The Wastch Mountains

[cornerofmadness]

Today I headed into the Wastch Mountains. I was relieved that I was not the lone person like I was last night. There was about a half dozen of us (two of them fellow HAPS people). What can I say? They were just beautiful. I am such a fan of mountains (and their streams and lakes) I wish everything below the waist wasn’t a big pile of arthritis because I can’t get around the way I would love to in the hills. We were aiming for Big Cottonwood Canyon.

This wasn’t a tour where you learned a lot like most of the ones I take. I did learn that the mountains were named after a Shoshone chief and it means mountain pass. The lakes in these mountains are protected (as they’re the water source for the city) so no one is allowed in them and no dogs are allowed in the forest at all (not even in a vehicle) which cuts down on processing needed on the water (I’m assuming cats would be banned too but people rarely try to walk them into the water). And the mountains are part of an ancient sea bed which became Lake Bonneville which then dried up 15,000 years ago.

We stopped so we could climb up to a plateau. Unfortunately it wasn’t a dirt path. It was loose shale. I only made it half way up. Between how high I had to lift that bad hip and the neuropathy which makes walking on shifting surfaces very difficult, I stopped climbing. If I fell then everyone would have had a bad trip so I waited. It was fine.

From there we went to the top of the mountain. There was a closed for the season ski resort and lots of snow left. There were tons of lovely little homes, winter homes for the avid skiers (would make for a nice story. Must think on it). The couple from San Diego tried climbing up the slope and learned snow is slippy. I stalked the cutest ground squirrel.

Then we headed back down. What we didn’t do was go out to Silver Lake as the brochure promised. It’s still too snowy. I understand that but thought they should have mentioned that during booking or something (well have it online at least. I did learn that the antelope island trip I wanted to take would have been less thrilling too as I couldn’t have gotten out!! A biting gnat is out until July and it’s too miserable to get out. Something else that should be mentioned somewhere).

The last stop was Big Cottonwood Canyon creek which is basically snow run off...SO much run off. It was beautiful. I took so many pictures of it.

Tonight was the night of the brew pub. I went to Red Rock for a late lunch (tasty black bean burger and their Gypsy Scratch ale, insensitive name aside, was great. The brettanomyces wild yeast gave it a peachy/apricoty taste. Loved it) then made the mistake of hiking back to the mall because I didn’t want to just lounge around the hotel for hours. Between heat, exhaustion and beer, I got overpriced fudge from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and I bought Lush’s overpriced bath bombs but eh, why not? (though I will say evil_little_dog & silvrethorn won’t be getting their traditional gifts from my travels because nothing was worth the buying unless they wanted an ugly Utah ball cap).

Dinner was back to Squatter’s Brewpub because the restaurant I really wanted to go to was closed for the holiday (I didn’t know that because online it was listed as being open I did check) and I wasn’t up for walking BACK toward that damn mall. Squatter’s was across the street. The Thai yellow curry was good and the cinnamon polygamous porter was very good.

I’m packed up and ready to fly back tomorrow (send me good wishes). I’ve already packed the camera so pictures at another time.