July 9, 2021

Birthday 48 celebrations in the book. Recap:

Surprise birthday phone call from Rylie. 

Random old man at the library sang happy birthday to me. 

Presents with the kids. 

Darren spoiled with presents. 

Backpacking above Marysvale. I’ve wanted to do this for awhile and it ended up being a bit like Pack Creek. But the pasture was cool and pretty and tenting it with Darren is always awesome. 

Raspberry crumble mountain house (that you can no longer buy) for bday dessert. 

We decided one night was enough and headed to Bryce Canyon and Ruby’s inn for a shower and a bed. 

Evening on the Bryce rim was amazing. The light on the hoodoos was so cool. I loved this part of birthday celebrating. 

A Bryce hike Friday morning rounded out birthday party. 

Marysvale:

Hard hike. Pretty hike. 

Cool river spot to get water. Cool tent spot. 

Raspberry crumble. 

Random cell service 3.5 miles up bullion canyon to get some birthday texts. I love birthday texts. 

Some flowers smelled amazing at camp. And on the hike to the pasture. 

The stars! Saw them twice. So amazing with the milky way right over the top of us. 

More uphill to Bullion pasture. 1.5 miles and 1000 ft gain. No wonder I could go no father than the pasture. 

Daisy lined trail with a stream below. Sigh. 

View from bullion pasture was cool. Flowers and mountains at 10,500 feet. 

Tom Bird

Long, slow hike back down for me. But I didn’t slip and fall on my bum or off the side of the trail so huge success there. 

Darren brought a cooler full of cold drinks. It was amazing. We drank two while soaking our feet in the creek. Perfect after hike cool down. 

Bryce:

Never underestimate the beauty of a hot shower. 

The rim! Sunset point really was a better viewpoint for sunset than sunrise. 

Found the cool limber pine. 

Sitting on a bench relaxing, laughing, and chatting while looking down at the hoodoos was magical. 

Ranger Rick and the counter clockwise hike of swamp and sheep. 

“You don’t want to rush through it.”