nature – On the Loose Live

Mt. Nebo —a Fantastic Fall Hike! Mt. Nebo Wilderness Area, Near Nephi, UT

October 21, 2026October 21, 2026livevigorously

Distance: ~9 miles

Elevation Gain: ~3,700 ft

Difficulty: Easy to moderate for the first ~3 miles (1,400 ft gain), then becoming significantly more strenuous with steep grades, loose shale, and slippery footing along the narrow upper ridge to the summit.

At 11,933 ft, Mt. Nebo is the highest peak in the Wasatch Range and the 39th of the 57 “ultra-prominent peaks (5,488ft), meaning that its peak rises high above the land around it.

The hike begins along a fence line through a meadow with rolling hills. In the Fall, clusters of golden aspens and ruby scrub oak adorn the mountain sides and are a feast for the eyes.

Next, you’ll enjoy a short, enchanting walk through the forest. Before long, you’ll be out of the woods and climbing more earnestly.

Your first summit will be Wolf Pass Peak, 11,439 ft, about a mile from Mt. Nebo’s summit. From here, you have a great view of Mt. Nebo’s distinctive pyramid-shaped peak.

Now, only the final steep pitch remains across the narrow ridge of loose shale and dirt. At times, the trail is indiscernible (see if you can make out a trail in the black-and-white photo above); stay on the ridgeline for the most direct route.

From Mt. Nebo’s summit, you can add on, following the trail to Nebo Middle Peak (.07 mile) and beyond to Mt. Nebo South Peak (~<2 miles). I considered it since I felt strong and relatively fresh, but with more on the day’s adventure agenda, I turned around. Seems this was a prudent decision for me as the descent took a toll on my knees (Grade 4 bone-on-bone), even with the use of a pole and knee braces. Overall, a great hike, though not so great on the knees. I call it Mt. KneeBoo.) Happy I did it, unlikely to repeat, though I’ll admit those other peaks are calling me…

Equip yourself: Trail running or hiking shoes with good tread are essential. Consider poles as well. (In general, I prefer to have my hands free, but I used one pole on the steep descent to help my knees.)

Caution: Steep drops, challenging terrain, and altitude make this hike potentially treacherous for those uncomfortable with heights and scrambling, prone to experiencing altitude effects, unsteady on their feet, or attempting the hike in adverse weather conditions (i.e. wind, snow, ice). (A hiker died falling from this ridgeline in August of 2015.)

Getting there: From Nephi, take UT 132 (I-15 exit 225) East 4.8 miles to Mount Nebo Scenic Loop Road (FR 015) take a left and continue for 13.4 miles to reach Mona Pole Road (FR 160). Follow the dirt road another 0.4 miles to trailhead parking on the left.

Happy Trails!

Your Ticket to Autumn Bliss, Owl Creek Path, Aspen, CO

October 18, 2026October 18, 2026livevigorously

Distance: ~20 miles RT, Buttermilk to Snowmass

Elevation Gain: ~1k

Difficulty: Depends on your fitness level and whether you’re self-propelled or e-propelled (Class 1 only). It also depends on your sensitivity to, or acclimatization to, altitude, as you’ll be +/- 8k ft.

This lovely path starts near the airport and winds through scenic horse farms and aspen groves, crossing tree-covered bridges. If you are in Aspen in the Fall, you must make time for this quintessential Autumn experience—on foot or wheels.

I let the beauty be my guide and explored some offshoot roads along the way. Disclaimer: if you “chose your own adventure,” as I did, you’ll likely encounter more elevation gain. My total gain was ~1,600 ft.

Bike rentals are available in Aspen and Snowmass. My favorite place to stay is the Inn at Aspen, which is at the Buttermilk start of the bike path. The Inn has a limited supply of standard bike rentals and also arranges e-bike delivery through a vendor. It also has a pool and jacuzzi, a BBQ restaurant, great entertainment, and free shuttle rides into town too. (Top pick post to come.)

Another popular paved path is the Rio Grande Trail, a 42-mile trail between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. I wanted to sample this one too, but unfortunately, I ran out of time.

Aspen and the surrounding Roaring Fork Valley are designated by the International Mountain Bicycling Association as a Gold-Level Ride Center and an overall biking Mecca for their world-class paved paths, road cycling, and rugged singletrack. Whether you’re into mountain biking, road biking, gravel biking, fat biking, trail running, or hiking (of course), Aspen has it all. I can’t wait to return with my road and gravel bikes.

Happy Trails!

Idyllic Fall Hike: Colorful Kyhv Peak, Near Provo, UT

September 28, 2026September 29, 2026livevigorously

Distance: ~7.5 Miles

Elevation Gain: 2,798 ft (Elevation at the peak is 7,876 ft.)

Difficulty: Moderate to hard, depending on your fitness level (AllTrails rates it hard and states that it takes 5-6 hours to complete. I finished in under 3 hours with plenty of photo ops / yoga pose shenanigans.)

Kyhv Peak was my recovery day hike after Mt. Nebo (post to come). Kyhv is the Ute word for mountain and is pronounced “kive” (like dive with a k).

What a delightful Fall hike! I was so happy to catch peak colors. The first 1.5+miles are on a gravel road. You’ll cross 5 wooden bridges on the way.

Seeing the peak looming in the distance can be a bit daunting, but the trail itself isn’t intimidating at all. If you look closely at the pictures below, you may be able to see the flag on the peak.

Take a left at the marked boulder and enjoy mostly smooth, shaded, charming single track (consistent incline that “pops” in a couple places, never for too long) as you climb up through the forest. If you’re up for it, the terrain is trail runnable.

Enjoy the journey, it’s beautiful all the way up!

