Mountain Majesty

Priorities are an interesting thing in life. Most of my life, I have been involved with mountains. Mostly the dry or nearly dry, desert variety. In my moments of dreaming, I would think about climbing a mountain that looked like this. But it never happened. My priorities became family, work and church. Mountaineering and the freedom of the hills was always something I would do another time given different circumstances. Mountains still have their allure, but now I see them in perspective. I would be much sadder for neglecting my family than I ever would be for neglecting my mountain climbing.

Into the Forest

This would seem to be a typical view of a typical forest. But it isn't. This is the rain forest on Vancouver Island, Canada. The difference between this forest and those in Arizona and Utah is dramatic, but a photo such as this does not give you an idea of those differences.

Superstition Mountain Vista

The Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona are unbelievably rugged and difficult to hike in. Each year people get lost and die out here in this maze of canyons and cliffs. While hiking the very heavily traveled Fremont Saddle Trail recently, even though I am an experienced Superstition Mountain hiker, I lost the trail three times. This is not serious on the Fremont Saddle Hike but elsewhere in the wilderness area, it could be fatal.

Stone People

Just a few days before the photos I took of snow on Lake Powell, I was basking in the warm, brilliant sunlight of the desert on a hike into the Superstition Mountains. Many of the most striking rock formations of the Superstitions are the "Stone People" or columns, sometimes called hoodoos, that line the ridges. This name supposedly comes from Native American legends concerning the origin of these formations. However, this legend is recorded in the book, Farish, Thomas Edwin. History of Arizona. Phoenix, Ariz: [publisher not identified], 1915, page 256.

Lake Powell in the Snow

New Year 2014 brought a huge snowstorm to the Southwest. We drove from Arizona to Utah and while crossing the border stopped briefly at the Dam to look at the scene over Lake Powell. It was well below freezing and we did not spend much time outside of our vehicle.

Out My Window New Years 2015

This is the view out my window where I work every day. This happens to be the view on New Years 2015. Actually the photo was taken on the second since I was traveling from Mesa, Arizona to Provo, Utah on the 1st. But since the temperature is in the single digits, I don't think it changed much since yesterday.

A Very Sad Pear

We are not quite sure why this pear was so sad. Perhaps it is because it was mostly eaten. I guess I would be sad too if I were in this shape. I guess there is not much we can do to cheer it up.