Yurting Expedition...

Part of the view from yurt the first morning.

I had packed my borrowed backpack the night before. It weighed in at 35 lbs. which I thought wasn’t too bad. Bee, a friend, was planning on joining us for the yurting but then got offered a warmer and better deal of backpacking the Canyonlands back country. She had offered to go up part of the way with us and carry some of our supplies. I carpooled with her; leaving approximately 10-15 minutes before Polly and Eric said they would be ready. They were cross country skiing the way up and would probably pass me hiking on the way up; or so we all figured.

The snow gate- there's Bee and Zephyr!

About 10am, with a misting of rain I found myself hiking up the canyon. Bee helped me put on the backpack. We ended up having to jerry-rig the bottom supporting strap with a fanny pack and a bungee cord because I was a little larger around than the 28” waisted friend (Bee’s tall skinny hubby) that the backpack belonged to. There was no taking this pack off without help to put it back on.

A close up I took myself shortly after starting out.

I started out at an easy pace with my snow boots with the yakstrax attached. Check in time for the yurt was 1pm. So, there was really no rush to hike the 4.75miles up to the yurt. Within a mile, I turned to notice that Bee was no longer in sight. She had my snowshoes that I would have strapped to the outside of my pack. I only let her take those because I really wanted to go up under my own steam. Two years ago when I went yurting with this group I had really been a burden with one carrying my sleeping bag and another ending up carrying my backpack. This year I was determined not to be a burden.


Most of the snow was between 4 to 6 feet.

It was the 1.5 mile marker that I took a bit of a break. I stood and drank from my water bottle; enjoying string cheese from my fanny pack. I waited there for about 4-5 minutes figuring that it was just a matter of time before Polly, Eric, & Bee would arrive on their cross country skies. Nope, no sign and the misting rain was starting to turn sleet. I continued on.

A bit of fog combined with misty rain on the way up.

About 2/3 of the way up, I saw my last cross country skier coming down. I was then all by myself. It was really quiet and sometimes I found myself almost jumping out of my skin when a clump of snow would plop down off a nearby pine tree. ¾ of the way up, I was starting to really feel the weight of my pack. I took my mittens and tucked them under the shoulder straps to help pad a little bit. I also started counting steps; about every 25 steps I would pause for a bit. The sleet was turning to big flakes of snow.

The yurt during the second day.

The last ½ mile, I was REALLY feeling that pack and wondering where in the H – E – double hockey sticks the yurt was. I started swearing out loud and I tell you it would have embarrassed a sailor to hear me. But I figured I was alone. Though, I did have the image of a rabbit coming out and saying,” Lady! Do you mind? My little bunnies really shouldn’t be hearing this.” Not that anything like that would happen except in the movies. The swearing and the anger were helping me along. Finally, with a huge sigh the yurt came into view. I was never so happy to see a structure in my life.


Snow- woman & man that someone had made before we arrived at the yurt.



Polly geting wood for the wood stove.

Eric doing abit of reading the first night.

I took off my pack and waited. Polly and Eric had the keys to the yurt. I moved around after taking off my pack to keep warm. I shoveled a bit. The snow was coming down lightly. After almost an hour, I started walking down the road to look for Polly, Eric, & dogs. I was wondering if they had a problem and had to turn around. ¾ of a mile later, there they all were moving very slowly. I took the leash for Jack and walked along with them to the yurt.



Myself and the ever spoiled one-eyed Jack!

 It ended up going between rain and snow all the first night. We could hear an owl hooting in a nearby tree for some of the night. The next morning it was beautiful! We all went out. I followed on my snowshoes and tried to keep up as they cross country skied. After a half hour, I decided to turn around. I was having a tough time keeping up and the snow was melting. There was one instance, where I stepped outside of their cross country ski track and ended up going in the snow up to my lower thigh. I turned around and went back to the yurt; where Jack cuddled up to me and I did a bit of reading.

You could hear the snow melting around the yurt, but no leaking in the yurt. It kept us nice, dry, and warm as long as the wood stove was fed. One little problem, with the melting snow was the restrooms. During the afternoon, there ended up being almost 2” of water in the women’s restroom. Later on in the early evening, we discovered the women’s restroom door was frozen shut. We all ended up using the men’s and left the door open just in case during the night.



