sand angels...me on the right!!

Happiness
A state you dare not enter
with hopes of staying,
quicksand in the marshes, and all

the roads leading to a castle
that doesn’t exist.
But there it is, as promised,

with its perfect bridge above
the crocodiles,
and its doors forever open.

Stephen Dunn

MOKE MARBLES

MOQUI MARBLES

SHAMAN STONES

MOKO BALLS

NAVAJO CHERRIES





There seems to be quite a few names for these very unusual geological formations found here in Southern Utah and Arizona. I find myself hiking across 'pools' of these rock about 2-3 times a week. (more on that in a moment)
American Indians that lived in the area are said to have used these strange geological anomalies for games, and in their slings for hunting and to absorb bad spirits and to even reduce pain. (more on this in another moment)
Break one of these stones open and you will find that they are filled with sandstone. The dark outside shell has iron, phosphorus and lime in its make-up. Nobody seems to know for sure how these fascinating rocks were formed...but there sure a a lot of interesting theories. Astroid hits, volcanic actions and mostly mystery are the hypothesizes I have read about. But all agree, they are old, old, old. 120-199 million years old!!!
Some folks in these parts believe that the stones hold mystical powers. Hold one in your hand and it may absorb negativity and replace it with useful energy. (Im all about useful energy!!) Maybe...just maybe I had better appreciate the fact that I can and do hike over beautiful 'puddles' of this stone, and that I do gain more from the experience than I realize. All I know is that these marbles have been in the Navajo Sandstone for millions of years and that its a safe bet that they were in there before the dunes were turned into stone by oceans of water those millions of years ago!!!
How about that!!??

Hiking Red Cliffs Extreme!

My pallid words cant begin to describe a day like today! Or more specifically, a hike like todays!! The delightful ladies from California wanted something a little extra special and a little more challenging today...to cap off their week (they have no idea yet about how special tomorrow will be for them when we take them to Zion!)
So...we drove to Red Cliffs to do the 'extreme' hike out past the ropes! These pictures tell it all!!
It was a superb hike with superb company!! Plus this time there was water!! Rushing streams and waterfalls!!
There was frosty coatings on the plants in the shade.
There were puddles of sunshine!
There was fun!!



And no good hike comes with out challenges!!



It was an amazing, glorious morning, and now I can finally say that I have my feet back under me...after what felt to be a long winters nap. Im hiking with confidence once again! Wish you could join us!!
Click here to see pics of our hike on Thursday to the cinder cone!!

Awesome Chasim Revisited

Earth Your Dancing Place

Beneath heaven's vault
remember always walking
through halls of cloud
down aisles of sunlight
or through high hedges
of the green rain
walk in the world
highheeled with swirl of cape
hand at the swordhilt
of your pride
Keep a tall throat
Remain aghast at life

Enter each day
as upon a stage
lighted and waiting
for your step
Crave upward as flame
have keenness in the nostril
Give your eyes
to agony or rapture

Train your hands
as birds to be
brooding or nimble
Move your body
as the horses
sweeping on slender hooves
over crag and prairie
with fleeing manes
and aloofness of their limbs

Take earth for your own large room
and the floor of earth
carpeted with sunlight
and hung round with silver wind
for your dancing place
by: May Swenson


Would you like a weather report for January in Southern Utah? I dont mean to rub it in...but here it goes anyway. For the last two days our hiking temperatures have been in the 50's!! Which is all the sweeter knowing that just a few hundred miles north it's SNOWING as we hike and slather on the sunscreen!!! SWEET!!!

No wind, only warming sun to stop and bask in while taking a break for lunch!! Desert Cliffs' turkey wraps are to die for!!! Dont you wish you could join us for a bite?
Sand, sand, everywhere sand....taking time to dump it out one last time!! ha, tricked you!!...there is never a last time for accumulating coral dust between the piggies!!!
Jackets are hardly needed, and are quickly stripped off and tucked away in our trusty camelbacks for possible future days of inclimate weather. Shorts and shirt sleeves are certainly justified.
Even the equines and their riders reveled in such a day as this!!! And there monsterous grey dog too!! They sweat, we sweat as we joyfully trod the high desert of paradise!!

"Tish-ah!" said the Grass. "Tish-ah, tish-ah!"
Never had it said anything else-never would it
say anything else. It had bent resiliently under
the trampling feet; it did not break, but it
complained aloud every time- for nothing like
this had ever happened to it before.
from: Giants of the Earth
by: O. E. Rolvaag 1926

Yes!!! Most assuredly the sky is indeed this blue!!
The hiking cairns were even magnificent today!!!

