Hiking Challenge Continued ...

Here's an update to the Symphony Homes Hiking challenge ... June/July 2023

I'd originally posted about the EMI/Symphony hiking challenge last month/May.

Grayson hasn't even included all of his hikes... he's done a LOT.

 

There was a bit of a hiking hiatus for a couple of weeks ... as June started up, then Grayson (and Zach) were back at it. Complete with pictures an a write-up with a little help from ChatGPT.

Thursday, June 15 ... a poem (ChatGPT assist)

There once were two dudes who went hikin',

Hit Hornet's Canyon, the adventure they're likin',

To the Grotto they climbed, feeling like kings,

A spot so epic, straight out of Lord of the Rings.

But wait, what's that sign? Poison ivy's callin',

Labeled on the trail, it had 'em all fallin',

Surprised and cautious, they switched up the pace,

Dodging the itch, avoiding the embrace.

Hip hop hustlers, navigating the wild,

Hiking trails, keepin' nature's secrets compiled,

From Hornet's Canyon to the Grotto's abyss,

They learned the hard way, but they never dismissed.

So next time you hike, pay attention, no doubt,

Stay wary of signs, know what it's all about,

Respect the outdoors, with rhymes and style,

Two dudes on the trail, they hiked with a smile.

On Saturday, June 17, Gray and Landon tackled Olympus

They were back earlier than I'd expected for such a long hike. Gray said it felt a bit harder than when he hiked it the last time, in 2010. 

June 28, 2023~ North Canyon Trail to Rudy’s Flat – above Bountiful

Just the facts today,  just the facts – Miles logged: 7.4   Elevation gain: 1,552   Temps: Mid-50’s and overcast.  Mushrooms or marshmallows: Not sure.   Julie Andrews sighting: Kinda.  Zac’s attire: On point, per usual.

Starting of July with a Saturday morning hike ... Lake Blanche Trail (there's some Westra Family History here!) Luckily, no injuries or events for these fellows. 

Lake Blanche – By the Numbers

Distance hiked – 8.45 miles

Elevation gain – 2,967 feet

Time on trail – 3 hours 7 mins

Sweat - profuse

Menu – Beef jerky, Peanut M & M’s, water, etc

Fellow hikers – half of Salt Lake County

Then mid-week, mid-month (July 19) Gray and Zach hit Gloria Falls, which while nice, wasn't quite enough. So they added on Cecret Lake (which was perhaps a little too much in combination with the previous hike and the cooler weather). Here's Gray's photos and write-up ...

It's a tale of two hikes... Nineteen July, Two-thousand Twenty-three... We start with Gloria Falls - we'll stick with just the adjectives: Short, Green, Gushing, Flowery, Humid (moist) Overcast, and wait for it.....GLORIOUS - see what I did there?

Continuing up Little Cottonwood Canyon we arrive at the Albion Basin wherein we seek the lake known as Cecret...shhhhh.... our trailmates for this second hike: Bruce the moose - very stand-off-ish but present nonetheless, Donna the doe deer - did not hang around to chat, Ronald the rock chuck - perched atop his favorite rock, he seemed uninterested in these hikers. But then I had to wonder: If a rock chuck could chuck rocks, how many rocks would a rock chuck chuck? (oh man, I slay me).

July was busy with travel and lake days.

More hiking to come before the challenge is over!