26

I turned 26 years old on Sunday-thanks to everyone for calls, emails, and presents! 25 was an exciting year, I got married, graduated college, finished my ranger training program, and became an EMT. I moved from Alaska to Provo to Flagstaff to Moab. I worked BYU Grounds Crew, Construction, and Park Service. I swam a mile for the first time, climbed Prodigal Son, Kor-Ingalls on Castleton Tower, Jah Man, Fine Jade, Moses, and the Great White Icicle. I hiked Buckskin Gulch, Quandary Canyon, Mt. Peale and Mt. Tukunikavatz. Most importantly though, I got to spend the whole year with Angela - she's been the center and joy of it all.

I'm sitting in the Moab Library on my day off figuring out what Angela and I are going to do for the winter. Alaska, South America, the Tetons, something else....? Its still 1 or 2 more seasons until I can get a permanent job so the Hays' will have to keep moving for now.

Its a beautiful day here; warm, breezy, puffy white clouds against a blue sky and red rocks, green trees. I don't want to leave Moab!

Come visit while you can - we're only here till the end of November.

A Swell Time

So I mentioned in my last post that we were thinking of going to Alaska for the winter. Here are the details of the job: we only get paid $50 a day (between the both of us), but they give us a cabin (heated by wood stove), a snowmobile (we are 16 or 20 miles from the closest town--Seward), and we get a car to drive to headquarters (I think it's in Anchorage). We would be in charge of grooming ski trails, talking to visitors (dog mushers, skiers etc) and we'd be living at the base of Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. The money isn't the best, but the story and the experience would be awesome. . . still trying to decide.

Last weekend we had a great adventure in the San Rafael Swell. We camped out that night and watched the full moon rise, then started out on a ten mile trek that led us through Quandary canyon which is supposed to be the most technical in the Swell with three keeper potholes and a lot of water, the grand canyon of the muddy river (which was far more beautiful that I expected), and on remote trails in the swell. We spent lots of time in gross pothole water working our way through the canyon and then played in the Muddy River which really wasn't muddy at all. But we managed to make ourselves muddy. We found a huge mud pit and went to town making ourselves look like statues. It was a total BLAST!! I love this area so much. You could spend months alone just exploring the Swell. We didn't see a single person the entire time until we reached Green River and gorged on cheesburgers with some of the Arches NPS staff.

We're still here. . .

Man I love this place. I haven't been toting my camera around anymore. I guess I'm feeling like less of a tourist now and more of a resident. I still am amazed as we drive around here. It feels like home. The beautiful sunsets, the pink and orange cliffs, the warm summer sun and the endless fun.

We took a road trip to Colorado Springs a little while ago to see my sister Sarah and brother James. They have four amazingly cute boys. It will most likely be our last road trip until October when we go to Zion for Pete's wedding. . .although going to get groceries feels like a road trip after the hour and a half drive!!

We climbed Casteton tower again the other monday. It was GREAT! I was totally feelin' it. We did a different route this time and it felt easy to me. We camped at the base with nothing but a sheet and started by 6am. We were off by noon (we took one of our co-workers and he nearly fainted after the first pitch). We also biked Gemini Bridges (14 miles) down and then hitch-hiked home, ran the river (I got knocked out of the boat and we didn't have a self-bailer and after the hole we hit it was full to the brim), and climbed at Mill Creek up in the La Sals (super-secret local spot I suppose), went to our ward potluck (and started a water fight), played ultimate frisbee and had sushi night with a bunch of our friends up here.

When we got home Monday night (it was like 9:30), Brian and I got put on a team to go search for a missing hiker on one of the trails up here. We ended up finding him late at night lying on the trail dehydrated. He had even drank his own urine . ..but it was incredible how quickly he revived after three liters of water. We finally got to bed at 2am, but I've worked early every day this week and still haven't fully recovered.

We're thinking Alaksa this winter but still debating if we're brave enough to live in a cabin at the base of a glacier in the freezing arctic air! Any thoughts?

Gotta love the NPS. . .

Blossom like a rose. . .

Well, not exactly but you get the picture.