The smiles are that genuine!
The vistas are that perfect!!
The sand truly is that sparkling white!!
The ice is the only reminder that it is winter time.
We spent another glorious day in the desert today-hiking with delightful new guests from So. California- who have never visited this part of the country before!!
It just doesnt get better than this!!!
I love the opportunity to see what I have in my own back yard through the eyes of newcomers!!
Hiking every single day this week is seriously going to challenge me. After my 2 week hiatus in December...Im feeling the repercussions!!! I know Im in for some painful moments. Today was proof positive of this fact. But at the same time, Im confident that I'll get my legs and lungs back pretty quickly. Today was also proof of this. We made good time on our 4 1/2 mile hike to the top of Snow Canyon State Park!! And it was fun!!!
Im the luckiest hik'in grandma on the planet!!!

I believe that men are generally still
a little afraid of the dark, though the
witches are all hung, and Christianity
and candles have been introduced.
from: Solitude
by: Henry David Thoreau

I realize that one of the commandments has something to do with NOT worshiping graven images or idols....
I think I may be called out on the carpet on this one. I think I would be stating the obvious,when I say that I WORSHIP the sun!! (But I will also be found guilty of worshiping the Son as well. I know from whence all my blessing flow!!)
I have missed being in the sun these last few weeks! And am so pleased that I got my widening butt out on a trail today...and that this time I got my Builder to join us!! Yep...thats my second confession for the week...I aint been hik'in enough lately!!
And man does it show!! My legs and my lungs felt the neglect!! It was an interesting day for me.
I experienced several things today that I dont usually experience when hiking.
First: there was the "jelly legs." I honestly cant remember when I last 'lost' my legs, or when I felt that all I had was mush for legs as they protested to what I was asking them to do. I really cant remember!! (but... again....2 weeks without hiking hasnt happened to me in years either!) Thank heavens it didnt last long. It was over it quick, but it was humbling to feel the sensation.
Second: a received a lesson in empathy!! I've "jumped the crack" half a dozen times in my hiking career. I've coaxed, encouraged, and prodded hikers over the yawning chasm. Today...it was me who froze...not with cold...but with out-right fear!! (Where the heck did it come from!!!??) If it hadnt been for my Builder and Leanne, I would have turned around and gone back the way we came. It's very embarrassing to admit this, but its true. I was down on my butt, not daring or wanting to move...frozen...where formally I have just hopped, skipped or jumped across! I MUST go back, and soon and conquer the gap!! Just like getting back up on the horse!!
Nick was kind enough to point out that the only other time he's seen that expression on my face was when I sat on precipice, staring down into of pool of COLD water as we hiked through the Subway in Zion. I perched there wishing I was anywhere else in the world but right there, knowing that I'd have to jump in and swim...with no sign of sunlight warming a rock, for what seemed like miles!!! That was fear!!! Fear of being completely uncomfortable!! Today's fear was unreasonable, but real never-the-less. I am going back to prove whos boss!!!



It was another glorious day in Southern Utah!! We have guests arriving at the resort this week and for several weeks following. I'll be hiking most every day!! I cant wait!! Ive missed it so!! My toes have missed the coral dust between them!!

HIKING IN SNOW CANYON STATE PARK

She did not entirely approve of volcano's; their
action, she implied, was disruptive like the
tantrum of a child. Rivers that overflowed their
banks were rather silly. The grandeur of mountain
ranges and the fertility of valleys she spoke with
respect. Her tone, when she described a plateau,
was almost affectionate.
from: Good Morning Miss Dove
by: Frances Gray Patton

We have a geological wonder in our backyard.
Snow Canyon State Park is the said wonder.
I'd wager that most residents of our community have never wandered the many trails that can be found there.
The Park is made up of white and red Navajo sandstone.
3 times in the last couple of million years, lava flows have seeped through its deep canyons. Because of these ancient magmatic events, the lava flows in Snow Canyon happens to be a perfect example of something called inverted topography.
What is inverted topography you ask??
Well, as I understand it, it happens when older rock sits above younger rock.
How does this happen you ask??

In a nutshell, it goes like this:
1.4 million years ago the first lava flow began. Lava erupted from vents and cinder cones that are prevalent in this area.
1.1 million years ago, another flow came through the park region and this time the lava came from/near Pine Valley Mountain.

20,000 years ago, the Santa Clara flow came through and blanketed the park with another layer of lava. THis flow came from additional vents and fissures that are nearby. This last flow went south through the canyon and covered the canyon floor.

The beautiful Navajo sandstone that protrudes from this basaltic flow, which we take every opportunity to climb, are called turtlebacks!! Love that!!! These turtlebacks are all thats left of the high ridges of the canyon that the lava flow around.

So...if I havent confused you completely...maybe this diagram will help illustrate what I had difficulty using words to describe.

(image from a great book- Geology Underfoot in Southern Utah by Richard Orudorff)