. First stop: Tony Grove. As I pulled into the parking lot, I was surprised to see a woman at the entrance charging a parking fee. Oh, how times change. I fumbled around to find $6 in cash, accidentally dropping more than $1200 in hundreds and twenties all over my lap. I had just stopped and sold my old ultrawide lens, but I'm pretty sure she thought I was a drug dealer or something. I couldn't help but laugh.
Even the paved trails in Cache Valley are beautiful. When I lived in this area, none of this existed. I used to roam this exact area on a network of dirt roads and trails back when I was a teenager. Now it's totally developed with this nice park and dozens of hundreds of houses.
The third trail of the day: Tony Grove Lake.
It was a Friday night and the lake was hopping. Lots of people out canoeing and fishing.
And loads of great wildflowers along the trail.
It seems like I always used to run into moose up here, but no sign this time around.
Next up, I cruised to the top of Logan Canyon, just before the drop into Bear Lake to the Limber Pine trail. This is another nice, short loop that is very family-friendly. There are lots of interpretive signs and the trail is easy enough for just about anyone. I know I hiked this when I was a kid, but I couldn't remember a thing about it.
The namesake Limber Pine was quite the site. A Limber Pine is basically a forgotten seed cache left by birds that usually come back and eat the seeds the next year. This particular Limber Pine is estimated to be 2,560 years old. It was truly massive. It reminded me of the Weirwood trees in Game of Thrones.
A glimpse of Bear Lake near the end of the Limber Pine Trail.
I started the drive home, feeling pretty accomplished to have knocked out 4 hikes. I had one more on my list but I didn't think I had enough time. But lucky for me, as I rounded the corner into Mantua, the sun was still above the horizon. I had just enough time to pedal most of the 4+ miles around the Mantua Reservoir trail before heading home. This one was another nice surprise, particularly nice for a little bike ride or if you like to fish.
Featured image for home page:
