Park City

Park City, Utah is certainly a more urban location than most places we have visited

this summer.  It is definitely a resort community.  Huge ski area in the winter but 

it is a very active, busy place in the summer too.  One might even say it is a bit too busy. 

But there is biking, hiking, exploring galore--a very "outdoors" community.  Also loaded with posh accommodations,  countless restaurant choices, and outdoor scenic mountains and byways to explore.

This hike was above the town on one of its myriad trails. 

from that same trail

city trails mean you are still in cell range.  Doug called and we could pick up!

Now we are out of town on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway.

Chasing an impressive waterfalls

Mirror Lake of the road's namesake

Even with the Labor Day weekend crowd we could find a bit of solitude.  However lots of people on the trails and lakeside.  Last hurrah of summer and everyone out taking advantage.  We are up in the mountains--it was 34 degrees this morning but typical of mountain weather, when sun comes up it warms up beautifully.

Last of Bear Lake, onto Park City

Another traveling day. Not a long one, maybe 160 miles to Park City, Utah. Leaving Bear Lake, one last glimpse of South end of the lake.

Thats western Utah!!

A rest stop along the way had a display of an oxen and wagon that honored the story of the Pioneer's who treked through this endless landscape. 

And a few favorite quiet moments around Bear Lake and surrounding valley trails.

Part of the adventure of traveling in the West is coming upon some wild animals. Always hoping for a bear sighting or a moose. No luck there but plenty of domestic cattle and these sheep! 

Out Exploring

Hiked a short trail to find this giant Limber Pine. Once thought to be 2 thousand years old until scientists realized it was just a cluster of 5 Limber Pines that had grown together and was actually a mere 650 years old! Anyway, it was massive

On the trail near the big Pine tree. That's Bear Lake in background about 15 miles away. That lake is 20 miles long and about 8 miles across. 

Came upon some real cowboys!! They were herding cattle down the road, bringing them down from high country summer pasture back to their ranch. Was quite the show. Two wranglers on horseback keeping them together on the road. No way to pass them--cars coming up the road pulled over to let them by. We just had to be patient and wait --we didn't mind.

Finally found a gate into the ranch.

"Wind Cave"  Too long and too hard trail up to it so was satisfied with picture from trailhead.

Followed a side road up to a small mountain lake at altitude of 8000ft. Another picture perfect spot.

Hiked around it and ran into a herd of domestic sheep on the hillside above the lake. Lots of grazing of cattle and sheep on public lands around here. I can't imagine how these ranchers can ever find their stock again!

Monkey Flowers on the middle of a natural spring.

Wetland birding and Tabernacle

We made our way out to Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge at the north end of the lake

 We remembered this place from maybe 10 years ago as being pretty special. That was early spring and nesting time so we wondered if this late in the season would be as productive. It was probably the best birding of our whole summer!! 

A pair of Trumpeter Swans

Major breeding grounds for White Faced Ibys. Oddly named bird as it does not have a white face, only white markings that are hard to see in the field

The wetland is a quiet, serene place teeming with sounds of life.  There are Sand Hill Cranes here but we are about a month early to see the thousands that stage here before their southern migration. Would have loved to see them.

Black Necked Stilt.

On the rural road to the Refuge we came upon a bunch of goats on the road. Upon seeing us they acted like little kids caught where they shouldn't be and scurried back through the fence. Brought us to giggles, couldn't get my camera out quick enough to get them all!

In the town of Paris, Idaho (just across the border) we came across this perfectly preserved Morman Tabernacle built in 1888. Everything inside is original. Morman settlers came to this valley in 1863 and flourished because of hard work and dedication in an inhospitable landscape that other settlers passed up. A Tabernacle was soon desired and a son of Brigham Young became the architect. "The Tabernacle the early saints envisioned was built not with surplus that the settlers had to spare, but by faith, commitment, hard work and great sacrifice.". (from the Paris Tabernacle info brochure)

Story is that the glass pieces for this stained glass window were shipped to this destination in barrels of molasses to keep them from breaking in transit.

The Lake continues to mesmerize.

Mountains to farmland

Left Challis and turned away from the Salmon River Byway and moved on, leaving the Idaho mountains and entered an open landscape filled with agriculture. Irrigated crops gave way to endless fields of wheat, grazing cattle and clear skies. First 100 miles was interstate 15 until we turned onto US Hiway 30. More fields and farms, small towns that eventually turned into the "Oregon Trail--Bear Lake Scenic Byway.". This apparently is the Oregon Trail route that pioneers used and had roadside markers showing various points used by those travelers in this part of Idaho. Hiway 30 is also the cross country Hiway that goes through my home town in Iowa. Made me think of my childhood home. And Bear Lake is today's destination, just over the border into Utah.

And Potatoes!! You know Idaho potatoes, surely, well they come from here--imense fields of potatoes!

And then there it is--the tourqois and blue waters of this glacial lake that nearly takes your breath away!!

And it changed as light changes. . .

We are settled into a campground in town of Garden City on the shores of the lake and plan to stay for another 4 days.

Rasberry Shakes are supposed to be famous here so of course we had to try one. Not disappointed! There is Raspberry Festival here every summer.