Englestead!

From the first time I did Englestead in 2019, I have been excited to share it. Saturday I got the opportunity  to take Christi, Parker, Christi's brother Matthew and my old friend Mike Dorius. We started off with a 300 foot rappel, went through about 10 more rappels and then entered Orderville Canyon. As we went down Orderville we were able to play in the flowing waterpark areas. 12.5 hours. About 8.5 miles. We ended up hiking through the last section of the narrows in Zion National Park. Such a fantastic (and quite long!) day. Can't wait to do it again:) 

Best Father's Day ever!

Last week Taylor and Parker (who are only here because coronavirus brought them home for a short respite from their missions in Mexico) surprised me with a canyoneering trip for Father's Day. They had wanted to do all the planning and packing and then just spring it on me, but they quickly realized that in the planning phases they were a little over their heads. So we planned it together. And Christi came too! Perfect getaway before they headed back out to finish their missions.

We did Dragonfly and Moonflower in Moab. Great canyons with some really big drops, some fun and easy potholes and a short slot section. Thank you guys!

On Father's Day itself, Christi made me my favorite dessert: Key Lime Cake (thank you for the recipe Erin and Denise Christiansen!!!). It takes a few hours to make, so she only does it once a year:). I feel so spoiled. And Sophi and Lexi got me a fantastic pair of Bose Headphones. All in all I came out pretty good!

At least I had an amazing view as I hitchhiked back to the car!

Staring down a 200 footer!

Parker does a Spider-man! (Intentionally locks off and hangs upside down 😮:

Another 200 foot drop

Thank you sweetie! So delicious:)

Canyoneering Heroes!

The last week of May, a group of seven of us took on Granary Canyon in Moab. 13 rappels, 13 hours, 6 miles all culminating in a 330-foot rappel overlooking the Colorado River. AMAZING trip! So fun. So much fun to spend the day with Christi, Taylor, Parker, Christi's brothers Matthew and Danny and Danny's [now] fiancé Krystal. Great trip with a great group. Enjoy some pics and video:)

The last video of Christ doing the entire big rappel is a bit long, but it gives a good perspective on what it's like.

-Jer

This may be my favorite pic. Love the teamwork!

Are you kidding me?!?

Parker volunteered to go first on the big drop. What a man!

Taylor's view as he drops down.

Notice the tiny speck of a person against the skyline at the top of the cliff.

We made it!!!

Feeling Manly!

This morning my company car had a completely flat tire. Since I'm still recovering from shoulder surgery and the car has emergency roadside coverage, I called and set it up so they would come and put the spare on for me. Why not let some guy take care of it? I don't want to mess up my shoulder. When the technician arrived, it was a woman. I sheepishly thanked her for changing the tire, walked back into the house, and was greeted by my sweet wife asking, "Did you give her your man card?" 😳😆😛

-Jer

Wheeler Peak

I summited my first 13,000 foot peak the other day.  Wheeler Peak is in Great Basin National Park in Nevada.  Earlier this summer, Taylor, Parker, Xander, my dad and I camped in Great Basin for a few nights.  We saw some beautiful scenery and went on some great hikes, but ascending Wheeler Peak was not on the itinerary. I knew I would eventually go back and hike to the summit.  It's a 4.5-mile hike with 2900 feet of elevation gain.  It was kind of like two totally different hikes.  The first two miles (and the last two on the way back) are through a beautiful evergreen forest with quaking aspens that were turning brilliant fall colors.  The temperature was great with little wind and the slope was not very steep.  A nice fall hike for pretty much anyone.  The second half was brutal.  Super steep, exposed terrain.  No trees and almost no vegetation.  The trail is well-developed, but it is just over talus.  Plus, I was essentially on a ridgeline, so the wind was unbelievable. I would guess it was 40 miles an hour up there.  It was so crazy that I couldn't keep my hat on and ended up with a sunburn.  I'm grateful to live so close to so many places that offer me nature therapy. I love the mountains!

Wheeler Peak is the high point just to the right of center in the photo.  You can see
the ridge line where it got so windy headed up from the right side of the picture to the peak.  Steep!!!

Magnificent 360-degree views from the summit.  This is the second highest
point in Nevada and higher than any point in Utah.

Saw this line of tanks on the way home.  Cool!