Hiking: Stewart Falls, Utah

Stewart Falls is probably the hike I have frequented the most in Utah.  It's not too long, but not too short either.  When I'm alone or with other adults, I can do this hike in under 2 hours.  If I'm with my kids, it takes closer to 4. 

Here is the Trailhead.

This is such a beautiful lookout.  I usually spend a few minutes here just to be.  There are a couple of places along this hike where you could sit down and take a breather.

Here are the falls.  This is a perfect place to sit and have lunch or a little snack, and let the kids play in the stream.  

Stewart Falls Hike Details

Distance – 3.6 miles roundtrip

Approximate hiking time – 1.5 hours to 3 hours

Difficulty – Easy, the first mile is shaded; partial shade for the second mile
 
Trail – This is a well maintained trail of dirt, gravel, and rock. Watch out for tree roots as well.

Bathrooms – At the trailhead

Permits – $6 fee paid at ranger booth, unless you have a National Parks Pass, then it’s free.
 
Pets – Yes

Kids - Yes,  but keep in mind their hiking level and how much whining they will emit and how much you are willing to put up with.  I'd recommend small children in a pack and little ones hiking on their own starting at age 5 or 6.




How to get there:

Take I-15 to the Orem 8oo North off ramp (Exit 272) and then turn east onto 800 North. Follow it to the mouth of Provo Canyon.  As the road splits, take the left curve to go up the canyon. Stay on this road (US 189) for appox. 7 miles. You will go through a short tunnel.  After the tunnel, you will make a left turn up the road toward Sundance Ski Resort.  You will follow this narrow road PAST the Sundance Ski Resort and PAST Aspen Grove.  You will come to a ranger fee station where you will need to pay to use the park.  There is parking on the left just past the ranger station.  Park here.  The trailhead is to the right of the toilets.

Hiking: Bridal Veil Falls

Hiking Bridal Veil is super easy if you're only going to the bottom.  This trail is paved all the way from the parking lot to the base of the falls.  So, it's accessible for anyone.  Keep this in mind when you head up there: there are lots of longboarders, bikers, walkers/runners, and hikers.

There are lots of picnic tables along the paved trail up to the falls.  It's a great place for lunch before heading up to the falls.

Make sure you bring your water shoes because at the bottom of the falls, you can play in the water and rocks.

I'm not really sure where the hiking distance is measured.  Just know that you will probably hike somewhere around 1 mile.  If you continue up the paved walkway, past the crowd of people at the bottom of the falls, the beginning of the trail to the top of Bridal Veil will be on your right.  It's directly across from the bridge.  (sorry for no picture)

The trail to the top is pretty easy.  There are a couple of places along the trail where there is a lot of loose rock.  So, if you choose to go to the top, be careful. 

At the top of Bridal Veil

Bridal Veil Hike Details:
 
Distance – less than 1.0 mile roundtrip

Approximate hiking time – 10 minutes to one hour

Difficulty – Easy.

Trail – Paved to the bottom of the falls. Rocky trail to the top.

Bathrooms – none

Permits - none needed

Kids - Yes.  I'd pack anyone under 5 years old.




Pets allowed – Yes, leashed.





How to Get There:

From I-15, take the 800 North off ramp (Exit 272) in Orem,  and head east (toward the mountain) on 800 North. Follow it all the way to the mouth of Provo Canyon. The road splits right at the mouth of the canyon. Make sure you take the left lane into the Canyon.

Stay on this road (US 189) until you see a sign for Bridal Veil Falls.  Take the exit off the Highway. After you turn off the highway, you’ll see a parking lot on your right. If you want to walk on a paved trail to reach the falls, park here. 

If you prefer to park closer to the falls, continue straight on this road, passing the first parking lot on your right. Follow the road for about 0.5 miles and you’ll find another parking area.  The falls will be across the bridge from this parking lot.

Hiking: Lisa Falls

This summer, I really wanted to get my kids out and enjoying our beautiful mountains.  And what better way to get out of the Utah Smog than to head to higher ground?  So, I set up a weekly schedule.  Most of the weeks I kept to it, but sometimes there just needed to be adjustments. 

Our first week was Lisa Falls.  Because of our sedentary lives throughout the winter, I wanted to make sure to start slowly for my kids.  This hike was perfect.  It's super short and sends you to a fun little waterfall. 

