Visitor From Iowa - Part 1

During the last week of July, while Nate was off at the soccer game mentioned in the last post, I headed down to visit my family with Austin. My brother Ben was here visiting from Iowa, so it was nice to spend some additional time with him as well.

My mom took Austin, my brother Nathan, and I to the Museum of Curiosity at Thanksgiving Point that Wednesday afternoon.

Nathan particularly enjoyed the music room!

Austin seemed to enjoy most things until the very end, when he started acting tired and cranky. By the time we returned to my parents', it was pretty apparent he wasn't feeling well, so he didn't enjoy the rest of the evening much. Luckily, he was feeling better by the next morning. My mom watched Austin while I hiked up to the top of Y Mountain with Ben. This is something I have been wanting to do for years, and now I have finally done it!

The trail was pretty steep, but not terribly long. The trail is really much more interesting after getting past the big letter Y. There was quite a bit of stinging nettle along the path though after we reached the meadows, so I was grateful we wore pants.

The next week we started August with another trip. This time we headed to Capitol Reef National Park with my family. We like to go somewhere when Ben is around and able to go with everyone else. We arrived late afternoon on that Wednesday. We made and ate dinner before trying to go on a hike. We found the area the hike was supposed to be along the Fremont River, but the trail quickly disappeared in the brush. Unable to find a way through, we gave up and returned to the hotel. At least the sunset was pretty that evening.

Thursday morning we set out to hike Cassidy Arch. This trail starts by going up the Grand Wash, which is a hike we did another year.

Austin & Nate sitting on a natural bench in a wind pocket along the Grand Wash

The trail climbs fairly quickly though after turning off to go up the canyon walls toward Cassidy Arch. The arch appeared in the distance before we actually got there.

View of Grand Wash from the trail to Cassidy Arch

Cassidy arch itself was pretty cool. While we were there, another group was rappelling down it and into the canyon below...another route that would be fun to do someday. It does require eight rapels to get down the canyon below the arch though.

This guy was hoping for a handout from us.

After coming part way down from Cassidy Arch, a portion our group returned the way we came, and part of us went up the Frying Pan Trail and then down Cohab Canyon. Those of us hiking this route ended up hiking about 6.6 miles total.

View to the south from the high point of the trail
with Ferns Nipple to the far right

Descending into Frying Pan Canyon

Water pockets just off the trail in Frying Pan Canyon

So many intriguing rock formations...

Heavily wind pocketed walls in Cohab Canyon

Awesome view of Fruita Cliffs from just before the mouth of Cohab Canyon

Originally, the group that had not continued along the Frying Pan Trail was going to hike up and meet us in Cohab Canyon. However, it started raining and they decided to stay put. Instead, we met them near the Gifford House and ate lunch there.

Fawns eagerly eating fallen pears in a field
near the Gifford House

After that, we returned to the hotel, cleaned up, went swimming, and had dinner.