Gray and the Subway

Grayson has had a lot of activities this summer ... hiking, running, biking. Almost all with buddies from work. One buddy had a buddy who had pulled a permit for The Subway in Zions for a group of twelve. So Gray joined. It didn't fit into the schedule that well, Monday, October 7, but you have to take what you can get. Per the info about it ...

The Subway is a classic semi-technical slot canyon hike in Zion National Park. To complete the hike you wade/swim/scramble/climb down the Left Fork of North Creek. The stream is the trail for most of the route. Some of the holes are deep enough that you do have to swim, and the water is cold.

• Trail Head: 37.339954, -113.075776
• Trail Type: Canyoneering
• Length: 9.5 miles, 7 to 9 hours
• Difficulty: Technical

The hike is somewhat like the famous Narrows, only more intense. You climb down waterfalls and scramble over boulders. Serious rappelling is not necessary but ropes come in handy to help get people over cliffs and to lower packs.

Most canyoneers do this canyon from top down - it is very difficult to do it bottom up. A shuttle is required. You must have a permit to hike this canyon; permits can be obtained at any Visitor Center. Get detailed trail information before doing this hike. Only attempt this canyon if you are hiking with an experienced canyoneer.

During the first part of the hike you stay on top of ridges and cross shallow washes, until you reach the of Left Fork Canyon and Russell Creek. That's where you scramble down the steep hillside into the slot. Once in the slot you just hike downstream, finding ways over or around obstacles. The semi-technical part of the route ends at the bottom of the Subway (at a spectacular small waterfall where canyon walls arch overhead and almost close to create a tunnel-effect - a subway). From there you continue hiking downstream past a large boulder covered with dinosaur tracks. Exit the canyon where you see a sign marking the trail up the ridge to the Left Fork Trailhead. It is a steep, hot climb out of the canyon.

In addition to some climbing gear, everyone needed a wetsuit for the water portions. Between Gray's camera, and a couple others, there were a lot of pictures to capture the experience.

Symphony #KOTH 2024

Last year, in 2023 there was a "Hiking Challenge" at Symphony Homes. Gray got going, and took pictures and did write-ups. Built in blog posts! I had to divide it into three posts, there was so much content. See the first one (with links to the second and third) HERE. This year, there's another challenge, a little more all-around activity. This will be a post in progress ...

The official flyer with the "rules" ... 

One might have think Grayson's work at Symphony was all management and construction stuff, but he does a LOT of team building, outreach, activity organization and party planning too (organizing this competition, the upcoming diaper house, see last year's involvement HERE, a ping pong tournament, Fisher House).    Of course in addition to setting up the #KOTH2024, Gray then "needs" to set the standard, staying active and competitive. His work write ups with recaps, hashtags and plenty of pictures give a little look at what he's up to ...

0511

I give you the Men in Black – Farmington Half Marathon – May 11- 13.1 miles. Bonus photobomb by the one and only Bill Dodd and his banana peel.  #koth202 #doublepoints #thismedaliswood

0517

On Deuel Creek South, where the day was pristine,

Jon, Zac, Jadon, Wyatt, and Grayson convene.

Legs on fleek, in their hike, they excel,

In Lulu, Fabletics, and brands they wear well.

Salomon gripping each rocky ascent,

On Clouds embracing every step's intent.

Crossing the creek, the rapids roared high,

Determined to conquer, eyes on the prize.

With laughter and cheers, they blaze the trail's way,

Gonna win #koth2024, they say.

Nature their stage, as they rise to the peak,

A band of brothers strong, adventurous and sleek.

You. Are. Welcome.

#koth2024 #doublepoints #bestdressedhikers #chafingisreal

05/23

Farmington Creek Hike

In the interest of including as many Symphony teammates as possible and rack up those double points, today, I decided to get JJ out on the trail. He had been feeling very cooped up and cabin fever had set in. Plus, he recently got a new shirt and beanie that he wanted to show off. He was stylin’ indeed. #koth2024  #doublepoints;)  #jjforpresident2024

Trail report from Farmington Creek

• Trail condition: Perfect
• Water levels: High but stream crossings are easy
• Waterfall rating: SPECTACULAR ★★★★★

0530

 Flag Rock and Patsy's Mine Hike

0601

Rockies Half

Let’s go run a half marathon, they said. It will be fun, they said.

#noreallyzacwhyarewedoingthis

#koth2024     #symsquad      #notdoublepoints:(

0606

So as if hiking wasn’t enough, Zac thought, hey, why don’t we just sling a 30 pound backpack over our shoulders, climb a mountain and see what happens…..thanks, Zac! #toruckornottoruck  #rubberlegs

#koth2024 #symsquad #notdoublepoints:(

0608 

Hiking, Biking & Making Friends

It says it right in the subject line – Hiking, Biking and Making Friends. Supposedly, hiking and biking would be separate activities. Not so much on Saturday as we got to do both at the same time. There’s no way to convey the reality of our adventure. And snapping pictures of some of the key moments just wasn’t feasible.

