A time of Thanks

November brought the first snows of the year. Not much, but some. It was enough to roll around some snowballs in the leaves and make a snowman. Landon named him pumpkin head. They kind of look alike don't they? ;-)

Thanksgiving was also good this year. I wasn't nearly as lonely as I was the last few years. My brothers were here, and Heather came over. We played some games. I cooked the turkey and made some pie. Landon and Bryce helped cook, too, and Grandma and Grandpa didn't have to lift a finger. It was our treat to them.

Fall colors in Logan

October in Logan is usually a pretty fun time. The corn mazes are all mapped out. The pumpkins are ready for craving. It's the time for bonfires and the first hot chocolate of the year. There's lots of fun activities going on.

I think our pumpkins turned out well this year. :)

Since there was still no snow in October, we also took an afternoon to head up the Crimson Trail. I love this hike in the fall. It's relatively cool and the leaves are changing colors, and since the hike is only four miles or so it can be done in a couple hours.

We also took my camera out to test it in the fall colors. I love the changing colors here in Utah, since it's something that never really happened at home. Isn't it pretty?

I didn't do anything for Halloween, but I'm kind of a bum that way, lol.

Finally! The Wellsvilles

This mountain has been on my list ever since I moved to Logan six years ago. I see it looming over Cache Valley every day, and I just wanted to be on the top of it. I kept telling my friends every summer that we should do the hike, and no one was very receptive to the idea. Once, a few years ago, I even managed to get two of my friends to decide to go on the hike with me. We got in the car and even found the trailhead on a bumpy dirt road thirty minutes from town, and then the driver decided he didn't want to go anymore. So, we turned around. Huh?! Weird.

So, now that the boys are in Logan I can finally bug someone to hike with me. :)

We (Landon, Bryce, my cousin Michelle, Heather, and I) decided to hike up the Wellsvilles on Saturday, starting at eight in the morning, or so. There are several trails up to the highest peak, a couple near Mendon I think and one starting from Sardine Canyon. We decided to start in Sardine, since that road would be easiest on my car. Plus someone had told me it was the easiest/shortest way up. They lied.

The trail starts the first mile or so following a jeep road. Really easy grade. Very deceptive. Then the trail just takes off the main road and into the forest. We actually had some difficulty finding the turn off point. It was so well hidden that we continued up the road for a while and then had to backtrack to find the right trail. It followed up a stream bed, and the trail got very steep very quickly. And, I mean, like really steep.

The steepness of the trail wasn't so bad until the tree cover thinned out. It was late Septmber, early in the morning. Why in the world was it so dang hot?! Hiking in the heat makes me move pretty slow. Luckily, I'm not the only one the sun effects that way. The trail kept meandering up and around the mountain, still just as steep.

It was about here that Bryce caught up with rest of us. He hadn't really been planning on coming, since he'd had a big wipe out on his mountain bike a few days earlier.

We'd already been hiking for a couple hours, and the trail was becoming more and more overgrown. Bryce's wounds were being stabbed, so he stopped to take a nap. Heather stopped, too, since it was getting hotter by the minute.

I was determined to keep on going. I was not going to make it that far just to quit. I could see the ridge above us, where I knew that you could look out over Cache Valley. I had to make it to that ridge. By then, we had completely lost the trail, so we just bushwacked our way up to the top. I had tons of little burrs attached all over my legs.

We didn't quite make it to the top of the peak. But, it was already 12:30 and just getting hotter, so we decided that the ridge line was a good place to stop. We saw the view that we went to see. The peak was another half hour or so along the ridge. We'll just save that for another day.... :)

We made it back to the cars around 2:30, which made for a much longer day than planned. But, I am also convinced that the hike was longer than the trail maps lead me to believe -- just in case you ever want to try that trail. ;-)

I also got the worse sunburn of my life on this hike. Note to self: always, always, always bring sunscreen, even if the weather calls for cloud cover.

Timp: a spur of the moment adventure

Sometimes, things done on the spur of the moment can be the best kind of adventures.

On Saturday we (Landon, Bryce, my cousin Jake, and I) hiked up Mount Timpanogos, which is the second highest mountain in the Wasatch Range, down by Provo. It's one that I wanted to climb before the snows came. I don't think we even really decided to do the hike until Thursday, maybe even Friday morning. I had to be convinced, and then I had to make sure the weather was good because I had heard that Timp was quite the climb.

We headed down to Orem on Friday night to stay at my cousins Melissa and Jake's apartment for the night. It was then that I convinced the boys that we should start hiking up the mountain at midnight or so. Honestly, this could have been in part because a cute boy and his party of friends just coincidently were planning on hiking up then. ;-) But, I also really don't like hiking in the heat, especially if the hike is going to be strenuous. I just get hot way too easily.

