New Friends

We met in the forum of Snapshots of a Good Life Photography class...where a few of us have become fast friends! Incidentally, the class changed my photography bushels and barrels full forever. If you really want to understand your DSLR camera and photography...take Karen's class! 

Already planning a trip to the West including Zion, Bryce, and Moab, I invited Marilou and family to come a little bit further North and stay with us in good ol' Logan Utah with promises of pie and a good time!

What do you do with new friends who live in Miami, and whom you have never met in person?

Why of course...here at The Garlick Press, we will take you hiking!

And not just a slight stroll along the peaceful river, we'll take you to amazing heights on The Crimson Trail

so you experience Northern Utah's high mountain beauty.

Never mind that you might live at sea level and not be used to breathing at high altitudes.

Or that we'll bring along our dog who runs by knocking you off the cliff.

I think it was during the descent that Marilou began calling this the Hike of Doom! I'm pretty sure she might have been calling us names as well. And we probably deserved it!

But I do deliver on my promises...pie to anyone who finishes! And for the kids...any sort of prize you want. For rambunctious Ryan...it was a giant bag of Sour Patch Kids.

Cooling her tired hot feet. Isabel...adorable gorgeous Isabel said she wanted chocolate pie. You should have seen her pick up her pace. So later on that evening, together we made Isabel's Chocolate Silk Pie!

One of my favorite shots of the day. Such beautiful, sweet kiddos...I fell head over heals with both of them!

And what else do people in Utah do...we shoot stuff! BB guns are the latest summer evening entertainment here at The Garlick Press.

Isabel is the daughter of a photographer and you pick up on that immediately. She knows EXACTLY where to turn her face to maximize catch lights in her gorgeous, intensely deep, brown eyes.

Trying to redeem ourselves the next morning, we needed something powerful and impressive to show our friends from Miami. We couldn't have them returning to Florida telling everyone how the rude people from Utah tried to knock them off cliffs and deprive them of water in the hot dry desert sun. So back to the mountains we went...this time in a gondola to the top of Snowbasin.

Where we had a lovely lunch in this lodge, experiencing Utah's famous "fry sauce" for the first time.

Enjoying each other's company.

Witnessing the wildflowers springing from their winter hiding places. Our Miami-ans were skeptical about going to the top of another mountain. Do you blame them? I even wore flip flops to convince our guests we weren't doing any hiking!

But look what we found hiding at the tip top of the mountain just waiting for two kids from Florida to discover...snow!

What happens when you combine snow and kids of all ages?

SNOWBALL FIGHT!

And then the teasing banter began...
Her: I nailed you!
Him: Nope, nope you didn't.
Her:Yes I did!
Him: No, you didn't even come close (clearly he is picking the snow off his shirt)

Her: Lisa, I got him didn't I?
Him: No, no you didn't.
Her: Uh huh, and everyone agrees with me...I hit you.
Him: They don't know anything.

It was pretty delightful watching the bantering back and forth. Isabel held her own I have to admit though!

The meadow was gorgeous

as was the company.

Quiet and peaceful at the top of the mountain.

What a beautiful day with new friends! I can't wait for their return visit...obviously I'll have to promise more than pie next time!

Mountain Play Time

There is nothing more fun than playing in the mountains during winter...

unless it's playing with friends in the mountains during winter.

unless it's playing with friends who ski in the mountains during winter.

unless it's playing with friends who ski and giggle in the mountains during winter...

unless it's playing with friends who ski and giggle and enjoy yummy food in the mountains during winter!

Here...watch for yourself!


Playing in the Mountains from Lisa Garlick on Vimeo.

See what I mean!

Quitting Time

Sometimes I wish I was a quitter...


unfortunately I don't know how.

Waking up early one Saturday morning a few weeks ago, Dean and I haphazardly decided to hike the Wellsville Mountain Range. These majestic often snow-packed peaks, while being moderately tall are exceptionally narrow which makes them one of the steepest mountain ranges in North America. The Wellsvilles stare at me every morning when I'm on the way to anywhere; I have always dreamed of hiking to the summit! Today would be that day.