Word to the wise - If, per chance, you consider riding or walking or running on the Legacy Trail northward to Jordan River Trail – you should probs figure out a bypass from about 700 North to North Temple. As we pushed through this area I’m not sure we were Making Friends with the locals along the trail. We were just relieved to live to tell the tale.

Lots of stop and go – lots of off-the-bike, back-on-the-bike - lots of wondering about the life choices that brought us to this moment. #teamsaddlesores  #howlongislotoja  #closecall

0614

 

It’s a tale of two AI’s – ChatGPT and Gemini

Both were given the same prompt: Please write a short limerick about the Sym Squad's Friday morning hike to Ensign Peak, where we rucked, overlook Salt Lake City, had proper symphony homes branding, missed Jon Olson and Brandon Wright, and had a great time.

Gemini:

The Sym Squad on Ensign, quite bold,

Rucked up with their city unrolled.

With shirts proudly bright,

A Symphony sight,

Though Jon and Brandon, the view couldn't hold.

ChatGPT:

The Sym Squad hiked up Ensign Peak,

With rucks on their backs, so to speak,

Salt Lake spread below,

Symphony's branding did show,

But missed Jon and Brandon all week.

0621

Parade of Homes

0622

101 miles clocked. Much respect for those who have clocked so many more miles than this….I’m saluting you BWright. Between numerous peanut butter sandwiches, Pedialyte, and Zac and Collin dragging me kicking and screaming to the finish line…we made it. Another step in the right direction. Trigger warning for the image below: the reptilian, fossil-like imprint is nothing other than the dried sweat outline down my spinal cord left in my jersey. Personally, I think it’s pretty cool – but opinions will vary. TMI, you say? Probably.

0627

Some take-aways from Davis Creek Trail in Farmington:

• Don’t bother hiking this trail unless you subscribe to self-punishment
• No need to hike this trail
• Skip this trail
• Choose a different trail – like ANY other trail
• Do you like nice, flowy trails….then don’t go anywhere near this trail
• Do you like your knees? Then it’s a pass on this trail
• Pretty sure if you trace the meaning of “Davis” back far enough, it means “dumb trail” but I’m no professor
• Who’s idea was this anyway? Way to choose ‘em, Zac!
• True to form, Farmington does not want doggie poopoo on them trail  #keepourtrailspoopless
  
• What did we do to make you mad, Jon? We miss you #whereforeartthoujon

There you have it. Do with it what you will.

0711

Stopping for a little hikey hikey on the way to Seattle ...

0713

Seattle to Portland – here are the takeaways, just 6 of them:

1. A 200 mile bike ride is ill-advised for a 54 year old man, emphasis on OLD man. This one DID NOT consult his physician before embarking on a regimen leading him to this….
2. Brandon is a cycling beast. And while he didn’t do this particular ride – he did do it last year – and I have no earthly idea how he does it when his training rides are from Kaysville to Symphony HQ – How, Brandon, HOW?
3. Have you ever set a goal and been all starry-eyed about accomplishing said goal, only to find out, much too late of course, how misguided your intentions were? Yeah… that resonates with me.
4. It’s a sublime experience when the mind says to the body “Hey, let’s go just a little further” and the body says to the mind “Why don’t you go ********”. I think you get the picture.
5. Shout out to Jadon. He spent the entirety of 16 hours in a Sprinter van as our support vehicle. He drove us TO SEATTLE and back home FROM PORTLAND. He deserves his own medal for this one.
6. At roughly mile 188, I was waiting at the aid station for Zac to roll in for his last refuel before the push to the finish line. I saw him come into the frame, off to my left. He was pedaling strong. I watched for him to turn in to get that last bit of hydration and food. But he didn’t stop. We met eyes for a brief 5 seconds. He tipped his hand to his bike helmet in one last salute, somehow saying – “I can’t stop now, dude. It’s now or never. I’ll see you at the finish line or the funeral home. At this point it doesn’t matter.” And off he went.

The rest is history.

#koth2024  #teamsaddlesores  #whosideawasthis

0714

<Hey ChatGPT: Please write a rap lyric about Zac, Jadon, Collin and Grayson's hike to Multnomah Falls with 11 switchbacks and ice cream cones on July 14>   (Tip: you need to read this one with a beat box playing in the back of your mind)

Yo, check it

Zac, Jadon, Collin, Grayson, crew's insane

Hit the trail to Multnomah, feelin' no pain

Eleven switchbacks, climbin' higher and higher

Sweat drippin', heart pumpin', reachin' our desire

Falls crashin', nature's beauty, can't deny

Picnic spot, chillin', under that sky

July 14th, ice cream cones, sweet reward

Memories made, forever stored, word!

We out.