The second night in the “wee” hours of the morning, I heard howling of coyotes. I woke up Polly and Eric to listen. One coyote sounded as though it was maybe 15 yards away from the yurt and the other answering coyote’s howl came from a distance. I thought that it was really amazing listening to them. I was also getting a kick out of Zephyr’s reaction to the howling. He seemed to have this quizzical look and would tilt his head a bit.

The beautiful sunrise the second morning!

Another beautiful morning, and the day we would be heading back to civilization. It was with a bit of disappointment that I started to repack. I left 1 hour before Polly & Eric left. Since they were skiing down it would only take them about an hour. We figured it would take me about 2 hours to hike down. So I would start out early while they did cleaning and restocked the firewood from the lean to that was behind the yurt.

One of many amazing views on the way down.

About ¼ of a mile down, my yakstrax got tied up in the shoe laces of the other snow boot. I went down; almost face planted it. I tell you it is REALLY hard to stand up when you have 35 lbs. of weight on your back. I opted to take off the yakstrax and retied the snow boots. Then I continued hiking down the canyon. About 1/3 of the way down I found a group of gals that were out hiking the day with their dogs. I hiked at a good clip and quite often said hi or answered questions about the yurt as I went down. I arrived at the bottom but couldn’t manage to take the backpack off by myself. I ended up enlisting a cyclist that was taking a break near the snow gate. I beat Polly, Eric, & the dogs by about 5 minutes.

My first sighting of civilization-- a group of ladies out for the day.

An Early End of Month Report...

Since I’ll be heading out to the Netherlands of yurting tomorrow morning and getting some much needed R&R,  I figured I would go ahead and do my progress report for the month of March. It’s kind of hard to think that a quarter of the year has all ready passed by. Overall, I feel good and think I’m progressing well on my entire goals for the year.

As I type this I must admit that I’m very pleased with my progress on my savings goal.  I’m still ahead of my goal, and I even have managed to move more ahead of that goal. I’m almost ahead by $110. Yahoo!  Little by little its adding up, and it feels good too.



This morning I weighed myself, and found that I’m down another 2 lbs. YES! Though, I tend to wonder if some of that is due to my hair appointment this last Saturday. You see, I had about 4” of hair taken off the length. Naw! Just kidding around! Yes, I did have that much taken off but hair couldn’t weigh that much could it? So anyway, that brings my total weight loss to 18 lbs. total. I seem to be still averaging 6 lbs. per month; a very good pace of losing weight.



Here’s the nitty gritty stats for the month….

6 hours 24 minutes on the Elliptical

28.33 miles running

92.25 miles cycling

2 miles swimming

And

Read 5 books (up to 14 books for year)

I’m running a little bit less but getting more miles on the bicycle as the weather allows. I’m trying to balance out the running with the cycling; which was one of my goals. I’m also trying to build up more miles on the bicycle to work towards doing a century. One of my goals is to get one century in for the year.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.32"- Poured Watercolor on 9" x 11" Paper

I just finished #32 of the 100 Salt Lake City Porch paintings.  This project has been moving along quite well and I seem to be on schedule to finish it up within the year so far.  I also think I'm seeing some improvement in my paintings.  Click here to check out the progress of the project.



Now for the uncluttering my life goal… Well, at the end of last month I moved out the defunked dryer. I then went through that closet and reorganized and cleaned it out of excess stuff. With doing my taxes I ended up going through various paperwork and receipts that I had. I cleared out quite a bit of the unneeded. Why I had the receipt for the 52” Big Screen TV that I got rid of 8 years ago? Gee, I think it was a safe bet that I didn’t need to keep that anymore. I was amazed at how many receipts that I had like that. I thinned out those files pretty well. I was actually able to get all of those, my tax papers, and other important papers to fit in my small fire safe. Cool! But you know with all of this clutter “maintenance”, I sometimes feel like I’m a gardener. There always seems to be weeds sprouting up where you least expect them.  The worst thing is... I never did like gardening or yard work, and most of it was due to those darn weeds!

Weighing In & Preparing to Yurt...

Good news!! I’m down!! It is another week where I’m down 2 lbs. for the week. I’m feeling good about the whole process. In fact, this puts me now at the half way mark of what I wanted to lose. I have 16 more to go. It seems quite a bit more doable than the original formidable 32 lbs. that I had original set out to do at the beginning of the year. I’m averaging about 5 to 6 lbs. weight loss in a month. Slow and steady seems to be the key.


