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- Dec 23, 2013
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My wife signed up this year for the Little Red bike ride in Cache Valley, so the family headed up on the 3rd to the rodeo grounds in Lewiston, Utah to camp out for the night so that she would be right there for the start of the ride on the morning of the 4th.
While Sheila was looping around Cache Valley for 104 miles, Katie and I headed over to Deep Canyon in the Wellsville Range, claimed to be some of the steepest mountains in North America, to do some hiking in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness. Our goal was Mendon Peak, which is located on the northern end of the range.
Wildflowers and caterpillars were the highlights of our day as we made our way up Deep Canyon to the saddle between Mendon Peak and Hawkswatch Peak. From there, we headed south until we gained the crest of the ridge, and then we made our way back north to the summit of Mendon.
The hike was roughly 7.5 miles roundtrip, and it took us about six hours and forty minutes to complete - this included lunch up top, and a lot of stops for me to take pictures.
Setting up at the rodeo grounds in Lewiston
I asked this lady if she would prefer to hike or bike the next day.
I think this might be a distant cousin of the mule @Rockskipper. I'm not sure though.
The next morning, Sheila taking her place at the start with the other 100 mile riders
And she is off!
Katie and I hoped in the Sube and headed to the Wellsvilles
The Deep Canyon Trailhead
A look towards the Wellsvilles and Deep Canyon
Almost ready to go
The trail just off the trailhead
A lot of balsamroot at the beginning. Ignore my hiking poles.
Lewis flax
Wooly worm
Apparently Wayne's Loop is closed.
Caterpillar
Someone or something had made this little shelter.
Ladybug
Another wooly worn enjoying a late breakfast
Cinquefoil
Browse milkvetch
Beetle. @Rockskipper, you told me what this was, but I can't remember now. Please refresh this old man's memory.
I saw more caterpillars and nests on this hike than on any other hike I have ever done.
The Deep Canyon Trail
Scarlet gila
Wasatch beardtoungue
Choke cherry
Dyer's woad along the trail
Distant phacelia
Making our way up the canyon
The wilderness boundary
Woodland star
More caterpillars
Starwort
Western wallflower
Solomon's seal
Snake on the trail
Hiking into aspen
Violet
Spring beauty. These were abundant all the way to the summit
Butterfly on a dandelion
You guessed it, more caterpillars. These guys are hungry.
The canyon is about to open up
And it does
Looking towards the saddle
Old man Scat.
Lookin up at the ridge
Moose maybe?
A stand of aspen on the hillside
Glacier Lilies become abundant as we gain elevation
Hitting some switchbacks at this point
More spring beauties
A look down Deep Canyon from the saddle
A peak of Wellsville Cone
View to the west from the saddle. The Bear River is meandering its way towards the bird refuge below
Katie making her way up to the ridge, with Hawkswatch Peak in the distance
Mendon Peak above
Gained the ridge
Summit just ahead
A look to the south down the spine of the Wellsville Range
The beautiful Cache Valley, with Logan Peak, and Logan Canyon across the way. And I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shoutout to my
alma mater Utah State University. Go Aggies!
More Cache Valley with the Little Bear River/Logan River wetlands visible
View to the west from the summit
Lunch on top
Will the wolf survive? Bandana from the Los Lobos concert in Park City two nights before.
A little wider angle shot of the Wellsvilles
Some white pine along the ridge
View down into Deep Canyon on our way back down
Another view down the canyon, back at the saddle
Another nest
Cache Valley below, with the Mount Naomi Wilderness across the way
Hitchin' a ride. Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride.
Back at the car.
We made our way back to Lewiston to cheer on Sheila at the finish line.
And the answer to the question - yes, the wolf will survive. The Big Bad Wolf looking for Little Red.
Shelia, returning from Preston, Idaho, turning the corner onto Center Street in Lewiston for the home stretch
And crossing the finish line.
One happy cycler, and one happy hiker.
