Give Thanks...For The Beauty Of The Hills

 For the life of me, I can't remember an autumn with so much color in the mountains. I've lived in Utah almost all my life, and during those years, I've lived near the mountains. Needless to say, I've seen a lot of fall color displays.

This year, though...

It's like it's increased in brilliance. I have many social media friends who are exceptional photographers. The pictures of the fall colors they've posted are so beautiful. Even my non-photographer friends have shared incredible photos of our autumn.

Last week my wife and I took a drive up Logan Canyon on our way to Bear Lake. We saw displays that matched those of my friends. Unfortunately, I was unable to capture--as did my fiends--what we saw. Truthfully, any picture I could have taken wouldn't do what we saw justice. It was just so amazing. The few shots I did get were taken while driving and through a bug-pocked windshield.

I am thankful for where I live, for the four seasons of the mountains, for the ability to pilot a car effortlessly (for us...) up and down a canyon road and see God's canvas. Soon, the leaves will be gone and snow will blanket the mountains in white.

I'm thankful for that beauty, too.

Few Things As Beautiful...As A Clear Blue Sky

I know I'm like many people who feel that they live in a beautiful place on this planet. To me, that doesn't mean where I live is superior to where everyone else lives; it means the world has many amazing places to call home. 

Of course, some times are nicer than others. We've had a long hot summer, and as summer came to a close, we had some pretty crappy air. Huge fires in the west can have that effect on an area. The other day I walked outside my house after several storms blew through and I just looked up at the sky. 

It was beautiful.

Many who post pictures say that they pictures they took can't do justice of what they actually saw. This is one of those times. The blue was so deep and pure and the white clouds looked without blemish. The scene made me stop and just look and look and look.

In the summer we get dirty air mostly from fires. In the winter the inversions trap pollution in cold air. But in between, there are days that we get like last week. And it made where I live that much more beautiful.

Hiking With The Puppy...

There's a trail behind our house that take hikers up the mountain. From the trail they can access a road, or continue to Patsy's Mind and Flag Rock. In the summer, the trail is used daily. Many times I've watched as groups or single individuals head up the switchbacks to higher elevations and amazing experiences.

I used to hike that mountain if not daily at least weekly as a kid. As an adult...not so much.

I've noticed something as I watch people begin and end their hikes. Many times, they have a dog with them. The other day, I decided to do the same. I wasn't sure how our puppy would handle being on a relatively narrow trail. Turns out, he did well.

We didn't go very high up the hill, just a few switchbacks. We cleared what my friends used to call The Sandpit. It's still full of sand, mostly, but with new vegetation, it's not as defined as it once was. The trail is not steep, but it's narrow. The puppy was a little tentative, but he was able to make his way up until we cleared The Sandpit. That's when I began taking pictures. The clouds made it a beautiful hike.

The weather is turning. There will be fewer and fewer hikers (and dogs...) in the coming days and weeks. I don't know if I'll get up the hill again with the puppy--it might be next spring until we take to the hill. Of course, by then, he won't be a puppy anymore.