Being the first time on this trail, we were surprised by the amount of foliage. And green is an understatement, this trail felt like a walk through the Amazon jungle. Huffing and puffing early on, we realized quickly this hike was straight up, hardly any switchbacks and steep all the way.

Wild berries springing from the carpet of green looked almost good enough to taste.

As the trail finally opened up to reveal a clearing, I realized quickly that we still had quite a lot of ground to cover before reaching the summit. Having spent a couple days during the week recouping from a minor health issue, I was feeling sub par in strength and stamina. Time to admit my weakness, quit, and turn around for home; something I'm not very good at admitting...weakness. There have been many times in the past three years I wished I had the quitting gene...you now that part of your DNA that allows you to give up, lay in bed and pull the covers over your head. Ya...I don't have that gene.

Dean, sensing my fatigue, queries if I would like to turn around. Of course I'd like to turn around and make the descent at that moment, but something won't let me. We agree to hike another 15 minutes and then reevaluate. The minutes pass by...15...and then more... as our steps bring us closer and closer to the summit.

Couldn't help myself taking a photo of this little guy...reminds me of our girls buzzing around at home!

And just like that, the trail opens up again, revealing we are minutes from the peak. Turning around to see where we've been, the view outlines the entire glorious valley I call home.

Just a few steps to the other side of the mountain...another valley! .The gorgeous vistas on both sides of this steep mountain range seem to cloud any remembrance of ever even considering quitting.

His majesty-king of the mountain...if but for just a moment.

A quick pose with Izzy, a bite of chocolate...and we begin our descent.

As is often the case when you hike, it is the descent that solidifies just how steep the trail really is...we both felt this hike in our knees.

With no time to rest, we quickly stop at a friends' orchard. Knowing how much we love home-made applesauce, she generously gave us 10 bushels of apples, if we would just pick them from her trees.

Many...many...hours later...I still wish I was a quitter!

Naomi's Peak

It just so happens that the hubby has spent the last week in a faraway land...trust me...he's definitely in a foreign country. Before he left, just the two of us (plus the pooch) set off to hike Naomi Peak.

I always miss him when he travels, but there is something about this trip that makes him feel so much farther away...

 and I miss him even more.

The trail to Naomi Peak winds through spectacular meadows of wildflowers

that have normally peaked by this time of year.

But these little buddies are still trying very hard to reach for the sun and bloom through the patches of remaining snow.

The route passes through a variety of terrain, including forest, meadows, glacial moraine, and rocky cliffs before you arrive at the summit.

There is still a ton of snow from the late El Nino storms that plastered the West this Spring...which makes for fantastic snow vistas. I love this shot...looks like Dean and Izzy are at the North Pole.

Naomi Peak summit sits at 9980 feet and is the highest point in the Bear River Range.The views in every direction are commanding albeit magestic...to the west-Cache Valley and Cherry Peak; to the south-Mt. Elmer, Logan Peak and the Uinta Mountains; to the east-the Salt River Range and on a clear day... the Grand Tetons.

Just the two of us (and a self-timer on the camera) sit at the top and snack on some fresh cherries and homemade granola. Chatting about the usual stuff that a couple who have known each other for many years do...we breathe in the amazing view that lies all around us. 

 Izzy is the best trail dog who loves hiking along with us whenever we go.

Before we make our descent, I snapped this shot for one of our ski buddies. This is Cherry Peak and makes for some gnarly back country skiing.

 And speaking of skiing...here's one way to get down.

 Woops...a shot of Izzy doing her business...who took that picture?

Somehow I missed this perfectly formed rocky outcropping while hiking up to Naomi Peak, so I was surprised to see it there as we hiked out.

Memories of a great day with the hubby have sustained me during the lonely moments this week. 

 And don't worry... Izzy always keeps Dean's pillow warm while he is gone.

Tonight as I look out my window...there is an enormous full moon. I wonder what Dean sees out his window halfway round the world? And is he missing home as much as home is missing him!