Lazarow World-Hike-About

Jenni stands on peak of Tuscarora. Below is Mary Lake as the weather surprises us. A different mountain, Sunset Peak, a change of weather but still looking down on Mary Lake and Martha and Catherine, too (two). A different mountain, Clayton Peak, a different day, but still looking across and down on Mary Lake. Tuscarora above Mary in the distance and Patsy Marley Peak to the right (last week's blog). We don't believe we've seen fall colors as those in this region, including the spectacular sights in Bulgaria. A view from the first false peak. Don't you just love the way nature kids around? A couple of weeks ago we visited Sunset Peak across the way. Enjoyed that peak and love the contrast with the more colorful pictures. Fall colors and general scenery not too bad...ho hum. Bleak and colorful. We are located in paradise, but it's also, tough and testing. Jenni has yet to choose a hike/climb where I don't finish up crying my eyes out. ...

It's good form to remember dates, meetings, anniversaries, birthdays and all kinds of occurrences of the past. Women expect that and of course, they are correct. With this in mind, exactly 52 years ago, September 26th, 1969, I had invited Jennifer Benjamin to accompany me to the Highlands North High School matriculation dance, otherwise referred to in this country as the prom. Recently, I wrote in some text about the colonial streak in one of us which of course just surfaced some 31 words earlier. Hey, who's counting.    I counted myself extremely fortunate that the young woman accepted my invitation. We were both 17 years old at the time so we were unable to drive ourselves to the school hall. A friend of mine, Geoff van Lear, currently residing in Cape Town, arranged for his dad to drive the four of us in a VW Beetle. I cannot remember how we returned home--probably the same way. Obviously, I must have drunk much Diet Coke that night. To say that was a turning point...

Because it's the season, the photographs have a bent toward our favorite time in the mountains. On a stiff climb, we look toward the other side of the canyon...not surprising. We undertook this hike twice, once via the Peruvian Gulch Trail, and the second by way of the cirque. A hiker experiences some of the best hikes, trails and scenery possible in a relatively compact region. There's an abundance of beauty, further enhanced because of the season changes. Should there be a consistency in the greater Salt Lake City, it might be that the mountains are high, the trails steep, challenging, and always requiring a degree of alertness to the dangers that exist. As for the beauty of the surroundings, it goes without saying to which the photographs may attest. There's a third and fourth way to the peak, also from the same side, which we intend to investigate. The summit's altitude is 11,000 feet, making the elevation gain one of over 3,200 feet. That's tough.  ...

Apparently, it's amusing to be below the peak of Patsy Marley. Twin Lakes below. We’re fortunate to receive many delightful notes commenting on something that interests a person after reading a blog. Some, we are sure, are from people who want to be nice while others have distinct points, observations or comments to make. There are those who have enjoyed similar experiences and like to share them with us. Whatever the case, we are the beneficiaries and are grateful.  While the blogs are posted every three or so days, we seldom send out a distribution list these days informing of a posting. We believe, other than when we have a special situation (the ‘Dirty Dozen’ excluded), people who wish to view the spectacular world we all enjoy, can self-direct to the blog. After all, the internet has millions of attention seekers soliciting a multitude of offers and besides, we dislike clogging your email boxes.  http://lazarowhike.blogspot.com/   ... continues below : ...