At the Monument

Yesterday I went with EDO to the Monument.  Normally I wouldn't go anywhere near it on a holiday weekend, but the good thing about Americans is that they are predictable:  Ninety-nine percent of their activities involve motors.  If you are willing to go two-tenths of a mile—about 1000 feet—on foot, you will leave behind virtually the entire nation.  So that is what we did.  We thrashed for about a half-mile through some thick woods and dropped down onto a small plateau.  Our own private monument.

Snow on the Road

I was on the Pahvant yesterday.  Most of the snow is gone, but the roads aren't quite ready for travel.  Unfortunately, it was the beginning of a (summer) holiday weekend, so they were already pushing it.  I'm sure most of our gates will be gone by Tuesday.

Cactaceae

There are supposed to be around 40 cactus species native to Utah.  I admit that I sometimes struggle to identify them.  Partly that is my own fault, but partly it can be blamed on the classifiers.  This one, for example, which I always call "claret cup," is plainly from the genus Echinocereus, but, depending on the book you're reading, the species is either mojavensis or triglochidiatus var. mojavensis.

Flowers, Unchained

It has generally been my observation that wildflowers blossom in sequence.  In other words, they are adapted to bloom a different times during the spring, and not everything flowers at once.  Well, that may be true in general, but it seems incorrect in specific.  Anywhere you walk in the hills right now, everything is blooming.  We were out yesterday and counted at least a dozen different flowers—from claret cups to lilies.  But, the most impressive display was by the purple sage (Salvia dorrii, pictured below).  It is a favorite of VSO's, and we've noticed it from time to time, but yesterday we were walking through gardens of it.

Scrambling

I've been to this little arch before.  By myself.  It's a bit of a scramble.  But, the girls wanted to try it yesterday.  Using hands and feet.