After breaking down our tent and loading up, we stopped at El Toro Viejo in Logan for a celebratory diner which ended a wonderful two days in Cache Valley
The End.
While Sheila was looping around Cache Valley for 104 miles, Katie and I headed over to Deep Canyon in the Wellsville Range, claimed to be some of the steepest mountains in North America, to do some hiking in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness. Our goal was Mendon Peak, which is located on the northern end of the range.
Wildflowers and caterpillars were the highlights of our day as we made our way up Deep Canyon to the saddle between Mendon Peak and Hawkswatch Peak. From there, we headed south until we gained the crest of the ridge, and then we made our way back north to the summit of Mendon.
The hike was roughly 7.5 miles roundtrip, and it took us about six hours and forty minutes to complete - this included lunch up top, and a lot of stops for me to take pictures.
Setting up at the rodeo grounds in Lewiston
I asked this lady if she would prefer to hike or bike the next day.
I think this might be a distant cousin of the mule @Rockskipper. I'm not sure though.
The next morning, Sheila taking her place at the start with the other 100 mile riders
And she is off!
Katie and I hoped in the Sube and headed to the Wellsvilles
The Deep Canyon Trailhead
A look towards the Wellsvilles and Deep Canyon
Almost ready to go
The trail just off the trailhead
A lot of balsamroot at the beginning. Ignore my hiking poles.
Lewis flax
Wooly worm
Apparently Wayne's Loop is closed.
Caterpillar
Someone or something had made this little shelter.
Ladybug
Another wooly worn enjoying a late breakfast
Cinquefoil
Browse milkvetch
Beetle. @Rockskipper, you told me what this was, but I can't remember now. Please refresh this old man's memory.
I saw more caterpillars and nests on this hike than on any other hike I have ever done.
The Deep Canyon Trail
Scarlet gila
Wasatch beardtoungue
Choke cherry
Dyer's woad along the trail
Distant phacelia
Making our way up the canyon
The wilderness boundary
Woodland star
More caterpillars
Starwort
Western wallflower
Solomon's seal
Snake on the trail
Hiking into aspen
Violet
Spring beauty. These were abundant all the way to the summit
Butterfly on a dandelion
You guessed it, more caterpillars. These guys are hungry.
The canyon is about to open up
And it does
Looking towards the saddle
Old man Scat.
Lookin up at the ridge
Moose maybe?
A stand of aspen on the hillside
Glacier Lilies become abundant as we gain elevation
Hitting some switchbacks at this point
More spring beauties
A look down Deep Canyon from the saddle
A peak of Wellsville Cone
View to the west from the saddle. The Bear River is meandering its way towards the bird refuge below
Katie making her way up to the ridge, with Hawkswatch Peak in the distance
Mendon Peak above
Gained the ridge
Summit just ahead
A look to the south down the spine of the Wellsville Range
The beautiful Cache Valley, with Logan Peak, and Logan Canyon across the way. And I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shoutout to my
alma mater Utah State University. Go Aggies!
More Cache Valley with the Little Bear River/Logan River wetlands visible
View to the west from the summit
Lunch on top
Will the wolf survive? Bandana from the Los Lobos concert in Park City two nights before.
A little wider angle shot of the Wellsvilles
Some white pine along the ridge
View down into Deep Canyon on our way back down
Another view down the canyon, back at the saddle
Another nest
Cache Valley below, with the Mount Naomi Wilderness across the way
Hitchin' a ride. Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride.
Back at the car.
We made our way back to Lewiston to cheer on Sheila at the finish line.
And the answer to the question - yes, the wolf will survive. The Big Bad Wolf looking for Little Red.
Shelia, returning from Preston, Idaho, turning the corner onto Center Street in Lewiston for the home stretch
And crossing the finish line.
One happy cycler, and one happy hiker.
After breaking down our tent and loading up, we stopped at El Toro Viejo in Logan for a celebratory diner which ended a wonderful two days in Cache Valley
The End.
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