Utah, Day 3...Wild Rose and Painted Horses

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

     There wasn't much on tap for the day, just a few hiking trails.  The trailhead I was looking for is in Wild Rose Canyon, just north of Salt Lake City.  

      There are a series of loop trails all feeding off this trailhead.  The main loop I was planning to take was 2.7 miles.  Of course there were side trails and additional sections of trail.  All told I was walking three hours.  Not a bad way to start the day.

      Trail junctions are marked with faded signs and "you are here" markers.  

    What isn't on the map are some of the intersecting mountain bike trails.  Of course it all begins with the trail...upwards.   Great views though..

     At one point, I took a steep side trail up to what was supposed to be a scenic vista. Steep it was, with plenty of loose rock underfoot.  

                          

    Eventually, it did lead to some nice views.

    If I had been feeling bold, there are more trails even higher.  Atop the highest ridge is the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  When northern Utah was  covered in water,  that was the shoreline.  There are currently about a hundred miles of the trail, with two hundred and eighty as the final goal.  With a map of the full trail system, I probably would have gone up.  But, my guidebook and the posted maps didn't extend this far.  

     Instead, I started working my way back down to my original loop plan.  If you've ever hiked up a steep gravel trail, you know heading down can be worse than the climb up.

   Yes, I did lose my footing and went splat, face down on the trail.  It left me with a nice long gash on the back of my right arm.  Otherwise, I was fine.  I cleaned it up the best I could with my water bottle and wrapped it in a bandana. Joy.  

     I still finished the loop anyway.

     The original plan was to follow Wild Rose Canyon with Ensign Peak.  It's a relatively short trail to a view of downtown Salt Lake City.  Instead, I went to find a neighborhood Walgreens.  

      Warning: Product endorsement... If you've ever patched a scrape with NuSkin, then you know how that first coat feels.  Unpleasant to say the least.  There was also something on the shelf called NewSkin that promised not to sting.  A vast improvements.  As for that familiar sting, mostly gone...mostly.

     After lunch, I really didn't want to call it a day.  So, I found another hike, this time into Beus Canyon.

     Like everything here seems to be, it's a steep incline.  This time there were few loose rocks to slip on.  I went as far as the split in the trail.  Head right and it eventually ends atop Mount Ogden.  Go left, and you're on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  

   This is where I met a guy coming down.  He told me the best viewpoint was another two miles up.  I thanked him, walked a little further then turned around.  

     From the walk back down...

     It was still too early to call it a day.  So. I took a walk down Washington Blvd. to check out something curious I had seen on the drive it.

     But first, The Ogden Temple.  Looking good even while backlit.

   Just a few blocks up, I couldn't help but notice a bunch of painted horses along the sidewalk.  It's part of Ogden's annual Trail to Pioneer Days celebration.  

     There are sixty of these fiberglass horses around downtown.  Some have easy themes.

     This one is by Jasey Calunga and is entitled War Horse.  Calunga is a machinist for the 530th Commodities Maintenance Brigade based at Fort Hill.  He's even painted large murals on the base. As a side gig, he also does custom paint jobs on almost anything.

         On the other side of the intersection is another of his entitled '66 Mustang.

       Kirk Larson painted his to look like stone.

        Sherry Ferrin painted hers like a carousel horse.

       Just outside Union Station, is where you'll find Greg Gochnour's horse.   If I had checked out the other side, it even said Union Station on it's side.

      

     This one is by M.H. and Stephen Henry.

     This one is by Jessica Buckner.

      Brian Nicholson titles his, "I am Ogden,"  From afar, it looks like a spotted horse.  Up close, it's pictures of Ogden residents.

     Along the walk, plenty of color, too.

     Sunset from the motel...