We were able to get a few hours of napping in, well the boys did anyways but I don't really nap, before we headed out from Orem a little past midnight. We left the trailhead at about 1:30 in the morning. Totally crazy. I know. But, look how chipper we are. haha. :)

We decided to take the Timpooneke Trail up, which is on the back side of the mountain. This is the trail that my friend said that he was planning on heading up, but apparently they changed their plans and didn't tell me. The turd. lol. The trail actually started out fairly easy. It was nice grade up, on a nice trail. I'm glad that my cousin Jake came along on the hike with us, however, because in the dark there was one particular turn off that I think we would have been lost on.

This part of the hike was really interesting -- because of the dark. It was insane just how many other people were hiking up in the middle of the night. Pretty much everyone had headlights on, and there was this string of little glowing lights all over the mountain. We could see where the trail above us was because of all the other people on the switchbacks. It was like someone had laid out a string of white Christmas lights to mark our path. I wish that I had taken a picture of it, but I don't think it would have turned out.

I also discovered that I really liked hiking at night. I couldn't see how high the mountain was, so I couldn't psych myself out about the distance left to go. Plus, it was nice and cool. I was still hot, hiking in just my t-shirt. Bryce on the other hand was freezing. I guess it was probably 40 degrees or so.

I had to keep reminding the boys to slow down and go my pace. If I go too fast, I wear myself out. But, if I go slightly slower, I can keep going at a fairly steady pace. I know that they just wanted to move faster, but they knew what they were getting into by bringing me. ;-)

About half way up, the trail started to leave the trees, and we started up a rocky slope towards the ridge. I was never really sure where the actual trail was here. There were lights and little paths everywhere. So, we just headed up whatever course was closest and looked like it headed in the right direction. It was quite the scramble in some places, though. We also managed to lose Bryce once. But, that's his own fault for leaving us for a "rest" and then not coming back directly to where we were. He left us standing around getting cold waiting for him.

We made it to the saddle at a little before six in the morning. Check out how cool "Happy" valley looks in the dark from up high.

The last little section of the trek to the top was pretty fun really. There were a lot of switchbacks and a lot of big rocks to scramble around. I think there were also some steep drops along the trail, but being in the dark, I hardly noticed. We did have to speed our pace up a little so that we could reach the top by sunrise.

And, let me tell you what, that was totally worth it. The sun came up around 7:00, and we were there at the top to watch it crest over the mountains.

We sat at the top and ate some breakfast, along with the herd of other people that were up there. My friend and his group had even packed up a stove, pancake mix, eggs, bacon, and hot chocolate. I guess it was somebody's birthday. Then we started the trek back down.

This was the ridge line looking down from the top. To the right of the saddle you can make out some of the paths that lead back down.

It was almost a completely different trip going down. Since it was dark going up, we hadn't seen much of the scenery. We saw little waterfalls, lots of pretty alpine flowers, and even some moose.

A couple hours into the descent and I was already baking in the sun. I was so glad that we had went up in the cool hours before dawn.

We reached the trailhead at the bottom around 11:30 -- ten hours and what we figured was fifteen miles after we started.

We had some lunch with Jake and Melissa and then headed back to Logan for Michelle's birthday party. I think that I went over 40 hours straight without sleep that weekend. But, all in all, I think that it was a worthwhile adventure, and it's one more mountain checked off my list. :)

Spring Hollow

I've been determined to get out and hiking up and around Logan. Having my brothers here is the perfect excuse to do so, as they don't like sitting around the house all day either.

I wanted to start out on something small, say the Wind Caves or the Crimson Trail, but Landon wanted to do something new. So, we looked at some maps of Logan Canyon and decided to try out Spring Hollow. It's a trail that cuts off from the Crimson before it climbs up into the mountains. It's supposed to lead up to a ridge and the dirt road that goes up Mt. Logan. Well, actually I guess this was Dad's idea. He had told us there was a peak not far past the point where the trail met the road.

I always seem to forget that Dad's "not far" usually is and that his "easy" usually isn't. Oh, well. You live and you learn. lol.

So, Landon, Bryce, Michelle, and I started hiking Monday morning. (It was Labor Day, so we had the day off.) The trail started off fairly easy, lulling us into a false sense of security. It quickly turned into a steep grade. It was steeper even than the Crimson.

Needless to say, we didn't make it all the way to the peak. We made it to the ridge right below the Mt Logan road, where we stopped and ate some lunch, about two hours after we started. Landon ran up to the road and ran back, so obviously it wasn't very far away. But, it was at this point that I discovered my shoes -- ones that I've had for well over ten years -- finally gave out. So, we headed back down.

