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Down Peruvian Gulch

Two days before, Wife and I rode down from the peak on the Peruvian Lift. To shake things up, we decided to ride up the lift. Once at the top, we forded a mighty river (as seen in the video below) and began our long and arduous journey down the mountain.

Choices

While the hikes were not clearly labeled, hikers and cross country skiers could easily follow the winter runs’ large and easy to read signs. At one point we were offered two routes, Chips Run (easy) and Blackjack (hard). Being the brave explorers we were, Wife and I decided to head down Blackjack (a black diamond) and take our chances!

After a while, wife grew bored of the wide trails and monotonous views of trees and the Snowbird village. I made the executive decision to take another trail that thankfully guided us toward different views, a lovely boulder to dine on and a tree full of discarded female unmentionables.

A few hours and pints of sweat later, we made it back to the hotel for a short nap. Once rested, Wife and I put on our bathing suits and spent some time cooling off at the pool while laughing at the quote of the day “I don’t know the rules of the pool, I’m on vacation,” spoken by a true drunken gentleman when he made is way into the swimming/exercise lane!

Up Next…Exploring the Caves of Timpanogos!

Pictures

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The Mormon Vatican

No trip is complete without a visit to Salt Lake City’s most popular tourist destination, Temple Square. We started off in the South Visitor Center and gained some insight into the building of the temple. Since only Mormons are allowed in the temple, they were kind enough to provide us with some video and pictures of the inside.

We decided to forgo the guided tour since we felt conversion to a new religion was not on our to-do list. A quick walk around the garden gave us the gist of the area – it has beautiful gardens, the temple is the center piece and conversions happen every day at 6 (the last one I made up).

After a bit more walking, our bellies ached for some food and drink and I knew just the place.

The Cause Of And Solution To

A short walk away from Temple Square is a land of commerce and sin including City Creek Mall and plenty of breweries. Knowing that we planned on hiking the next day, I decided to only hit up two breweries (plus, I think that is all Wife can stand).

We sat on the patio at Squatters Pub Brewery with a flight of their award-winning beers and some good pub food. After that, we headed over to Red Rock Brewing for another flight with what I consider a bacon flavored beer (they called it a smokey German lager).

A bit tired and sunned out, we hopped back in the car just in time to enjoy Salt Lake City traffic. Once back at home base, we enjoyed a home cooked dinner and some quiet time.

Up Next…Hiking Down the Peruvian Gulch.

But before you go, I must leave with the music stylings of the Piano Man:

Pictures

During our first full day, we explored the small village to get a lay of the land, took a short and easy hike and watched a lot of soccer (hey, I am on vacation so I can do whatever I want). We took it easy knowing tomorrow would be a day full of hiking.

Don’t want to read…skip straight to the pictures.

The Way to Mount Baldy

Refreshed from our day of relaxation, Wife and I took the second tram up to Hidden Peak. Once at the top we set out toward our first destination, the Peak of Mount Baldy. Luckily, we knew we were “expert” hikers and could handle the “Expert Trail.” Thankfully neither one of us died, but we did enjoy spectacular views along the way and at the top. It was the way down to the Mineral Basin that proved tricky (Of course I will leave that part out to prevent any heart attacks by Mothers who will read this).

The Road Down and Up Mineral Basin

With sure footing, Wife and I traversed father down into the Mineral Basin Valley along the Sugarloaf Pass Trail. We did spot some tracks along the trail but sadly we did not see any wildlife (or humans for that matter). At the bottom, we relaxed and enjoyed our picnic lunch behind a shed protecting us from the wind. Wife and I spend a few minutes contemplating if it would be worth it to call in a helicopter rescue as we were exhausted and still had a minimum of three miles and 2000 feet in elevation to tackle to get back out of the basin. Stubborn and determined, we decided to go for it and hike up the Mineral Basin Trail.

With snow still covering parts of the trail, I think we were a few weeks early. However, Wife and I utilized our “expert” hiking skills and make our own trails up the mountain. There did come a point where the snow completely covered the trail so we took a shortcut on the Mineral Basin Connector Trail that provided a much flatter slope. Our legs and lungs rejoiced.

Close to the top, we took respite from the sun inside the Tunnel to Peruvian Gulch and enjoyed the fact that we were almost done.

Down the Mountain to Relaxation

We decided to take it easy and rode down the Peruvian Lift for views of the valley, a cushioned seat and some time to breathe.

Once at the bottom, we napped, cooled off in the pool, warmed up in the jacuzzi, cooked a dinner of spaghetti and turkey meatballs (handmade by Wife), took in the 10th floor view with martinis and draft beer at the Aerie Lounge, and finally retired for bed.

Up next…a venture down to Salt Lake City!

Here is a little background on Mr. O’Neill and his cabin from Wikipedia:

The Buckey O’Neill Cabin was built in 1890 by William “Buckey” O’Neill in what would become Grand Canyon National Park. O’Neill was, among many other things, a member of Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, who had previously been an author and a judge in his native Arizona. He was killed in action in Cuba in 1898, but was instrumental in establishing what would eventually become the Grand Canyon Railroad.

The cabin is the oldest extant structure on the South Rim. It was used as an office for tourist accommodations in the area during the 1890s, which eventually evolved into the Bright Angel Hotel. After the hotel was sold to the Fred Harvey Company it remained much as it was when built. It was incorporated into the rebuilt Bright Angel Lodge complex by Mary Jane Colter in 1935.

The one-story cabin is a wood frame structure on a low stone foundation, right on the edge of the Grand Canyon. The shallow-pitched roof is covered with wood shingles. The cabin is connected to other lodge buildings using compatible, unobtrusive materials, and has been cited as an early example of an adaptive reuse of a historic structure. The cabin is one of the guest accommodations of the Bright Angel lodge.

The Buckey O’Neill Cabin was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1975. It is included in the Grand Canyon Village National Historic Landmark District.

will a temporary tattoo last a half marathon

I can tell you that yes it will!

Enjoyed the afternoon with some food, bocce ball and sun.

Back in July, Wife and I flew out to freezing Arizona for another installment of the Bernasconi Family Reunion.

We enjoyed riding the quads, Montezuma Castle National Monument, driving a 50 mph or less Jeep, adult conversation in the midst of chasing small children, avoiding the lava carpet, piñatas and the Prescott Costco.

Once back in Phoenix, we enjoyed touring Ramon and Angela’s new mansion and a calm evening at the Bernasconi’s (Mario, Pam, and Vincenzo) with a little bit of rain:

Now we wait for the next reunion in 2015.

While Wife might be going on an all-expense paid trip to Barcelona, I at least get to do things in San Diego I would probably never try. Yesterday, as a job perk, San Diego Speed Boat Adventures invited me and a few co-workers (well, they invited the co-workers who then invited me) to spend the afternoon jet across San Diego Bay in a speed boat. How can you say no to that? You can read my official account here.

Below are just a few pictures taken by a co-worker: