Bienvenidos a Utah

Wow. These last couple weeks have been a little crazy. Since then, I've left California, quit my job of 2 1/2 years, moved to a new state, and become a peach farmer. Huh? Let me elaborate.

I moved out to Utah to continue persuing my goal towards becoming an avalanche forecaster. In order to do so, I'm trying to work with the Ski Patrol/Avalanche Control guys up at Powder Mountain just outside of Ogden, Utah where I'm now living. I have to take this first aid course, which I'm now taking, in order to work these guys. So, that meant moving out to Utah a little earlier than I was hoping. Anyway, moving out here I didn't have a job, so I've just been trying to piecemeal stuff together as I'm getting settled. One of the guys from my class helps out on a peach farm and offered me work over there. How could I say no to work that had been offered to me withing 36 hours of moving to Utah? Anyway, so I'm not spending a good chunk of the week either going to school and studying or picking, sorting, and selling peaches. Random? You bet. Anyway, it should only last for a couple more weeks, then the peach season is over. I won't lie though. It's been a blessing.

With all the business of the last week and a half, I've finally had some time to update this blog. Yesterday I got a chance to get out and go for a hike/run up to nearby Malan's Peak. The sweetest thing about living where I live is the proximity to the mountains. There is literally a trailhead 5 blocks away from my house and it just starts heading up into the mountains that rise almost 5000 feet above. So I've been enjoying doing a bit of trail running lately. Anyway, here's a few photos from yesterday's adventure.

Heading up Taylor Canyon, the access point to Malan's Peak.



Looking up Taylor Canyon.



Looking out from Taylor Canyon onto the Ogden Valley.



Fall is here at 6000 feet!



Looking north towards big Ben Lomond. Can't wait to see that beast covered in snow.



Looking down on Ogden from the top of Malan's Peak. My house is in the bottom center of the photo, just a few blocks from the golf course.



Looking up towards Mt. Ogden from the top of Malan's. You can ski from the top of that all the way down to town in Ogden - a near 5000 foot descent.



Yours truly on the top of Malan's Peak.



Malan's Peak from back in town.



A video panorama from the summit of Malan's Peak.