Lisa Falls is located about 3 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon. There is parking right next to the trail head and across the street.  We didn't have any trouble finding a place to park.  I don't really remember this hike being very well marked.  I don't remember seeing a sign, but there might be.

I read differing distances for this trail.  Everything from .3 miles round trip to 1.1 miles round trip.  I didn't happen to GPS it that day, so we'll just go with it's short.  Only a hop skip and a jump from the road.  My kids and I got out of our car and headed up the trail.  There were a lot of rocks and protruding tree roots along the trail, but nothing little kids can't climb and jump off of. 

There is a little stream to cross right before you reach the falls.  Once at the falls, there are many rocks to sit on and have lunch or a little snack.  There is lots of bouldering to be done.  My kids loved climbing all over the rocks. 

This is definitely a great hike for little kids, or anyone carrying kids.  I was relieved to find that it was so short.  I thought I would spend the day with whining kids.  No whining = success.

Things I learned from this hike:

1.  Shoes:  I learned that real hiking shoes are an absolute must.  My kids were just in their runners and spent most of the hike slipping and sliding around.  It made them quite nervous.

2.  Water:  I know how important it is to stay hydrated, but carrying water bottles is such a hassle.  And having two little kids trying to get in and out of their bags to get it, while spilling it's contents all over is a time consumer and very frustrating.   So, I learned that having a water bladder in each of their packs is also a must.  Not to mention fun.  They think the straw is so cool to drink out of.

3.  Sunscreen:  Yes, sunscreen is super important.  Always needed.  But what I learned was, make sure your hands are wiped off and clean before touching your phone/camera.  Otherwise you get pictures like mine.  Clearly showing the smeared sunscreen across the lens.  (And I couldn't see the foggy pictures in the crazy sun. So sad.)

Lisa Falls Hike Details:

Distance – short.  Between .3 and 1.1 miles round trip

Approximate hiking time – 30 minutes to 1 hour

Difficulty – Easy

Trail – Dirt, rock, and tree roots

Bathrooms – None

Permits – None needed
 
Pets – Not permitted





How to get there:

From Salt Lake City or from Provo, take I-15 to the 9000 South exit (Exit 295). Turn east onto 9000 South (UT-209) and follow it for 7.2 miles to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Even though you stay on the same road, 9000 South changes to 9400 South and then to 9600 South as it heads east and goes into Little Cottonwood Canyon. Arriving at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, you come to a junction with Wasatch Blvd from the north.  Continue up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road for 2.7 miles, which is between mileposts 6 and 7. You’ll see a small parking area on the right side of the road, followed by a small parking area on the left side of the road. Park on the left side of the road if possible, as the trail to Lisa Falls starts there.

2016 Utah Valley Half Marathon

As you know, I went back and forth about whether or not I would participate in the Utah Valley Half Marathon this year.  When I'm struggling with injury and lack of motivation because of excess weight, racing just doesn't have the same appeal it usually does.  It's even a bit scary to show up feeling unprepared for something others have spent months training for.  But I did it.  I showed up.

 It was super cold

It was a  beautiful morning with a wondrous  sunrise, and I was determined to walk this race, no matter how long it took me to finish.  Especially since I forgot to charge my Ipod Shuffle and would be tackling the 13.1 miles with my own meandering thoughts.  I figured I would survive.  What I underestimated was the amount of stress that walking actually puts on our bodies.  It hurt to walk.  Not at first, of course.  But by mile 2, all my body wanted to do was run.  And listening to my body has been the theme of my past year so, I ran.

Until my lungs needed a break, then I walked.  I went back and forth between running and walking the whole distance.  When walking I had the chance to talk to other walkers.  It was fun.  Everyone participating in a gorgeous morning together.  The birds singing, the water rushing by, the honking cars, and cheering sections along the route were great motivators.  I thoroughly enjoyed unplugging and experiencing the world around me while I moved along the course.

I finished the course way faster than I thought I would.  I finished in 2 hours 55 minutes and 58 seconds.  Under 3 Hours!!  My goal was under 4.  I feel good about this.  Walking didn't even slow my pace all that much.  I was only 20 minutes slower than the last time I ran the Half.  I'm glad that I had to slow down and walk.  It helped me to relax about my time.  It's okay if I have to walk during a race.  It's okay to listen to my body.  Just BE at that moment.