Of course, no Johnson hike is complete without an adventure. Bryce decided it would be fun to throw rocks at a giant beehive hanging in the trees. And, of course, he hit it. We heard a humming and started running down the trail, chased by a giant swarm of bees.

We made it down without injury, however.

Silly boy.

A visit from Pops

Right before fall semester started at USU, Dad came down to Logan to visit for a week. He was bringing down the boys and a car loaded with junk, trailing along a Bug.

I tried to get Dad to fix some things on my car and at my apartment, but that was slow going. I think he was more interested in playing while he was in town.

So, we hiked up Mt. Naomi, which is one of my favorite hikes up Logan Canyon. It was beautiful day, and we were on top of the peak by eight-thirty in the morning. I'm not sure how many times I've been to the top of Naomi, but it's worth it everytime.

Bryce had a freshmen orientation class that week, and I had to work, unfortunately. So, Dad and Landon played around some more. We did all, however, get to mini-golfing, along with our cousin Michelle.



I love spending time with my family. I really miss them when they're not around. So, I'm really glad that my little brothers are here for the next year. It will give me someone to play with. :)

I CAN be creative...sometimes

I actually finished a sewing project! haha. You better pay attention to this one, because it's not likely to happen again anytime soon. ;) Really, though, I don't sew very often. I just don't have the patience. I cut out and put together this quilt in one or two days, but then it took me another six months to put the backing on. I guess I got bored.

I was at home visiting, and I found my box of old shirts and fabric -- shirts that don't fit, or I don't wear, and scraps of fabric from sewing projects in the past. I didn't really want to throw them away, so I cut them out and made a quilt out of them. Like a hang-around-the-house-when-it's-cold-and-I want-to lounge-about kind of quilt. But, I like how it turned out. :) I can tell you where pretty much every piece of fabric came from, so it's kinda neat.

Summertime, Summertime, Summertime

I should probably get caught up on all my summertime adventures before I forget all the details. I'll try to keep it short, so you don't get bored. ;-)

First, I know my birthday is not in the summer, but, hey, I missed it on this blog. I turned 24 this year. Crazy. I just don't think that I feel that old, lol. I had a fun birthday, though. I got to have two parties and two cakes. I'm just that awesome. :)

In the beginning of June, I drove up to Forks with my grandma so that we could go to Bryce's graduation from Forks High. I went to the library before we left to pick up some books on tape to listen to in the car. It actually made the trip seem a lot faster, and since I drove most of the way, that's a good thing.

We stayed in Forks for a week and a half or so. It was beautiful weather while I was there. I got to visit my wonderful ocean. I got to see Pursey. I drug my family out to the Hoh Rainforest for an afternoon. We also discovered that there was an archery range in town. I actually really enjoyed myself, and I don't think that I did too bad. :)

I went back to Logan for about a week and then headed off on my next road trip. One of my good friends from Forks was getting married in Las Vegas, so I headed down there for a few days. It was my first trip to Vegas. I can't say that I was really impressed. It was interesting, lots of flashy lights, but lots and lots of people.

It was also very hot down there. I think that I saw one store thermometer that read 120 degrees. Seriously!? That's way to stinking hot for me to handle. And, we were genius enough to decide to walk the strip during the day in that heat. We basically walked from place to place, hanging out in each building for awhile before heading back outside. Next time I go to Vegas, it will be in the winter, lol.

My friend had a bachelorette party a couple days before the wedding. I think I expected a Vegas bachelorette party to be, well, a little more extreme. But, it was really pretty tame, and therefore pretty fun for me. The wedding was also a good time. It was the actually the first one that I've ever been to. It was small, out in a little gazebo behind the casino. It was nice to see all of my Forks friends again, too.

It was then another week back in Logan, some fireworks and holiday things, and then I was off on another road trip. The Johnson Family Reunion was in Clayton, Idaho this summer. It's always a good time being with the family. We did some crafts, played some games, watched some movies, visited an old mining town, and slept in a loft with lots of loud children. Oh, that last part was the most enjoyable. ;-) I actually really enjoy family reunions, and it was good to see everyone again.

Kelsie and Mom also came back to Logan with me after the reunion. We went to Bear Lake, a Pickleville play, did some tubing. I think Mom wanted to spend some time with her parents and in Logan, and it was a fun couple weeks for me, too.

So, my summer was pretty busy, which is how I prefer it to be. Fun times. :)

the BEST part of a snow day

Alan, Jared, and I went skiing at the Canyons on Thursday. This was the highlight. :)

a GRAND adventure

The morning after my dad's 50th birthday celebration, I headed out on my next adventure. My Aunt Sheila had invited me to hike the Grand Canyon with her, and I decided, "Why not?". It was once again a good excuse to get out of Logan and have an adventure. My cousins Alan and Jared joined us.