I know that when I really start in biking season in the next month or so; the weight will just come off me as long as I watch what I’m eating. The major problem in the past has been swinging by a fast food place on the way home after a bike ride.

I’ve lately been getting ready for a yurting expedition that I’ll be going on next week. For three days and two nights I’ll be “roughing it” at a local yurt. What's a yurt you may ask?  It's like a semi-permanent tent set up in the wilderness area.  This yurt is a four mile hike in with a backpack containing what is needed for the entire yurt experience.  The yurt is a total of 8 miles from any civilization.  It rather sounds like a wonderful form of R&R vacation to me.  I have a couple of friends that can't understand my wanting to do this.  Their idea of "roughing it" would be staying at a Motel 8 with no room service.

Photo: 2 years ago - Me cross country skiing in the same area near where the yurt is.  A BEAUTIFUL Area!

Sometimes, it’s just nice to get away from the constant hum of “civilization”. I guess you could say I’m strange that way. I often find myself thankful when the power goes out at my place. I welcome the quiet of it. I don’t think we are aware of the constant hum of electrical products going on around us. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for quite a few of those amazing and well performing products. But at the same time, I quite often like the peace and quiet that comes without all of those “things”. When I’m captured up in those quiet moments a thought comes to mind… “Are we really in charge or is it the necessity of these things that is really in charge?” Gee, maybe it’s too scary a thought to have me thinking through these philosophical thoughts?

A Year in Review 2009...

I think it’s always interesting to look back over the year, and see what you’ve done and where you’ve been. I think it was someone famous that once said,” You don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.” Or maybe that was a line in a movie I saw once? But I think that there is some truth to that, and so here I am looking over the past year.

I’m not sure how to organize this last year and so I’m thinking (as I look out over a newly snow-covered landscape) that I’ll do it a month by month organization with just a quick list of the hi-lights from each. So here we go on my memory stroll of 2009…

January was a month of new beginnings—I started blogging (thanks to Diane in getting me started) and tired cross country skiing for the first time.

February was a social month with the 2nd Annual Black Widow’s Valentine’s Dinner Party and the Sunday Gras Baby Shower Drinking Party.

March had Lent, Yurting, and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

April was the celebration of the Popette’s 76th Birthday and a Potluck goodbye as I stepped down from being the Choir Director at St. Joe’s after 5 years.

May arrived with a piece of my artwork on display in the Salt Lake City Gallery Roll and a fun Gift card Day.

June came and I served as a Road Marshal for the Little Red Riding Hood (Utah’s Woman Only Bike Ride) and then in what I believe was an act of insanity I agreed to do the Slow Salty Dog Tri (70.3).

July proved to be a trying month as I stumbled through starting to train for the Slow Salty Dog and joined Face Book.

August was training and more training for the Slow Salty Dog.

September sprung and before I knew it I had survived the Slow Salty Dog Tri and had a wonderful Park City vacation with the interesting Iron Villa Cook Off.

October came and so did one of my favorite holidays—Halloween! I held my 3rd Annual Tricky Treat Costume Bike Ride, where over 20 fellow cyclists participated.

November proved to be an athletic minded month with “Fun Runs” such as the Chasing Tail and Cold Turkey and then I managed my way into Boot Camp.

December came at last and I actually survived the Boot Camp, Sang “O Holy Night” Duet, and sold some artwork.

I want to thank everyone who came into contact with me over the year. You helped to make this a wonderful year for me and I’m looking forward to seeing what 2010 holds.

Happy New Year to you all and I hope that 2010 proves to be a wonderful fortuitous year for you!

Yurt Expedition in March

An Experience in Backpacking,
Yurting, & Cross Country Skiing....

Well, it was with no set of small hesitation that I started this adventure. I mean the last time I went backpacking; the result was three grownups, and a dog in a borrowed two man tent. I figured that I wouldn't be far from civilization being at the top of Millcreek Canyon. So I thought things can't get too bad. So what the HELL?!?



We left on Monday morning from Bee's house about 10am-ish. I have to tell you that 4.5 miles, my fourth time being on cross country skis, and a 30lb. backpack on your back is quite a workout indeed! Polly (sled in tow)quickly left us in the dust. And the "Mighty Dog" Bingo with his 4"legs really put the rest of us to shame. (Above Photo at right: The "Mighty" Bingo) I think that Henry's male ego really had an issue that a dog beat him to the top.



