Hike 29 March 2015

Today I went up the C Trail in Cedar City with some awesome friends. The objective was to go up to about mile 2.6 and proceed up the heath to the Monolith, and to there participate in some silent meditation for a little while. It was really quite satisfying, and the weather was perfect. The transition from snarky interplay to quiet introspection marked a stark contrast in our group.

Brian perches atop the sandstone overlook.

Chelsea basks on a slab of stone.

Our rotund hero, me.

Developing Independence

I've taken numerous courses on anthropology and sociology over the years, and often discover that I have lost an entire night simply listening to seminars on psychology. This is the stuff that rivets me to a chair, and which drives me forward.

In the pursuit of happiness, I have found there are some developmental trends that lend themselves to the discovery and creation of one's own path in life. Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and the work of M. Scott Peck, I have been working on a somewhat esoteric approach which predicts benchmarks in individual maturation. This outdoor engagement project is foundational to the process of personal development. It produces the attributes and skills needed to stay afloat and to keep moving forward in the face of an often-overwhelming world. This system is still in development, and is called The Order of The Tiger. See more at www.orderofthetiger.com

Up the C-Trail, off-trail

Sunday, 22 March 2015. I left around 3:30 and finished moseying down the hill and back down to my car by 6:30 PM. I've gone up the trail repeatedly, and become acquainted with the local terrain. This time I chose to go straight up the hill. It was much more challenging than the regular snakelike trail, as it was more vertical, more treacherous, more slippery and thorny. This kept the eyes engaged at all levels, instead of being allowed to habitually scour the ground for agates and moqui marbles.

Approximately 37.654232, -113.058949

The "Monolith" is atop a heath, divergent uphill from the trail. It is a beautiful series of rocky upheavals, worn by wind. A few resilient evergreens sprout around it. At the western side of the monolith there are encircled stones with burnt ashes. This little area is quite near the road up the hill and slightly southward, and is easily accessed by a short hike or ATV.

37.644757, -113.053671

37.644757, -113.053671

When I got to the "monolith" at about mile 2.6 I found some oddly rolled lumps of dirt. I upset one to see if they were hollow, but they were filled and dense. I'm not sure how they formed.

Peculiar lumpy mud formations, about 3 inches in diameter.

Instead of returning the way I came, I went uphill and towards the road.

37.644531, -113.052626
Just east of the monolith, lovely scrub and a curious twisted pine tree.

37.644531, -113.052626

The winding road down has many turns, and cars will barrel around the edge without warning.

Outdoors on a fine Saturday

I went with my friend Chelsea out to a nearby canyon that my friend Brian has dubbed "Cardiac Ridge", located at 37.665152, -113.048544

The trail is about a 30° incline in many places, and sometimes more severe. The snow from last week remains thick on the trail, which is generally shielded on its south side by a ridge; so it has a mild refrigerating effect that has kept the snow intact. We rolled snowballs down the hill, and passed children sledding towards the bottom. The snow is still just barely dry enough to be a big hindrance to regular walking, and I get about double the workout in much less time than usual. It is really, really fun, and satisfyingly exhausting. Thick synthetic fur boots have made a HUGE difference in keeping my feet warm and mobile. Also, making sure I wore nylon or polyester pants ensures rapid drying. As these have formed a pretty good seal, I didn't even worry about wearing wool socks.

Moreover, the day ended with a visit to some friends who had a dog that is quite possibly the most endearing Pomeranian mix I have ever encountered.

Quick-Change Magic Trick

This year I attempt proper hiking in the snow, keeping warm with some thick fur boots and a cloak that Mongols would envy. I have started growing bored of the C-Trail here in Cedar City, and have examined a few new paths slightly to the north of it.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B039%2749.6%22N+113%C2%B003%2700.0%22W/@37.663688,-113.0517474,313m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Let me show you the difference in terrain between a few days ago and a few fewer days ago. The first set was taken on the 21st of February.

Then, it snowed.

Going up was challenging, mostly from increased resistance against the legs from deep snow. Going downhill is much harder, as the snow compacts and slides. I slid down the naturally-chamfered gulleys along this trail more than a few times. It was quite entertaining.

C-Trail on cloudy days: 7/16/2014 & 7/29/2014

I made my frequent trips to the C-trail on some cloudy days, and took a few shots that I felt encapsulate something in the weather that came off as just a little intimidating and wonderful. The greens of verdant trees are recorded with a higher chroma on DSLR cameras, as the intense light of the sky is diminished and does not force the machines to overcompensate; the sky usually makes the land below darker.

Mammoth Caves - June 2014

Near the tiny alpine village of Duck Creek, Utah, there is a dormant volcano that spewed lava across the region a few thousand years ago - merely an eye's blink, in geological time. I researched the location on Google Maps, which is fairly useful although the last bit is off-road and somewhat seasonally muddy and/or totally inaccessible. There's a road to get there just a little to the east of the village, on the north side of Highway 14. Follow the signs carefully, as it may feel as though you went too far. However the case, note the map:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B033%2734.8%22N+112%C2%B036%2737.6%22W/@37.559667,-112.610458,680m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

See the gray areas? There are lava tubes to explore all over that area. Bring a headlamp, water, and be prepared for slippery clay mud that encrusts every stone on the floor, once you get into the heart of the cave. Water drips from the ceiling at odd intervals; and ice builds up along some areas even in summertime. Mind the bat droppings, which sprout a weird fungus. And do not disturb the bats.

Mammoth Ridge West, 37.584891, -112.579877

There's something almost comical about that uplift in the background. 37.552368, -112.595641

Mica Mine Adventure - April 2014

In the desert, a few miles south of St. George, there's an open-pit selenite mine. It has been mislabeled a "mica" mine by some, which is probably a harmless mistake unless you're a nut like me who wants to use mica for its heat-resistant properties and ends up heating selenite (which turns into a cheap cement and releases lung-destroying cement smoke when exposed to fire. Thank you very-little, you finks who make the error!) However mistaken in nature, the crystals are lovely and abundant. You can go there and fill buckets of the stuff. I did a little more research and found that selenite (a form of gypsum) is peculiarly more water-soluble at lower temperatures, as it has a tendency to lose a hydrogen ion at higher temperatures and become insoluble. It has only a little birefringence, which is one way you can distinguish between it and proper mica (which has vast birefringence), although both can have forms with fractionable layers.

This excursion took place with the help of a few dear friends: Michael & Sarah, and their dog Charlie. We enjoyed a few hours of exploration, though getting there can take a bit of research.  It is now accessible at the end of the highway towards the airport, turning right towards Werner Valley, and turning right (south) once more and proceeding along that frontage road for a few miles.

MAP:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.978438,-113.463699,346m/data=!3m1!1e3