So, that Tuesday we drove down to Arizona. It was a loooong day. Road trips are that way, at least to me... tis why I usually drive, lol. It was complete with a stop to buy pants to replace a torn pair, a return to the house to get hiking boots, an hour stop for a conference call (and therefore some playing and climbing in some sandstone), Subway sandwiches, and ice cream in a dead little town. It was dark by the time we made it to the lodge on the Grand Canyon south rim. My Aunt's friend from LA joined us here, and we had a nice sit-down meal.

The next morning it was time to hit the trail. We caught a shuttle to the South Kaibab trailhead and headed out. It was pretty cold and windy at the beginning of the hike. But, in the lower parts of the canyon, the sun finally found us and it became an easy jaunt through the red rocks. It was seven miles to the bottom, and well worth the views along the way.

That night (a great BIG thanks to my Aunt Sheila!) we got to spend the night at Phantom Ranch, rather than in cold, hard grounded tents. Our stay there was complete with a huge, yummy steak dinner and chocolate cake. We even got pancakes in the morning before we headed out.

Thursday morning brought with it sunshine and the promise of a decent ten mile ascent back to the canyon rim. I'll admit, it was a long hike, but it was certainly not as bad as I was anticipating. I guess this was because the temperature ranged from 60F to 40F - perfect hiking temp for me. We did run into quite a lot of ice at the top of the trail, but thanks to Alan's crampon-things, I stayed on the trail and didn't slip to my doom. ;)

At first, I was apprehesive about this trip, but it turned out to be really fun. Me being out of shape didn't have too much of an effect. That is not going to help motivate myself to start working out, haha. :) Seventeen miles in two days and I was hardly sore. My knee didn't dislocate. It was sunny the whole trip. Good company. It was a pretty good trip.

On Friday we drove back to Utah. I was carsick with a nasty headache most of the trip... not really sure why. But some pills and some Sprite seemed to make it better. Of course, we had to make a stop at Bryce Canyon for a few pictures and a stop at Ruby's Inn for a yummy dinner.

Thanks MOOSE! :)

Weekend with the family

Oh! This could be... fun? Well, yes, for the most part. :-)

A couple times each year my dad's brother and sisters all get together to work on their family history for a weekend. Uh, this is usually an event I avoid. Not that I don't love my family, because I certainly do, but that weekend just seems like too much stress for me. But...over Marthin Luther King, Jr. Day this year, they decided to do their family history weekend in the Salt Lake area. So, I really couldn't miss the chance to go and see my dad. Plus... there was a free ski ticket involved. ;)

So, spent that Friday up at Park City with a bunch of the family. It was soo much fun! I have really missed my snowboard. This was the first opportunity I've had to go snowboarding all season, and only the second time I have used my brand new board.

I had to be back to my own ward in Logan on Sunday...thank goodness I had an excuse to leave, lol. I have a new calling now. I am the 1st counselor in the Relief Society. I may be forced to actually like some of the people in my new ward, dang. It should be a good thing. Really.

But, I grabbed my cousin Jared and headed back to my uncle's house that monday afternoon. We were celebrating my Dad's 50th birthday that night. Crazy! My dad is now 50. Well, I am still young, and that is all that matters. ;-) It was fun, and I "think" we may have actually suprised him.

I love my family. :)

I'll be home for Christmas

This post is a little late, I know, but at least I remembered that I did have a blog. :) Although, now that I found that episodes of I Dream of Jeannie, one of my all time favorite shows, are on hulu I am being severely distracted...so, I hope this all makes since, lol.

Here's my Christmas card for the year. I was just too lazy apparently to send it out earlier.

For Christmas this year, I was able to go home (YAY!) for almost two weeks...that was really not long enough for me either.

I did have to work some while I was home, but it was fabulous to be there. I got to play with my bro and sis, see my kitty, and hang out with my family. Landon got to call home on Christmas morning. It was good to hear from him, and he seems to be doing well. We even ate a big pancake breakfast before we opened presents. It was nice to sleep in...that never happened when all of us kids were younger.

While I was home, we all went to Ocean Shores to watch Bryce play in a basketball tournament. He made a few good shots, but he didn't get to play as much as we "i.e. the Grandparents" wanted him to. ;) A few weeks ago, though, Bryce scored 22 points and played most of a game, so...maybe his coach is just finicky.

Forks itself doesn't change much. At least in the winter. The Twilight phenomenon seems to die down for awhile. It rained a lot, which I have missed, and we had a few good hail storms. We also took some family pictures while I was home. I thought that we should have put a cardboard cut out of Landon in, but oh well, he will be home next Christmas. :)

Anyways, it was nice to see the beach and play and be with my family. I love being home.

I was really rather sad to come back to Logan after the New Years.