Be what my body needs
Be me
Be present in the experience
Be happy

Maybe my new race mantra?  Just Be.

Reality Staring Me In The Face

Lets talk about Stress.  Stress is sometimes looked at as a burden to an individual/family and sometimes, I've noticed, that stress is idolized as a state of living that is to be desired.  Although I think the second kind of stress is a scary state for our culture to admire, I would like to talk about the first kind of stress.

The first kind of stress effects me more in my adult life than I ever remember it effecting me when I was a kid.  And we all cope with stress differently.  Some express emotions at extreme levels, some drink alcohol, some obsess about activities or work, and some do what I do.  Eat.

I can't even explain it.  I can be full and know I'm not hungry and might even not want to eat, but I just keep going.  It's like my body thinks food is a medicine that I need right then, and I need as much as I can get.  This past year was very stressful for me for many reasons.  One of those reasons was a foot injury.  And because I wasn't really paying attention or addressing my stresses well, I ate.  And I ate. And I ate.

Between my injury and my inability to exercise (this is usually my 1st line of defense to my yearning to eat) I managed to gain 45 lbs in the last 12 months.  And it's rough.  It's hard to watch 3 years of hard work disappear behind a mask that jiggles.

In the first half of the year, I was super excited to begin my workouts again.  I spent months doing no strenuous activity and was excited to get back to doing what I love.  But I forgot how slow one has to go after an injury.  It's been a while since I had a significant injury and my body is definitely older now.  (I never thought I would say that)  It's true.  Gaining my strength and abilities back seems to be at a snails pace, and thus extremely frustrating.

I didn't really account for this 6 months ago when I registered for the Utah Valley Half Marathon.  So, the race is here.  And I'm not ready to run it.  I was thinking that I would try to find someone else to take my place when I was reminded by my sister-in-law that people walk these races.  Now, I usually run.  I tend to do things quickly.  But by body is screaming at me and I need to slow down; in more ways than just exercise.  I have to respect where I am.  Right here.  Right now.  And enjoy it.

Here's to walking my first race.

Race #9: August - Rivalry Relay

I was so excited for the Rivalry Relay.  This was my second year running it and I got to do it with some great girls.  The Rivalry Relay starts up at Rice-Eccles Stadium and runs down to Provo.  The scenery is beautiful, but still hot at the end of August.  I ran leg 3 for the team.

That morning I got up, had some of the girls meet at my house and then we headed out to pick up the rest on our way up to the start line.  We met the second three girls up in Salt Lake.  I think it was off 123000 South.  We all got into my car and realized that one of the girls had forgotten her shoes.  It was a really good thing that she lived close.  We all headed to her house, got her shoes, and drove back towards the freeway.  We were almost to the on-ramp when someone in the back seat yelled, "They're towing our cars!!"  At first I was thinking, "No, they're not.  We're in it."  But then my sleepy brain caught up to what she was saying and I made the turn into the parking lot.  We got there just in time.  Now we needed to find a new place to park the cars.  So, we headed to 114000 South to the Wal-Mart there.  Good thing Wal-Mart lets people park overnight.  Saved our bacon. 

Finally, we were off to our race.  We made it on time.  Got through the safety lesson and check-in.  And were feeling good about our day ahead.

The Start:

Our team up early and excited.

And we're off.  Headlamps and reflector vests, very important.

My first leg was beautiful.  I did need to change my shorts shortly after heading out because they were falling off as I ran (don't wear anything too big while running), but it was remedied quickly and I got to enjoy the run.  The sun was just coming up.  The world was waking and I was feeling great.  I ran quickly and comfortably.  It got me psyched for Suncrest.

My second leg was up Suncrest.  This stretch is 3.3 miles UP HILL.  And basically it's straight up.  I thought that I had trained well for it, but by the end of mile 1, I was definitely questioning my training.  I ended up power walking most of the way.  I hit this leg in the middle of the day in the middle of 90 degree heat.  So hot.  So hard.  Kicked my Ass!  But I finished it.  I finished in 54 minutes and 58 seconds.  I made it before the cut off and I'm glad that I did it.

