The Rambler

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KEITH JOHNSON'S OL TIMERS TORTOISE HIKE August 20, 2011 Well, I stretched the truth more than a bit. I’m certain there is a Gold Fork Canyon somewhere in the West, but not up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The idea of a Tortoise Hike was to reach out to folks who once had been regular hikers, but even though they still love the outdoors, for various reasons they no longer hike with the Wasatch Mountain Club. The people who met me at the Big Cottonwood Park and Ride didn’t quite fit that description. All had been hiking this season, but were attracted to the ideas expressed in the hike description (Rambler August, 2011). Most felt that the pace of WMC hikes was too fast for them. One person said she could keep up for half the way but then was winded. Three hikers said they could hike for miles at a slower pace. Some wanted to be able to stop and examine nature along the way. Most of the hikers said that there was no guarantee that NTD hikes wouldn’t take off and leave them in the dust. When I met the group at the Park & Ride I had a hike in mind, but asked everyone for suggestions. Norm suggested Silver Fork, and we headed up the canyon. There wasn’t a single parking space at the Park & Ride Lot, so we started up in separate cars. Upon exiting the Lot, the Biel’s were able to hook a ride up with Lowell. One of the crowd got separated going up the highway and didn’t arrive with the rest at Solitude’s lower lot. I asked Norm to lead the others at an even slower pace, while I tried to locate our lost person. I came back emptied handed and ran to catch my crew that had headed up Silver Fork. Finally, I caught everyone in front of the old Swiss style house. Norm wanted to take the trail, rather than the old dirt road. We did. The pictures were taken as we broke for lunch a couple of miles up the side canyon. Instead of gold nuggets, Margie and Lowell were attempting to identify the species of a flower. No, Sandra didn’t want to trade two gold nuggets for cherries, but was generous with delicious fruit! For me, the best part of the hike came as we proceeded up toward the steeper section of the trail. Just below that section, we marched through waist deep flowers that made up a wild flower meadow the size of a couple of football fields. The trail was just wide enough to hike. I suspected the trail had been created by a succession of happy wanders, and I wished the meadow could be protected. A trail could be re-routed Margie and Lowell closely examine gold nuggets they discover in meadow around the edge of the meadow and widened. It is most definitely a more picturesque and enjoyable route, than the old road which was crowded. That meadow was the most beautiful of all those I’ve walked by along my summer journeys. As some of us had scheduled other afternoon adventures, we stopped short of going up through the fir forest and on to the top. Hope all made it to their respective pleasures. Great mid-day hike everybody! Submitted by Keith Johnson 42
L-R: Norm, Margie, Ken and Lowell Norm and Ken sit dreaming of the trips their gold can buy! Sandra drives hard bargain: Two cherries for one gold nugget Keith documented the entire "Gold Rush" Participants: Ken and Sandra Biel, Norm Probanz, Margie Gendler, Lowell Wallace, and Mike Gaschle. Organizer/Photographer: Keith Johnson. Destination: Little known Gold Fork Canyon. 43
Page 1 and 2: The Rambler October, 2011 The Month
Page 3 and 4: IN THIS ISSUE: Upcoming General Mem
Page 5 and 6: WMC's Annual halloween P A R T Y AT
Page 7 and 8: A n n u a l L a b o r D a y D e s e
Page 9 and 10: Carl enjoing a respite on Saturday'
Page 11 and 12: If you’re a new member . . . depe
Page 13 and 14: Dianne, Nancy and Phyllis on the de
Page 15 and 16: Chris Biltoft, Richard Jirik and Ka
Page 17 and 18: At Lake Solitude. L to R: Sandra, S
Page 19 and 20: Elliott Mott's Great Salt Lake Mari
Page 21 and 22: Larry Hall on Tahoe Rim Trail John
Page 23 and 24: Erin McCormick's Greens Basin Eveni
Page 25 and 26: Jeannie with Silver Lake in the bac
Page 27 and 28: he transferred five of the claims t
Page 29 and 30: Going up some unnecessary but fun C
Page 31 and 32: The Stalwart Girls The 12' Waterfal
Page 33 and 34: elliott mott's maybird lakes hike G
Page 35 and 36: Susan and Bob descending into Rock
Page 37 and 38: Foreground to background: Dianne, D
Page 39 and 40: Top to bottom: Stanley, Heidi, Aust
Page 41: Then the real fun starts as the gro
Page 45 and 46: Wasatch Mountain Club (WMC) Applica
Page 47 and 48: ACTIVITIES LISTING See online Calen
Page 49 and 50: Oct 8 Sat Hike: Lookout Peak - mod
Page 51 and 52: Oct 15 Sat Oct 16 Sun Oct 16 Sun Oc
Page 53 and 54: Oct 22 Sat Oct 23 Sun Oct 23 Sun Oc
Page 55 and 56: Nov 13 Sun Nov 18 Fri Nordic Ski To
Page 57 and 58: WASATCH MOUNTAIN CLUB (WMC) MEMBERS
Page 59 and 60: REI COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT

The Rambler

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