
Panoramic view from Malan’s Peak, elev. 6980 feet, with the Great Salt Lake in the distance.
Three generations of men in this family are preparing to hike the 215-mile John Muir Trail together next month.
Two of them are here; the other (Tim’s dad) drives from WA to meet us in CA in about ten days.
I went with Tim and our son yesterday on their first training hike, which took us on a 5.3 mile in-and-out (or 4.8 mile, or 5.8 mile, or 7.8 mile, depending on which web site or whose Health App tracking you believe) from Taylor Canyon to Malan’s Peak, in Ogden, UT.
Normally, a hike of that length — even one as strenuously uphill as this one — would take us 3-4 hours, including long stops for meals and views. But because both boys were testing new backpacks and various pieces of gear, this one took us six. Yeah, ouch.

Preparing to depart.
Apple, meet tree.

Beginning:
Everyone’s so happy and unsweaty and excited!

Our views along the way…

Charming alternative to the usual rock cairn

The wildflowers were in bloom, treating us to spectacular colors.

Summit!
Clearly, we’d had it with packs and poles, dropped them where we arrived, and kept walking to the edge…

… for this reward

Don’t let the smile fool you. Everything hurt, and my knees were not at all looking forward to our descent.

On the way back down the mountain, we took breaks to test water filtration equipment…

… and cool tired tootsies (downstream from the filtration experiments, of course!)
Upon our return home, all three of us took advantage of the hot tub here at Century Park, to soothe our aching muscles before going to bed.
Gear switch (because I don’t know where else to put this): We were featured recently on Heartland RV’s Facebook page. Check out the interview here!

Thanks for the publicity, Heartland!