50.13 Utah: Albion Basin: Tuscarora Peak in difficult conditions: Color our world and then add in some white, too. A treat for the soul.

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. We all thought she was so gentle. (Snow on hat reveals the weather at the time).

Jen stands and admires the surroundings thinking it's so beautiful we should remain there instead of hiking. She got part of it correct.

Lately, our hikes have become of a more religious bent. It has nothing to do with the nature of Utah’s founders and the general beliefs of a sizeable portion of the population toward religion. It has a different religious connotation. As is with politics, it seems people are awfully sensitive should one disagree with their views. We’ve noticed humans become resentful should one person not perceive life’s issues as does the other. I think we’ve experienced this over the years, and it has become quite prevalent in recent times. There seems to be, almost by edict, that corporations, institutions and individuals are coerced to toe the line on what one vociferous group considers correct behavior. This is our opinion based upon observations rather than any particular outlook on life. 

 I remember growing up and reading about communist rule in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Basically, the only expression or opinion a person could voice to ensure a reasonable amount of safety was that of the party’s. The party dictated what people should (forced to) believe. Hmm! Strange. I thought even the Russians abandoned the system. "The Land of the Free..."? Shows you! 

  Finally, that brings me to the religious nature of hiking the mountains, particularly, climbing the tougher ones. Religious organizations, say churches, synagogues, mosques and others encourage people to partake in the various services whether it be daily or on special occasions such as holy days and other periods. Congregants should walk into a building and pray both individually and as a congregation at specific times. Perhaps for many, organized prayer and usually reading from prayer books just does not cut it. Not everyone can get into the right frame of mind, find the spiritual realm to recite words of prayers, of hope or appreciation to the God of their belief. It is understandable especially as so much is by rote. 

  Here's where hiking comes into the equation and makes one’s spiritual fervor more intense and perhaps, more meaningful. Should you have a wife (I’m blessed) as I do, and for some reason she finds herself selecting some of the toughest and dangerous mountain trails in the Wasatch, Twin Peaks and other regions of Utah, you will find that at different points on the scrambles, impossibly steep slopes, narrow paths perched high on cliff edges, one’s prayers become far more meaningful. They take on a very emotional but deep and serious tone. And if not desperate, the prayers are delivered with a sincerity far different from that of sitting/standing in a pew. We would say that even the most ardent atheist is likely to seek God in some of the positions my dear wife has taken us. 

  It is my wish, or perhaps prayer, that she will continue to select difficult and tough hikes provided they do not require additional beseeching of God to intervene. I find I’m burning through the few, if any, credits I may still possess.

Ongoing miracles.
There's probably a decent descent, Jen promised to find it for me.
Catherine Lake looking bleak but still attractive. (We had to say that--feminine rivalry with Mary and Martha.) 

To reach lake level, one ascends about 950 feet, then a further 850 feet to the ridge and up to the peak (1,800 feet). The snow added some hardship. Clayton Peak in the background (right).
Cheers,

Jenni and Jeffrey

In case we led you to believe the fall foliage was limited to only one place, here a couple from earlier in the week.

 Perhaps the favorite.