Happy Canyon Overlook

Poison Spring Cyn; background / Happy Cyn; foreground 

Our trip into Sams Mesa Box Canyon settled the question of a possible future backpacking trip. The next morning I sat in the sun looking at maps and drinking coffee. We didn't want to spend a bunch of time driving around so we settled on driving about 20 minutes further out onto Sams Mesa. The contour lines on the quad begged exploration along the north rim of Happy Canyon out to a point that forms between Happy Canyon and the Dirty Devil River. Long story short: We walked 11 miles for a picnic!

Sams Mesa Box Canyon

For a good while now I've been eyeing the map with the hopes of making a non-technical 5 day backpacking loop trip, out of two canyons that are popular among canyoneers for technical challenge. We lucked out by having a spell of days in the upper 60's during spring break so we gassed up and rolled south where we had 4 days of sunny solitude.

The Wasatch Twins

Don't look down

Lisa and I were kinda thinking it was time to bag a peak

Mt. Nebo Wilderness

The view that captured my attention

Mt. Nebo, highest peak in the Wasatch at 11,928'. I'm not sure how anybody can drive past this mountain without wanting for it's summit.

Lake Blanche

I wanted the first real trip of the year into the higher terrain of the Wasatch to be

Maybird Lake

Maybird Lake & Pfeifferhorn

Notch Peak

Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm a sucker for big views and big country.

Last Chance Bench Trail

The Last Chance Trail crosses, what else, the Last Chance Benches. The trail runs beneath the dramatic red Roan cliffs at the portal of Desolation Canyon.

Ben Lomond Peak

Amazingly we had a summer day to kill in town, so we made a dash to go bag the most dominate peak around Ogden.

Lewis Peak

We had a half a day in town before flying to Seattle for a wedding.

Wheeler Peak

Great Basin Nat'l Park, Wheeler Peak (13,063'), and the ancient Bristlecone Pines in Nevada.

Mt Ogden

Mt. Ogden (9570') from the Beus Cyn. trail:

A dayhike to the summit above Ogden. It was a hot day, nearly 100 degrees.