White & Red Baldy

Before anybody cracks any jokes, the title of this post is not intended to reflect the "before" and "after" state of the top of my head although it would probably be a fairly accurate description right now. Red Baldy and White Baldy are two 11,000 foot peaks here in the Wasatch, both of which sit along the Alpine Ridge between Little Cottonwood Canyon and American Fork Canyon. Both of these peaks are familiar territory for me. I've summited each of the peaks twice before. The route we planned to follow, however, was different from what I'd previously done and I was really looking forward to exploring another section of what has become my favorite area in the Wasatch Mountains. The route we planned to follow was a classic Wasatch Mountain Club route called Red/White/Red/White. Our plan was to hike up Red Pine Canyon, climb up the west face of White Baldy, follow the ridge across to Red Baldy, glissade down the west face of Red Baldy and then hike out White Pine Canyon back to the car. Below are a few of the pics from the climb. You can see more of them on summitpost.

Working our way towards the face of White Baldy

Taking a break on the summit of White Baldy

Jason down climbing a steep slope on the est ridge of White Baldy

Good thing I spent some time at the rock gym

Ammon and Jason taking a break on the east ridge of White Baldy.

Kids Say the DARNDEST Things!

Spring time temperatures have allowed us to have our windows open quite a bit lately. Not only is it wonderful having the windows open for fresh air, it is also quite entertaining. Nearly always (outside of school hours or when it's dark outside) there is a group of little boys ranging in age from 4-9 years old that are playing outside in the common area of our apartment complex. They are full of attitude and imagination. Here is just a sample of we we have heard over dinner the last couple of nights...

Situation #1: The group of boys are running around playing tag, keep away, or something of the like. One of the boys tags the youngest of the group...who is probably 5 or 6 years old therefore he is "it." The boy that got tagged then proceeds to chase after everyone else yelling at the top of his lungs in a zombie-like tone "I AM CHUCKY THE EVIL DOLL!!" Travis and I cracked up!! Now I understand the need for the intimidation factor since he is younger and smaller...but how on earth does this kid know WHO Chucky the evil doll is?? Chucky's last movie came out in 2004 so he may not have even been born yet! Poor kid probably has had nightmares of that devil of a doll all because his mom and dad don't wait until he is in bed to break out the 1990's horror films...

Situation #2: The group of boys are sitting in a small circle taking turns on their little handheld video games. All of the sudden one of the boys bursts out angrily "FINE!!! YOU AREN'T GONNA BE INVITED TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY... (3 second pause)...AND IT WAS GONNA BE AT CHUCKY CHEESE!!" This poor little guy then runs away from the group towards his apartment (probably on his way to cry to his mom) when one of the other boy's yells after him "HEY COLE...CALEB SAID YOUR MOM IS STUPID!" The accused boy quickly follows with "NO I DIDN'T!!" Our picked on friend stops in his tracks, turns back towards the group and runs as fast as his little legs will take him while GROWLING! I guess the "your momma" jokes don't go over well even at a young age...PRICELESS!

Electricity! Hot Water! A Door! OH MY!

Travis and I went up to Logan yesterday for our long anticipated 4-way walk through. It was our time to go through the house with the builder, room by room, and make sure that structurally everything was correct and that there weren't any last minute changes we wanted to make to our previously decided upon upgrades. It felt kind of like a "speak now or forever hold your peace" type of thing..in a good way. We thought it was funny that the paper work we signed afterwards was actually called the "Last Chance Walk Through Checklist". Everything looked great and we were told that the city Inspector was on his way to sign off on the home after we left yesterday afternoon and that first thing today they would begin insulating and sheet rocking. We were also told that the home should be finished in 6-7 weeks which would be the last week of June or first week of July...RIGHT ON SCHEDULE!! :) Here are some pictures Trav took and as always you can click on an image to see it larger...


Stop in the name of Nibley...and the plant that may kill me someday (isn't Trav creative? I would have never of though to take these shots!)


Hooray for hot water and Electricity! Seriously...camping for a few days is one thing, but I don't know how those Amish people do it!?

Master bath on April 5...and on May 20..much improved and so much easier on the ab muscles!

