With Joan back in Moab, we again enjoyed our typical rhythm of the outdoors together.
Meaning, a night of camping at the end of the week, followed by backpacking in an engaging area.
We camped along the river and then made our way to a trailhead by a lake. And all under a three-hour drive from where I am typing.
From this area, we soon made our way to an old mining track that quickly led us up the alpine region with a 14,000-foot peak and nearby 13ers, making for a majestic walk.
The old track allowed us to get to the higher elevation with relative ease.
The old tract soon ended at an old mining cabin with extraordinary views towards the mountains both near and far.
But we then had to scramble up and barely-there social trail up an eroded mountainside to the saddle below the mountain.
A scramble that Joan did well, but not one she liked, and that she dubbed “The ten minutes of terror!”
But we soon reached the saddle and enjoyed the views that served as our reward.
We then went down a more well-defined trail and started our eventual descent to where we started the loop.
We made our way through the talus, eventually dipping below treeline, and enjoyed a break overlooking an alpine lake that’s a favorite spot for many.
We eventually made our way out of the basin, up to the rolling tundra, and back to our waiting vehicle.
Another weekend in our favorite hot weather escape and another gem of a place so close to our home.