Bell Canyon Falls: Meetup Group

Brad and I went out with a different MeetUp Hiking Group this weekend. We have done the hike to the Bell Canyon Resiviour twice, but we have never made it to the falls. We certainly found out why! It is a HELL OF A HIKE to get there. Not so much in distance, but each step required a huge climb and it just wore you out so quick.

The group had some really nice people! Its cool to meet people from all over the place, most of them like us- new to the area looking to meet some other hikers. There were about 40 people in the group so it was kinda crazy making the hike, but still fun.

AWESOME views of the valley from the falls!

Lunch with the group on picnic rock at the falls

This is how I make friends guys...

The spring melts the snow and makes some great waterfalls!

Our group having lunch

Love this one!

Amazing cliff faces!

Overall, great but long and tiring and long and tiring and long and tired. 

Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork Canyon)

Brad and I tried to do this hike twice in the winter. We drove the 45 minutes to the canyon TWICE to realize the road to get to the trailhead was closed.

We were on the website meetup.com looking for a hiking group to go out with, and we found a group to join that was starting their springtime with this very hike!

We met up with the group down in Spanish Fork and had a great day hiking up the canyon to these natural hot springs!  The hike wasn't too bad in difficulty.  It was along a river so for the first time since hiking in Utah, I got a real GREEN feel. It felt like hiking in Charlottesville! It was so lush and it was amazing!

When you got to the end, there were two waterfalls over a ground full of sulfur creating these natural pools of piping hot water. It was so interesting! The water was so smelly and dark black, ha! But it was a really nice warmth overall, while being FREEZING in some spots and HOT in others. Brad and I had a great time.

The group we were with just did the hike and headed back, while Brad and I stayed at the springs to soak. Afterwards we spent like 5 hours hiking back at our leisure, completing like 7-8 geocaches on the way back! We had such a great time in the FINALLY warm weather we didn't even think about sunscreen :) My shoulders were burnt burnt burnt after that day.  But overall, an awesome hike and met some new people!

Family Visits

Having the family here was wonderful.

It would take me years to describe the adventures and amazing moments, and I edited about 450 favorite images from the trips.

Basic Info:

DeFranks came. It was awesome.

Rainers came. The overlap was my favorite part.

Rainers went to Moab and came back then left.

It all rocked. 

Here are a TINY PORTION of my favorite pics...

Impromptu sledding trip!

Thanksgiving Point with the group

We are a fountain. And very normal.

The whole group touring the State Capitol!

Temple Square Fun :)

Delicate Arch!

Favorite part of Moab? Climbing and getting lost in these slots :)

Too much to write about about the two weeks the family was in an out. So happy and honored they spent their Spring Breaks with us :)

Foster Pet: Radcliffe

So Brad and I have been doggie crazed for the past few weeks. We know we can't adopt one right now because of time, finances, etc, but for some reason we have been checking out local shelters just to torture ourselves!! Just kidding- we want to do some glancing around to get an idea of what kind of dog we want in the future.

We were at a shelter in Park City and learned about the foster program they have. They signed us up and now we can take home a dog for the evening-- pick one up at 5pm after work and bring him back by noon the next day. They provide everything: kennel, toys, food, etc. We found the PERFECT dog and we HAD to foster him for the night.

We had so much fun with Radcliffe, in the house playing and then at the park the next morning. He was wonderful. We wish we could have him, but we loved fostering him while it lasted! He is so great. Just perfect. The downside is in one evening we got WAY too attached.. we miss him a lot.. and hope we find a way to control our emotions as we continue to foster maybe once or twice a month.