(Above Photo: Henry showing some attitude!)


(Above Photo: Henry and Bee laden with backpacks with Astra moving up the canyon road.)
I quickly felt I was way over my head as Bee and Henry often ended up waiting for me. (Thanks guys!) I, also, discovered that I had put my sleeping bag in the wrong place on the backpack. They were able to get me fixed up on the way up, as we pressed on towards the top. About 3/4 of the way up, the snow really started to come down. I was glad that I had packed everything in plastic bags. About this time I started to experience my feet hurting. The nearest that I could describe the feeling---"hot foot"; which some of my bicycling friends could understand. The last 40 yards to the yurt I was almost in tears. I ended up taking the cross country skis off and walking the rest of the way. Amazing Polly had the yurt nice and warm. They had me sit down take my boots off and elevating my feet. My feet were all swollen. Strange!




(Above Photos: Polly-face hidden, and Henry with Bee in background at the table in yurt. And me reading about a light stick to Henry with the wood burning stove in background.)
It was all nice and comfy in the yurt, and I was surprised at how large it was inside. It sleeps eight. There was enough bunk bed areas for 6 and I guess the other two were supposed to sleep on the floor? You cook on the flat top surface of the wood burning stove. The first night, Henry and I were in charge of dinner. We made Potato Soup, Backpacker's Pad Thai, and my Homemade Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookie Bars for dessert. Food never tastes as good as after a 4.5 mile workout up a canyon with a 30lb. weight on your back. Why is that?

The whole night it snowed and it was still going when I got up at 5:30am. We were melting snow for water so while everyone else was asleep in the morning, I re stoked the fire and started getting water for our morning meals. It seemed only fair since I slept like a log through the night and everyone else got up through the night to re stoke the fire. Oh the view from the yurt was simply beautiful with all of the fresh snow!

(Photo: THEE view from the yurt on Tuesday morning!)

(Above Photos: The happier skiers and myself and "Mighty" Bingo keeping warm in the yurt. AND Below Photos: Bee enjoying the day on skis, and Polly in a self portrait shot--silly gal!)

The next day after breakfast we ventured out to do some Cross Country Skiing. Everyone one but me had three opportunities but I was a "woosh" the first time. My hands were not getting warm in my gloves. The second time I did venture out only to reach my limit of three falls! One of which I was flat on my back with the skis pointing straight up. They told me I made a cute Snow Angel, but I didn't really believe them. Thank goodness I had the camera, or you really would have seen what kind of fool I CAN really look like. The third time of venturing out for some more skiing, I stayed indoors with the "Mighty" Bingo. We were really nice and toasty in the yurt while the others were out.

The second night, Polly and Bee were responsible for the dinner. We started off with grilled vegetables that had been marinated in a vinaigrette served with crackers and cheese. The main course was a pesto with sun dried tomatoes with pasta. Homemade espresso truffles were made for dessert. Well, I did break my Lent and have one of the espresso truffles. It was delicious! When we weren't making meals in the yurt we were reading, or chatting about all kinds of things. It really was a most relaxing time away from the electronics of the world.(Above Photo at right--Astra wiped out from a day of playing in the snow. The poor gal!)

On the way down, Polly offered to take my backpack in the sled behind here. The wonderful gal! Then, Bee, the other wonderful gal, offered to take my skis down until the road leveled out. Did I mention that I have a terrible time with going downhill on cross country skis? Bee, and I left a little earlier than Polly and Henry who stayed to do the final cleaning of the yurt. (Such Troopers!) Bee and I started down. About a half mile down we started seeing fresh moose tracks with another smaller tracks. It looked like there was a Mom and her little one. Made me a little nervous, but we continued down, keeping our eyes peeled. We got to a flat area, and I put on the skis. Another mile down the road off to the side of the road we saw HUGE Mama Moose! She was probably 1400lbs! We backed up the road and decided to wait and see what happened. Eventually, there were other skiers, and snowshoe rs that came up the road and the Moose went up the Mountain away form the road. Meanwhile, both Henry and Polly had caught up with us. (Photo at right: Momma Moose as close as I could get a shot.)

Well, needless to say I made it out alive! On the way home I ran by a fast food place and grabbed a cheeseburger. Then after that the priority was a nice LONG hot shower! But I will admit I did have a great deal of fun! Thanks to Bee, Polly, and Henry!