The first front door we will ever own as a married couple and the view of the main floor from the stairs

Guest Bath on April 5...and on May 20...Sure to be a wonderful and relaxing oasis for our guests...and don't forget that we DO have hot water! :)

Finished main floor in the model home and our work in progress on May 20 (personally, I like our color scheme so much better...much more natural looking!)

Side view from the street April 26 and May 20. They tell us the siding will be started in the next couple of days!

It was so exciting as always to walk through our new home and see the progress that has occurred in a few short weeks. We are keeping our fingers crossed that things stay on schedule. I am sure that this next month or two will fly by and we will be moving in before we know it. We have been planning this for so long and it's crazy to think that it is almost here!

Climbing Tanners Gulch

"Don't slip here", I said out loud to myself as worked my way down the steep slope. The slope was only about 60 degrees, but it felt nearly vertical. Facing the slope, I methodically plunged my ice ax into the snow then kicked two new steps with my feet, making sure that my crampons had a solid purchase in the snow. Step and repeat. Ammon had already worked his way down the slope and Jason was waiting patiently at the top for my signal that I had moved out of the fall line. The top of the slope was full of loose rock so we had to work our way down one by one to avoid knocking anything down on the person below. After about six or seven minuets I yelled up to Jason that I was out of the fall line and he could start working his way down. I cut a little ledge in the snow with my ax, unclipped the waist belt of my pack and sat down to wait for Jason to join me.


It started early, 3:00 AM. I'd set my alarm for 3:15, but I never get much sleep the night before a climb and was wide awake long before then. I was supposed to meet the rest of our group at the s-curves in Big Cottonwood Canyon at 4:45 to leave a few shuttle cars and then drive around to Little Cottonwood Canyon to start the climb near the Tanners Flat campground. The goal was to climb up Tanners Gulch from Little Cottonwood Canyon, summit Mt. Dromedary (11,107 ft), Sunrise Peak (11,275 ft.), and Broads Fork Twin Peaks (11,330 ft.) and then head out Broads Fork to the shuttle cars we left in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Tanners Gulch, Photo by Ammon Hatch

The climb was long and steep, but well worth the effort. The views were incredible and the weather was amazing. The group successfully summited all three peaks and made it back to the car safely and without incident. Unfortunately, I only summited the first two peaks. I was slowed down with some leg cramps and wanted to get down off the mountain before the hot afternoon sun turned the snow to mush. As I sat on my ledge waiting for Jason to finish down climbing the steep slope, you could hear the "whooomph" sound of avalanches in the distance, triggered by the afternoon heat. That sound is scary and moving as slowly as I was, I thought it best to start heading down. I was a little disappointed to have not summited the final of the three peaks, but I've already been to the top of the Broads Fork Twins so that helped ease the disappointment a little. Plus, two 11,000 + foot peaks in one day isn't half bad.

Hear are some of my photos from the trip:

Alec, Ammon, and Jason at the base of Tanners Gulch

Sunrise on the Pfeifferhorn on the Alpine Ridge

Alec on the first summit of the day, Mt. Dromedary


Ammon working his way down from the Summit of Mt. Dromeday.

Alec and Ammon working their way along the ridgeline

Jason watching Ammon downclimb a steep slope on the west side of Jeppson's Folly.


Jason traversing a steep snow slope.

Looking back on our route Mt. Dromedary on the right, Sunrise Peak in the center, and Jeppson's Folly on the right.

Bye-Bye Bruins...Hello Aggies!

Today Travis took his last final test EVER at Salt Lake Community College. He is officially on his way to bigger and better things. He has earned his AS degree in General Studies, plus a bunch of transfer credit that will go towards his BFA degree in Graphic Design from Utah State. Even though I know that it bothers him that he still isn't finished with school, I am VERY proud of his progress. He probably would have been finished with school a long time ago if he hadn't cut his own school schedule back to let me go full-time to finish up my schooling first. He supported me (both mentally and financially) through my PTA program and I never would have been able to get through it without him. I know he is going to do AWESOME at Utah State and I am looking forward to loving and supporting him every step of the way!