Each person who runs the Suncrest leg gets a medal at the top. 

My last leg I was done.  I walked so much of it.  I'm not sure if I didn't eat enough, or if I was really dehydrated, or just dead tired, but my body just refused to work the way I wanted it to.  Apparently I had trained for one maybe two runs in a day, but not three.  The over training in my year of races hit me hard in this leg.  I have since learned and will not do that again.

This is our team running to the finish line together. 

We did it.  Finished a whole day soaking in the sun while doing something we love.  Our team came in 43rd.  We finished in 11 hours 19 minutes and 38 seconds.  So proud of us.

My medals proudly hung in my car for the rest of the evening.  

A closer look at the Rivalry Relay medal for this year.  I love this race.  It beats me down and builds me up at the same time.  Everyone needs to know they can do hard things, but still be reminded that there are legs that kill no matter how hard we train.  I'm going to continue to do this race every year I can get a team together. 

Race #8: August - TriathaMOM

I was not confident about this next race.  I hadn't trained like I wanted to or felt I needed to.  It's month 8 of the year and I'm feeling a bit tired of training.  Especially for a race that I'm not really excited to participate in.  I almost didn't go.  The morning of the race, I rolled over, snuggled up to my hubby, and said, "I could just stay here and sleep all morning."  He promised me I would be glad that I went to the race.  So, I got out of bed and headed to Riverton.

The TriathaMOM transition area opened at 5:30am and I had never participated in a triathlon before, so I was there by 5:30am.  SO early.  But I had time to set all my stuff up, eat a banana, and visit the honey bucket multiple times. 

The wonderful woman and friend to convinced me to register after we both got our stuff set up.

Getting ready for the swim.

This is everyone gathered before the swim to receive last minute instructions from the organizers.  There were a more women here to race than I thought there would be.

Just before I got into the pool.

Running to my first exchange.

My first exchange was a long one.  I took a long time to dry off.  I took a long time to get my tank top, my shoes, and everything else on.  Next time I do a tri, I will spend less time in this transition.

There I go.  Off on the bike ride.  I used a mountain bike because that was what I had and it worked out just fine.  I would, however, recommend riding your bike before the day of the race.  I spent all my training time in the gym and none out on the road with my bike.  So, one mile in, I realized that my seat was a bit too low.  I dealt with it and finished just fine.

 Transition #2!  This time I was ready.  I only spent seconds in the transition area this time.

 Heading out for the run.  And I'm still smiling.  It truly amazing what seeing your cheerleaders will do for you when racing.

I made it!  I got to the magical flying balloons and I really am glad that I got up that morning and came to the race.

This is a family friendly race.  So, there were bounce houses,

and face painting for the kids.

We did it.  We made it to the end.  Our tired selves after accomplishing this fun triathaMOM.

My kids made a sign for me and wanted to pose on the little podium. This was a great race.  If you want to get into triathalons and are a little nervous.  This one is a great way to do that.  There is absolutely no pressure and everyone is cheering everyone else on.  I would definitely do this one again. 

Oh, and the "medal" was a necklace. 

Running Waterton Lakes National Park: Bertha Falls

My second day of training on vacation consisted of a hike up to Bertha Falls.  I had never done a solo hike before.  I was a bit nervous hiking alone in bear country, but it turned out to be one of my favorite things I did this past trip.

Distance: 6 kilometers round trip (roughly 4 miles)

Estimated Time: 1-2 hours

Who: Anyone able to handle significant inclines and rough terrain.  If your kids are used to hiking then they will be fine.  My kids would have wanted to be carried long before the half way point.

Here is the trailhead to Bertha. This trailhead is located just off of Evergreen Avenue.  There is a decent sized parking lot here, but you could walk here from anywhere in town.

I had seen a few maps and they all said that Bertha Falls was 1K.  So, I was thinking that I could do this while my family was napping.  Nope.  This is a lie.  Or they just don't tell you where the kilometer starts.  It surely doesn't start here.  From here you have 3Ks to get to the falls.  Trust me.  It's 3 kilometers one way.

The beautiful view as you climb.

This was a lookout at 1.5K mark.  (there was a sign.  I just forgot to take a picture of it.  It also said that I had 1.5K to go.)  The view into Glacier National Park, USA.  This is a perfect place to eat a snack and drink some water.  There is a bench to sit on too.  I could have sat here all day long.  So peaceful.

