Moto-Ski, Farmington Canyon, April 11, 2020

These are strange times and it's tough to always be postiive. These lyrics gently remind to accept fate, but make it better. . .  

"You Are Here"

-- Wailin Jenny's

You wonder why you wonder when

You wonder how now and then
How you became who you’ve become

You are here
And yet you dream of being there
Of being where you think the good life has begun

Every darkened hallway
Every fallen dream
Every battle lost and
Every shadow in between
Will bring you to your knees and
Closer to the reason

And there’s no making cases
For getting out or trading places
And there’s no turning back
No you are here

Who can say who made the choice
In the matter of your birth
Who brought about that fateful day
Well you are here and born with fire and desire
You’re the only one can stand in your own way

And every broken arrow
Every hardened smile
Every foolish gamble and
Every lonely mile
Will bring you to your knees and
Closer to the reason

And there’s no making cases
For getting out or trading places
And there’s no turning back
No you are here

And every sign of love
Every seed that’s growing
Every sweet surrender
To that silent knowing
Will bring you to your knees and
Closer to the reason

And there’s no making cases
For getting out or trading places
And there’s no turning back
No you are here

The objective, Rice Bowl from just above the beaver ponds. 

Bountiful Peak (9,271 ft) from two-thirds the way up the Mud/Rice Divide.

Mud Peak (8,745 ft). Those stunted trees have welcomed me to the summit for over two decades. Sad, they now look like they're dying, with brown needles and thinning. 

View west from the top of Rice Bowl.

Bountiful Peak (9,271 ft), view south from the top of Rice Bowl, Mud Peak (8,745 ft) at left.

Turns down the east side of upper Rice. Chris is the dot climbing over the drift at the top.

Fuller, nearing the top of Mud/Rice . . .

 . . .  cornice and Fuller . . 

 . . . kick-turn, Fuller and cornice. . . 

 . . . cornice 

View east from upper Rice, the Unitahs way off on the horizon.

Antelope Island from the top of Rice.

Rice Peak (8,730 ft) and cornice over the west side of Rice Bowl.

Fuller (l), Chris (r) on top of Rice Peak (8,730 ft), view west.

Oquirhs and and Stansburys.

Bountiful Peak (9,271 ft).

Chris (l) and Fuller (r)

Turns, upper Rice. 

There are series of Beaver Ponds (10 or so, this one at 7,170 ft.) of various sizes in lower Rice Creek. The ponds are not nearly as deep as they were a few years ago, and, though hard to tell with a deep snow pack, it looks like the Beavers might be gone, the ponds are slowing filling in. 

Mostly cloudy today, but when the sun peaked out it was hard not to stop and look for our turns in upper Rice.

Several more Beaver ponds. I've heard some folks say that Beavers are vermin and they destroy streams and rivers, recommending trapping the Beaver and dynamiting the dams to reestablish the streams. I disagree. I like to see wildlife in their natural form, and Beavers and streams are an example of a natural co-existence in this world. They should be left alone unless introduced unnaturally. Leave the Coyotes and Mountain Lions to restrain the population, or limited human trapping/hunting. These Beaver's weren't planted by humans, they established this series of ponds naturally, so why should humans remove them?

Yes, we are part of nature and we needs to harvest resources to survive, but total annihilation,  like the Beaver community in Farmington Canyon, does not serve a benefit for our survival. These ponds have now been here for approximately 15 years (yes, I remember when they were't here) and I have not seen a degradation of anything. Yes, some Aspens have been sawed down for making dams, but it's a natural process and, let's face it, Aspens are weeds. Beautiful yes, but they are weeds, they spread without restraint until no more space exists, limited only by more dominant life forms like Spruce, Fir or Pine Forests (natural limits). If you've ever planted an Aspen in your yard, you know. Any Aspens taken by the Beavers have quickly been replaced by sibling trees.

This is the easy way up Farmington Canyon, around the gate then rode up the road for six to seven miles; parked motos where road was blocked by snow at 6,580ft., .5mi past the Sunset Campground; booted .9mi to the Sheriff's cabin; transitioned to skis; skinned up the Mud/Rice Divide to the top of Rice Bowl (cabin to Rice Peak - 2.3 miles, 1,904 ft vert gain).
Yes, pedaling up the canyon is much more honorable, but the effort of pedaling takes-away from the skiing. I like skiing while we still have snow. There will be plenty of time to pedal this summer. 

 . . . a few pics from Fuller 

Reeder, coming over the drift at the top of Rice Bowl . . .

 . . . and dropping off Mud Peak (8,745 ft). . . 

 . . . then down the middle of Mud Bowl. . . 

. . . slightly over-ripe corn, but still supportable and fun, just a bit too wet to be fast and fearless.

Back up for run three, Mud Peak (8,745 ft) just ahead.

Stream crossing at the start of the day. We were lucky to have a snow bridge today. I've waded the stream several times in bare feet or ski boots, usually bare footed going in, but wearing ski boots when coming out when tired and finished, with attitude of "who cares about wet boots?"

We parked at the snow-line(6,580 ft.) about .9 miles down the road from the Sheriff's cabin (6,835 ft.); walked the road to the cabin; transitioned to skis then skinned up to the top of Rice/Mud Peaks from the cabin (cabin to Rice Peak via the Mud/Rice Divide - 2.3 miles, 1,904 ft vert gain).