A WALK UP MILL CREEK CANYON

As of late I have been enjoying the trails of Mill Creek Canyon on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley. I have tried to hike at least 5 days a week, attacking a new trail each time until I reach the summit or vista.

One morning after a big rainstorm, everything was ALIVE and SCREAMING WITH COLOR! Flowers exploded like fireworks from both sides of the trail. Blues, yellows, reds, and the overall green-ness of the land was overwhelming. I swear, using my new shamanic senses I could Smell the growing.

I walked along, careful to witness every floral expression. They were telling me something, whispering across the pews in a catheral of chroma. I listened, watched, and waited.

Enormous blossoms like massive dandelions reared up, like full-grown lions. Within their intricate patterns I could see the big bang, birth of the cosmos, synapses firing and a meteor storm. Above all other exploding floral displays, they were most like fireworks.

I had recently finished reading Jeremy Narby's book on Amazonian shamanic knowledge of Ayahuasca and it's relationship to the DNA molecule. Just up the trail was a little reminder- a boring beetle had looped back on his own path, forming a scribble of DNA helix.

Springs were everywhere, gushing clear and very cold water from each of these pores. Around each watering hole was life, growing and engulfing, like this thick-haired moss that had all but coated the boulder beneath.

As of this writing, I have hiked 9 of the 12 trails up Mill Creek Canyon. Some I have started but not completed. It is my goal to make good on them all, even those listed as "most difficult" in the guidebook.

I hike with my flute and rattle, keeping time and startling rattlesnakes into announcing themselves with one, singing out the flow of wind melody at the summits with the other.

I usually hike alone, with something ambient or provoking on my ipod, one ear tuned in and the other tuned to the world around me. I often consider the large questions while walking.

Who are we? Why are we here? Are there other, intelligent beings just out of reach across dimensions?

I think on these things.

I rattle.

COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT- JULY 08

I had a brief adventure and camped at Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, CO as I was heading to the SCA Pennsic War in late July 2009. I only had one day to explore as I was meeting up with a larger group in Denver for the trip across country.

The Monument is a beautiful drive, winding through canyons, cliffs, and tunnels on it's way up and around the redrock rim. There are also many places to park & hike around. I brought my native american flute with me and stopped to play at several outcrops overlooking the valley below.

The campground at CNM is great for tenting, with sites right on the rimrock. Vistas are numerous and breathtaking.

The sun set as soon as my tent was up. I spent a night in quiet solitude, stargazing and thinking deeply, before heading out at sunrise.

HORSESHOE CANYON - JULY 2009

This adventure was undertaken by Greg Grub and Angel Grub in early July, 2009.

After years of reading about it, we finally made the trip into the MAZE area of Canyonlands National Park in hopes of locating the legendary petroglyphs of Horseshoe Canyon. This area is due east of Goblin Valley, about an hour off Hwy 24.

We found ourselves way off the beaten path in the full heat of the desert summer. It was over 107 degrees when we left the car. We took plenty of water and so should you! The photo above shows the entry area of the canyon, which gets deeper and steep on the way to the ancient art.

We followed cairns and cloud shadows through the desert heat, keeping an eye to the cliffsides in search of prehistory. The petroglyphs we were looking for were pre-anasazi, meaning they were drawn by humans in the remote past, from 2,000-4,000 years ago.

Each of the three panels featured in Horseshoe Canyon were phenomenal. Each one contained several dozen figures. I photographed each figure several times. Here I am sharing some of those that really spoke to me.

This image seems to tell of a strange being that visited the tribe in the ancient past, showing the tribe members going out to greet this very unusual person. Does it repesent a shaman? An alien? A spirit? There is something other-worldly or supernatural about that taller, decorated form...

Here is a close-up of what appears to be another mysterious, supernatural being. Again these forms speak to me from moments in dream, from realms just beyond those we normally see. At least this one appears to be happy.

This adventure lasted all day- 4 hours in and 4 hours out. After reaching the canyon floor we only encountered one other person - a young female ranger out making notes on the area. It was extremely hot in July and I'd warn others to wait until cooler weather before making the trip.

Bring sunblock and more water than you think you'll need!

Had there not been partial cloud cover this trip would have been impossible.

GOBLIN VALLEY, UTAH- JULY 2009

This adventure was undertaken by Angel Grub and Greg Grub in early July 2009.

This State park at the southeast end of the San Rafael Swell is often overshadowed by the many National Parks and Monuments of the area. Usually, State Parks cannot offer up the same quality of natural wonders as our National Parks. Goblin Valley is an enormous exception to this rule.

We had visited Goblin Valley several times in the past and did not expect any new adventures.

However, we were wrong!

First, we camped within the state park, taking advantage of its VERY UNIQUE campground- situated amongst towering hoodoos. After setting up camp, we headed for the Valley of Goblins late in the day.

Morning and evening sunlight is best for taking pictures in the redrock desert. Without the help of shadows, the geologic features flatten out and are difficult to distinguish. The contrast of warm sunlight and cool shadows really makes this place pop.

We knew there was a large basin/valley filled with these goblinoid structures (called hoodoos). What we didn't know, until exploring the entire valley, is that there is another basin with even more astounding structures hidden just beyond the well-known area. So we climbed over the rim and entered a land that was filled with goblins, castles, caves, towers, and endless paths through it all.

We climbed, passed through tight slots, went under chock stones, and found ourselves in an indescribable labyrinth of astounding beauty. Many adventurers have used the word labyrinth to describe an area, but never before has the word been so appropriate. This was a maze beyond mazes, a tangle of passages that would confuse even the best explorer. Only the sunlight provided a directional reference, and it was setting quickly. In the dark escape would be impossible- and we'd finished our last beer!

We began heading out of the back end of the tangle of towers, and emerged an hour later. We were just in time to watch as the stars emerged from the deep cobalt sky.

I stayed awake most of the night, staring up at the universe through my telescope. In the dark skies of southern Utah I managed to locate several star clusters and deep space nebulae.

It was just as astounding as exploring the new section of Goblin Valley.