Somewhere between half way and the falls, I climbed down to the river.  There was a pool that you could wade in or little kids could swim in. There was a couple of ladies there that were testing out their water filter.  The one that works like a straw.  It was pretty cool.  So, if you have one of those filters, then you could get yourself a drink.
 

This is Bertha Falls.  It's a good turn around spot if you're not going up to Bertha Lake, which I was not.  You will know you are here when you hit a wooden bridge and another wooden bench to sit on.  I'm pretty sure there was a sign too.

Next time I'm thinking I will train run this one.  It's a good distance of 6K round trip, not too steep, and oh so beautiful. But I'll wait another year or two to take the kids.

Running Waterton Lakes National Park: Prince of Whales Hotel

One of my favorite places to run while on vacation is in Waterton National Park, Canada.  The first day is always rough because my lungs need to adjust to the altitude and temperature.



So, the first day, I always to a short easy run.  Usually from where I am staying up to the Prince of Whales Hotel.  It's about 2-3 miles from where we normally stay.  So, distance will depend on where you start.

Running to the Hotel is up a small hill.  There is a beautiful view at the top.   

It's completely worth it and you will still have plenty of energy for the rest of your day's activities.

Running in Raymond, Alberta, Canada

There are plenty of people who like to sleep in while on vacation, but I have to rise with the sun.  I love running while on vacation. I get up early, smell the fresh air (something we lack here in Utah), enjoy the crisp breeze, and head off to explore a new area.  I don't take my music when running on vacation because I want to enjoy nature and be completely aware of my unfamiliar surroundings.

This summer, I was able to run in Alberta, Canada.  I was there for the July 1st celebrations.  I was staying in Raymond because they have the best parade.  Each morning I was there, I went running.  On the first morning I found a running trail on the south side of town and followed it past the edge of town. Here was the scene of my run:

The next day I didn't get a picture.  This was because my heart was racing and in panic mode for most of my run.  I got chased down the street by a huge dog.  I survived.  It's okay.

The next morning was Canada Day.  It was cloudy and looked like rain was coming, but I got to enjoy the parade route and it's decorations without the crowds of people.

I noticed that many people in town seemed to be heading out on their runs when I was finishing up.  So,  if you have a chance to visit Raymond and you want to run with people, then I would recommend going later in the morning.  Anytime after 6:30am.

Race #7: July - FroYo 10k

My goal this year has been, as you know, to run a race every month.  But July came and I had not registered for any race.  Signing up for a race this late in the game is pretty expensive.  And just not what I am able to do right now.  So, I had to accept that there would be no race for me this month.  But then, on Friday, my Hubby called home from work.  He had a co-worker who had an extra entry to the FroYo 10k race in Salt Lake City, and he wanted to know if I wanted to run it.  For Free!!  I jumped at the chance.

The FroYo Run was held at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.  This is a beautiful park.  The run is 4 loops around the park.  I parked in the regular parking area.  I got there later than I had planned and usually like because I forgot to set my alarm, but it looked as though this race also had Zumba as their pre-race warm-up.

I met up with my Hubby's co-worker and her friends.  We all lined up in our respective areas.  I have never seen a timed race go out in waves, but I liked it.  This gave all the faster/want-to-win people the opportunity to run their race without having to dodge all the slower runners.  Especially at the beginning.  I am not one of those faster runners, so I was comfortably back near the 10 min/mile people.

The Start:

We headed out and I was feeling pretty good.  The first 5k was awesome, but I haven't actually run a 10k distance in 4 months.  This means, I started out way too fast and spent the second 5k dying.  We walked a couple of times.  I didn't think that running a loop would be so hard, but looking at the same thing over and over again didn't help with my dying lungs.

I finished this race in 1 hr, 6 min, and 35 sec.  This placed me 81st overall.  I'm feeling good about that.  Especially since I didn't train for this one.

After the race we were given water and our very own FroYo from Yogurtland.  The tartness from this dessert was PERFECT after a race. 

Our packet was also filled with great goodies:

AND we got a medal:

I'm thinking this race is one I will have to run again.  It was a low key race, no pressure, organized, and lots of swag.  Totally worth it.