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Date Summited: August 08, 2010

Elevation: 11,031 feet

Elevation Gain: 3,613 feet

County: Tooele (15/26)

Moving into the fourth (I think) incarnation of my blog it feels like an appropriate time to ponder and assess this exercise.  A time to reflect on what my online persona has been saying this past decade (WTF!?) and look ahead to what I hope to accomplish with this medium moving forward.  One quick editorial note, my latest foray into the wild oceans of internet bloggery has me spotted on the Web 2.0 friendly shores of Tumblr.  This is purely an aesthetic choice.  The layout is incredibly intuitive, the designs offered aren’t overly offensive to the eye, and perhaps by dumbing down relatively esoteric things like “layout” and “posting features” my content (and consistency) will improve. 

I suppose that serves as good an introduction to my blogging history as any.  Back in the salad days when I had just turned “of drinkin’ age” I started keeping an online journal.  When I look back at those early entries I can definitely hear my voice, but the content isn’t anything special.  Blame it on whatever…an influx of education and wild philosophy at the time (check); a lack of clear perspective on the world (check); undeniable residual angst from teenage years still smoldering (oh, most definitely check).  Be ALL of that as it may, I do take some pride in the fact that I was at least fairly consistent.  By my mid-20’s I was keeping a “real” (read: physical) journal and my online writing was borderline prolific.  There have been subsequent spurts here and there.  Stops and starts where I get back in the groove and feel pretty good about what I am offering up in my small corner of the interweb (before the chaos of life ineveitably moves to choke and/or damper the enthusiasim in some way).

And what to make of myself these days?  And what are my expectations for this newest incarnation?  Well, I do lead a life with its fair share of found adventure so I look forward to continuing with my photo blogging pursuits.  But when I look back at the things I genuinely love in my old blog posts I find many of the best moments rooted in simple observations about the minutiae of everyday living.  And it strikes me that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  I enjoy the ‘shoot from the hip’ nature of the best internet blogs and the small (but well illuminated) moments in time that they can capture and convey.  Often times there’s the germ of something awesome lurking in the most low-key of thoughts, so I think as a goal I’m going to try and aim at capturing more of that.  So, let the (new) adventures of Jimmy Utah begin!

Yeah, this might be the greatest painting EVER…

Months back Sarah and I formulated a tentative plan to visit Capitol Reef and the Bicknell area over the 24th of July to camp, hike, and possibly take in a movie or two at the Bicknell Bad Movie Festival.  As the temperatures soared, however, we quickly decided that spending extended time in the oppressively sweltering heat of central Utah might not be that fun.  So, we abruptly switched gears on our weekend plans and decided to head for Cedar Mountain, the Tushars, and Boulder instead.  Our weekend became a succession of adventures to several of Utah’s high county peaks, an afternoon of wildflower hunting at Cedar Breaks, and consecutive nights of eventful camping (first next to a possibly haunted old school bus and secondly near some mutant mule cows that may have been giving birth…ALL NIGHT!).  The trip also featured an incredible breakfast (and sordid dog adventures) at Hell’s Backbone Grill, and some extended driving time through portions of this remarkable state that I have yet to spend much time in.  Boulder Mountain (in particular) and the area between Boulder town and Escalante are now a TOP priority for when I make it back down that small part of heaven.

Date Summited: July 24, 2010

Elevation: 12,169 feet

Elevation Gain:  Approximately 2,100 feet

County: Beaver & Piute (6/26)

Date Summited: July 23, 2010

Elevation: 10,027 feet

Elevation Gain: 867 feet

County: Kane (21/26)

Date Summited: July 23, 2010

Elevation: 11,307 feet

Elevation Gain: 100 feet

County: Iron (13/26)

After our early June trip to the Great Salt Lake (and Spiral Jetty) Sarah and I committed to visit again asap, but hopefully with with her dogs and at sunset (for better photo opportunities!).  So today, near dusk, we headed west and found a suitable spot near Saltair (at Black Rock).  The sunset was incredible but I must say that the experience on the south side of the lake was nowhere near as magical as our trip north.  The water is less salty, more polluted, and the bugs FAR more prevalent.  My opinion might also be biased because near the end of our trip Haley and Jemma decided to roll around in something foul (and dead) which stunk up the car during our (now) LONG trip home!  Luckily Tom was gracious enough to let us make late-night use of his hose.  Nothing like some after-dark dog washing!  I am extremely happy with how the the clouds and sun combined to make a few awesome pictures though:

After a memorable 30th birthday in Goblin Valley, Sarah and I headed east (and then north) to visit her parents in Custer, South Dakota.  I had met her step-dad, Bob, back in March when he visited Kanab but it was my first time meeting her mom, Laurie.

The road trip included a sordid Motel 6 in Denver, a fabulous meal in Fort Collins, and my complete and total surprise at the almost mythical beauty of the Black Hills.  Over the course of our week in (and around) Custer we:

- Visited Mount Rushmore

- Drank beer at the coolest dive bar EVER in Rocheford

- Climbed Little Devil’s Tower in Custer State Park

- Started a bonfire

- Reveled in the (appropriately themed) National Treasure 2

- Watched wildlife (bison and car-loving mules, oh my!)

- Shot guns (yes, really!)

- Met up with Rich and Reina at Devil’s Tower

- Visited Deadwood (where we found a surprisingly awesome lunch!)

Yeah, and around all of that fun we also spent some quality time with Sarah’s parents (who I really, REALLY like)!  Anyway, a summer vacation of the highest caliber (ahhhh…puns…).  Here are pictures!