Let's back up - another SLC visit
The weekend before Donna's 40th high school reunion, we did a 4 day long weekend to SLC. We hiked two days, were invited to Nic's house for dinner with his entire family, and had a great breakfast with Anna, Nic, and Matt.
First a few comments about SLC. SLC is just a little over half the size of Denver, and is more like a mountain town than Denver (Queen City of the Plains). Denver has great views of the mountains, but SLC feels like it is in the mountains. Our day hikes (or skiing at SLC's world class 500 inches of snow a year resorts up Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons) are only 30 minutes or less from Anna's house. Alta and Snowbird ski areas, up Little Cottonwood Canyon, are literally less than ten miles from Nic's parents house in Sandy, Utah, a south suburb of SLC. SLC's roads are way easier to travel on, for example I-15 is 5 lanes through the heart of SLC, and although I am sure they have traffic jams, I personally have never been in one. Denver on the other hand seems to be one big traffic jam all the time, at least the I-25 corridor (and I-70 going west out of Denver, particularly on ski weekends, where it is literally bumper to bumper). We have not left Denver in the last several years to travel up I-25 without getting in at least one if not multiple slow and go situations on our way up to Cheyenne. With all of that said, CO is great, Denver is a great city, and we live living here. People who haven't been to SLC just don't realize how spectacular it is. Now of course it has its down sides too, like nasty temperature inversions in the winter, it's one of the third reddest states (politically) in the country (many folks would see that as a plus, not me at least these days - where have all the moderate Republicans gone to?? ironically Huntsman and Romney are probably the most moderate of the current Republican crop of Presidential contenders, and they of course are from or have strong ties to Utah- ok, a small veer into national politics, perhaps I will wax eloquent (or not) on that subject another time).
So back to our visit. We had a lot of fun on our hikes - the first in Big Cottonwood canyon to Blanche Lake - beautiful hike and lake (as you will see), but Yikes!, it was a tough hike, up roughly 3,000 feet vertical in 3 miles - basically unrelentingly straight up. The second hike to Cecret Lake, at Alta ski area, easy hike, also a beautiful area. On the weekends, these hikes are busy being so close to town, but still very scenic. We really enjoyed meeting Nic's family - Ryan and Adrienne were gracious hosts, the food was delicious, and Nic's whole family was there, sisters/brothers/spouses/ dogs, etc. We felt very welcomed. Right after that visit we went to a going away party for our long-term friends in SLC, Sally and John Gutman, held at other long -term friends house, Don and Karen Mahoney. John and Sally are moving (and in fact have now moved) to Wrangell, Alaska. Perhaps a visit next summer will be on our agenda as it is a spectacular, although very remote area (far SE Alaska). Our last "event" was lunch with Nic, Anna and Matt at the Citrus Grill. Yummy food at reasonable prices, and lots of stories and laughter.
Here come the pics.
First a few comments about SLC. SLC is just a little over half the size of Denver, and is more like a mountain town than Denver (Queen City of the Plains). Denver has great views of the mountains, but SLC feels like it is in the mountains. Our day hikes (or skiing at SLC's world class 500 inches of snow a year resorts up Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons) are only 30 minutes or less from Anna's house. Alta and Snowbird ski areas, up Little Cottonwood Canyon, are literally less than ten miles from Nic's parents house in Sandy, Utah, a south suburb of SLC. SLC's roads are way easier to travel on, for example I-15 is 5 lanes through the heart of SLC, and although I am sure they have traffic jams, I personally have never been in one. Denver on the other hand seems to be one big traffic jam all the time, at least the I-25 corridor (and I-70 going west out of Denver, particularly on ski weekends, where it is literally bumper to bumper). We have not left Denver in the last several years to travel up I-25 without getting in at least one if not multiple slow and go situations on our way up to Cheyenne. With all of that said, CO is great, Denver is a great city, and we live living here. People who haven't been to SLC just don't realize how spectacular it is. Now of course it has its down sides too, like nasty temperature inversions in the winter, it's one of the third reddest states (politically) in the country (many folks would see that as a plus, not me at least these days - where have all the moderate Republicans gone to?? ironically Huntsman and Romney are probably the most moderate of the current Republican crop of Presidential contenders, and they of course are from or have strong ties to Utah- ok, a small veer into national politics, perhaps I will wax eloquent (or not) on that subject another time).
So back to our visit. We had a lot of fun on our hikes - the first in Big Cottonwood canyon to Blanche Lake - beautiful hike and lake (as you will see), but Yikes!, it was a tough hike, up roughly 3,000 feet vertical in 3 miles - basically unrelentingly straight up. The second hike to Cecret Lake, at Alta ski area, easy hike, also a beautiful area. On the weekends, these hikes are busy being so close to town, but still very scenic. We really enjoyed meeting Nic's family - Ryan and Adrienne were gracious hosts, the food was delicious, and Nic's whole family was there, sisters/brothers/spouses/ dogs, etc. We felt very welcomed. Right after that visit we went to a going away party for our long-term friends in SLC, Sally and John Gutman, held at other long -term friends house, Don and Karen Mahoney. John and Sally are moving (and in fact have now moved) to Wrangell, Alaska. Perhaps a visit next summer will be on our agenda as it is a spectacular, although very remote area (far SE Alaska). Our last "event" was lunch with Nic, Anna and Matt at the Citrus Grill. Yummy food at reasonable prices, and lots of stories and laughter.
Here come the pics.
I love this Dad!!!!
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