Fourth Festivities

The fourth of July was a good one this year.  I didn't take too many pictures, but I sure had fun!

The festivities began Friday night when I went with cousins to the Oakley Rodeo.  It was fun to go with them again... reminded me of old times when our families used to go together!  I always love a good rodeo!

The next day, Mike took me up to the Park City Resort to ride the Alpine Slide and the Alpine Coaster! I've never done these at Park City, but I've done smaller versions elsewhere.  Bigger is definitely more fun!

(I'm standing on a step, up the hill.  Man, he is tall!)

After Park City, we grabbed some food and headed back to Salt Lake to meet up with some of Mike's friends.  From there, we rode bikes down to Sugarhouse Park to watch the fireworks. It has been a long time since I've been on a bike, and with the cars around, I was a little nervous.  But I made it there and back without any mishaps!

Then last night, we went to the Salt Lake Country Club to watch more fireworks.  It was a great way to celebrate our nation's independence!

Moonlight

New this week....

Last night I took a ride on the Sundance Moon Lift. During the summer on full moon nights, Sundance opens their ski lift for a moonlight ride.  It was beautiful!

We spent the rest of the night driving around the canyon laughing and enjoying ourselves!  Around 3 am we set out to watch the lunar eclipse from Ft Douglas.  Again, beautiful! Have you ever seen a lunar eclipse?  Its pretty cool.

At 5am, we headed to Ensign Peak for a sunrise hike while we watched the last of the lunar eclipse.

It all made for a loooong night, but a lot of fun!  Came home and crashed for several hours since I was up all night.

This was my first all-nighter AND my first time time on the Moon Lift.  2 for me this week!

Official Race Results

Results are in!

Ragnar Relay Series

Wasatch Back ~ June 18-19, 2010

Team #595 "The Runs"

We placed 174 in the mixed open category.  I'm not sure how many teams were in this category, but I know there were over 1,000 teams total.

I feel pretty good about this! :)

Ragnar Wasatch Back

I did it!  I finished the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay!  188 miles. 12 runners. 2 vans.  30 hours.  Very little sleep (try about 4 in 2 days).  But now I'm home, showered and I had a 5 hour nap.  I'm doing awesome!

Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment.  I'll get more soon, like when we crossed the finish line as a team, but for now these are all that I have on my own camera.

Van 1 Runners - Will, Keith, Jordan, Rachel, Emily, Mary

Mary is ready for her first run.  Starting our team out at 6:15am in Logan, UT.  It was freezing cold outside!

3 - 2 - 1 RUN!!!

Keith is running his first leg, 7.4 miles up to Avon Pass.  It was super dusty with all the support vehicles driving next to them, but he still managed to pass roughly 30 runners on his way up.  Didn't get passed once during any of his runs.  Wow!

The terrain was beautiful!  

After our van finished our last round of runs this morning around 7:30am, we drove the rest of the route to see what our teammates in van 2 were going to run.  This is at the top of Guardsman Pass, aka Ragnar Hill.  Ragnar Hill has the toughest and steepest runs of the entire relay which take you to the top.  It was gorgeous up there!

Team #595 "The Runs"

Cleaning out the van after all was said and done. 

There might have been a small water fight too.  True to Keddington form!

Stewart Falls

Yesterday, I decided to hike Stewart Falls by Sundance with friend, Jamen Nelson.  I've never done this hike before so when my coworker told me how beautiful it was, I wanted to see for myself.  She was right!

There are two starting points for the hike, both of which take you up the mountainside deep in the trees, where the fresh pine smell relaxes you.  Until you get to the actual waterfall, all you know of its existence is the sound of it roaring against the rocks.  When you get close enough to see it, you start to feel the mist hit your skin.  Then you reach the waterfall lookout which includes a fantastic view of Sundance.

It is such a satisfying way to spend a beautiful evening! 

There you have it, New for Week 2!

Fee Free National Park Weekend

This last weekend, I went my ward, Holladay 30th down to Moab.  Unbeknown to us until we were headed south, it was Fee Free National Park Weekend!  We were going to hike for free in Arches National Park!  What a great surprise!

Our group got down to Moab on Friday night and setup camp at the Moab KOA.  We had dutch oven dinner, and the night air was warm and inviting.  We all stayed up talking and just enjoying ourselves.  But when we went to bed, since many of us did not take tents, we were able to look at the thousand of stars in the night sky.  I haven't seen so many stars at once in a very long time.  So beautiful!

The next morning our group got up and split into two.  About 15 who decided to go bike Slick Rock, and another 15 who decided to hike through the park.  I went with the hikers.  We hiked Delicate Arch first, and then Double-O Arch.  It was hot and dry, but I loved every minute of being out there!

The arch looked exactly like my license plate...only with people all around!

Lucio, Me, Sarah P at Delicate Arch

Maid Marian in the Making

This week's new Something isn't technically new I guess.  But close enough for me.

A few weeks ago I went on a date to the Salt Lake Archery Co.  It was fun!  Enough so, that I found a couple of girl friends to come back with me.  We've started a "special interest group" for our relief society.  Twice a month we go to the archery range!  Last night was our first try at it.  The two girls I went with are pretty good and it was their first time!