#koth2024 #symsquad #micdrop

0721

Let’s do a Spartan Race, they said. It will be fun, they said.  It seemed like such good idea at the time. One cracked rib and one strained disc later and at least we got a medal. #pleasedontmakemelaugh

I actually have to say that the Spartan Race was GRAYSON'S idea, not Zach's ...

Landon did it last year ...

More Hikes!

The EMI/Symphony Hiking Challenge started in April and ran through the end of September. Here's a look at Hub's Hikes for August and September.  The first one was a doozy! Climbing Timpanogos in the dark, and waiting to watch the sunrise from the summit.  Landon went along with this hike too. 

With the work challenge, Grayson's been good at taking pictures and doing write-ups, which I've really appreciated! Here's the collage he created and his write-up below ...

Date - August 4th and 5th
Location - Timpooneke Trailhead to Mount Timpanogos Summit

First entry - 11:56 pm -
What the heck are we thinking?

Various take-aways from Mount Timpanogos -

1. I think one-and-done is just fine for this trail.
2. Sometimes bucket list items are for masochists.
3. Microspikes are the bomb-diggity for crossing ice fields.
4. "Sketchy" becomes a very common word.
5. As usual Zac's hiking outfit is on point. Very chic indeed.
6. Headlamps only last about 2-3 hours which is fine if your hike is 2-3 hours.
7. The last mile from saddle to summit is worse by far than the 6 or 7 that preceded it.
8. How in the living heck did people do this without GPS???
9. Shack graffiti includes some familiar first names. You were with us in spirit and Sharpie.
10. Space blankets save the day as body temps plummet waiting for the sunrise. We consider emergency hypothermia treatment.
11. Teens and 20-somethings arrive at the summit after a seemingly leisurely stroll to the top....sheesh...show-offs.
12. On the way down I count 321 hikers on their way up......Ha! suckerzzz....

And scene! Fade to black. Time to nap.

Grayson was in London/Paris for a couple weeks in August. He and Zach had debated an out-of-country hike, but had plenty of other sites to see. September started with SanDiego (which is where Gray and Landon did one of the first hikes back in April, this time with Coop and Keaton -no hike), then some final hikes to wrap up the challenge.

Monday, September 7, 2023 - Flag Rock

Grayson's write-up is below

My Symphony peeps, if you look yonder, directly east of our office, you see Deuel Creek Canyon. On the south side of the canyon is a flowy, beautiful hike that is ultra-popular - yes, I know you already know ;)  On the north side there is another hiking trail (or two or three). This trail is short, steep, cantankerous, inexplicably cruel and forsaken...kind of like a middle child (sorry if this is triggering). However, at the end of this trail, some dedicated soul or souls have hoisted a flag pole and of course an American Flag. No small effort here. My hats off to those who made this happen.

Now.... What if, just maybe, possibly a Symphony flag could accompany Old Glory, if only for a minute. Thanks to the ever-resourceful Caroline working with Zac to orchestrate (see what I did there) just one such flag. The pictures tell the tale....with one exception. The wind, which would normally accompany any morning in any canyon in the state, was completely silent. Like no wind. Our hope for flags unfurled and waving in the morning breeze was not to be. Alas.... Perhaps we return. Perhaps we don't. Either way, this one's in the books.

Thursday, September 14, 2023

No official write up of this hike, but Gray included a link to info about it. Click the link for a brief read - one of the cathartic benefits of the hike. 

Saturday, September 16

This new trail system is out by us, near Kennecott (err Rio Tinto).

I went and checked it out this last weekend. They've done a good job with it.

Saturday, September 16 was a big hiking day for Landon too. He hit Mount Olympus again, this time on his own - he didn't take pictures. These are a few photos from the first/June trip (Hikes~June/July) that I didn't have when I made the collage about that hike ... so I'm going to put them here anyway! 

Saturday - September 23 - Donut Falls

Wednesday, September 27 

When recapping his morning to me in an email the next day  Gray wrote "I'm dealing with some real residual fatigue from my hike. It wasn't particularly strenuous though Mueller is a bit longer than some of the usuals - 7 miles in total. It was a gorgeous day and the colors were well worth the jaunt." I love the shadow selfie ;) 

Friday, September 29

Lake Mary, Lake Martha, Lake Catherine ... Gray got off work a little early and Zach and Landon joined for a Friday afternoon hike.  The official Symphony Hiking challenge has ended ... much to the relief of Janet in the office, who had to handle the photos and write ups. It's a little hard to see in the photos, but Gray and Zach got matching "King of the Hill" sweatshirts for all their outdoor activities!

In the original post about the Symphony Hiking Challenge, there was a picture showing the progress. This timeline ended up taking over the room! A simple photo couldn't capture everything by the end (and Gray didn't even include several of his hikes). You can see it HERE. There were a few BIKE (not HIKE) alternate activities too!