The peak rewards with panoramic views of Utah Valley, Utah Lake, and Mount Timpanogos.

Getting There: I-15, exit 269, left onto 900 East, right on Temple View Drive, right on E 2300 North to the Rock Canyon Trailhead parking lot.

Note: For a shorter, less intense hike (1–4 miles, ~285–1,377 ft elevation gain), take Provo Canyon (US-189), turn onto Kyhv Peak Road and continue past the paved overlook onto the rough dirt road. High-clearance vehicle recommended. To see the views without a hike, enjoy the paved overlook.

Happy Trails! This was definitely my Autumn BLISS!

Spectacular Wildflower Hike With Add-On to Cecret Lake Saddle, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

September 12, 2026October 21, 2026livevigorously

The Wildflower Trail, The Easy Way: Via the Snowbird Ski Resort Tram: 1 mile rt + ~400ft elevation gain – Begin at Hidden Peak, wind down switchbacks through Mineral Basin and through the Peruvian Tunnel.

The Hard Way From the Bottom of the Tram: + 7.5 miles + ~3k ft elevation gain (Take the tram down or double your mileage)

Continue to Cecret Lake Saddle Overlook: add ~ 2 miles with a total of 4,524 elevation gain (Take the tram down or double your mileage.)

If you know me by now, you won’t be surprised that I took “the hard way” up (alternating between the fire road and the multiuse Big Mountain Trail (keep your eyes and ears open for downhill mountain bikers) to the Wildflower Trail and beyond to Cecret Lake via Gorilla Pass and Mount Baldy. This time, it wasn’t entirely intentional. I was ready to hike before 8AM, but the tram wasn’t scheduled to tram until 11AM. (Surprising Summer hours, given that hikers usually want to get an early start to avoid afternoon storms.) The solution was obvious—beat the tram up the mountain, and so we did.

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape featuring green coniferous trees, a valley, and a backdrop of steep, rocky terrain under a clear blue sky.

A person hiking on a dirt trail through a mountainous landscape, carrying a backpack, surrounded by pine trees and rocky slopes under a clear blue sky.

The sublime, surreal reward of the Wildflower Trail left me both breathless and speechless. Hopefully, you can see why.

It’s not surprising that this trail is often featured in the annual Wasatch Wildflower Festival a free, annual multi-day summer event hosted by the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation which spans the four Cottonwood Canyons ski resorts (Brighton, Solitude, Snowbird, and Alta) that are just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City. I’ve experienced the California super blooms, which are incredible, but this had a totally different, ethereal feel. Perhaps it’s because there were no traffic jams en route, nor cars piled up by the side of the road, and it wasn’t overrun by too many humans, particularly influencers crushing the wildflowers underfoot and underbody for their shots and the kids and adults picking them. (In fact, I hiked the Wildflower Trail twice around sunset and we had it all to ourselves!) So happy for the spontaneous rendezvous with my dear high school friend Kathy, whom I haven’t seen in forever! What a treat to share the trail with her. She knew all the wildflower names! In the bottom right picture, she is pointing to the coneflowers. The cone is made up of hundreds of tiny disc flowers that turn into seed heads, which provide winter food for goldfinches and songbirds.

Note: The Wildflower Trail hike and the top of the tram (Hidden Peak) are at 11k feet, as is the ridgeline you traverse if you continue on to Mount Badly and beyond to Cecret Lake Saddle or down to the lake itself.

Ski map of Mount Baldy showing trails, elevation markers, and ski gates with snowy mountain landscape in the background.

The descent to the connector trail to Cecret Lake is rugged and scarmbly, with loose rocks and slippery scree (See pic below, top row, 3rd to right). It makes you wonder if you’re really on a trail. Not sure what happened there, but it’s a mess and in stark contrast to all the other well-groomed, runnable trails. Proceed with caution if you decide to add on.

Even though you’re at high altitude and it’s cooler than at the bottom, you’re still completely exposed to the intense, alpine sun and susceptible to heat- and altitude-related illness. So remember your sunglasses, hat, sun-cover shirt, and bring plenty of water. (If the restaurant is open, you can refill at the top.) Cautionary tale: My other hiking buddy didn’t bring enough water, didn’t refill at the top, and hiked shirtless, with his dark, tanned back absorbing UV radiation (which, I learned, increases by about 10% for every ~3,280 feet of elevation gain). In my friend’s defense, he thought we were going to take the tram up and hike a shorter hike, and we both forgot to refill our water at the top. Unfortunately, on the tram down, he felt sick from extreme dehydration and heat- and altitude-related illness that nearly sent him to the hospital. (The medic at Snowbird was awesome, as were the firemen.) Fortunately, he recovered fine, but it serves as a stark reminder to both of us that altitude, sun exposure, and dehydration are never to be taken lightly.

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with blooming white wildflowers in the foreground, green shrubs and trees, and a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.

Scenic landscape featuring a tranquil lake surrounded by green forests and rocky mountains under a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

Lodging: I highly recommend treating yourself to a stay at the Snowbird Resort. Superb experience, incredibly helpful and accommodating staff, good food, fun times. Keep your eyes open for an upcoming “Top Pick Post” on Snowbird Resort.

A person in a black outfit joyfully poses among vibrant blue and pink wildflowers in a mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky.

Happy Trails!

PSA: Reminder, please don’t pick or walk on the wildflowers anywhere; it harms the delicate ecosystem, impacts pollinators, and means fewer flowers each year.

Challenge yourself to find creative photo op solutions. (I scouted the shot above with the wildflowers in the foreground by placing myself on the switchback of the trail ahead, so it appears that I am standing in an uninterrupted field of wildflowers.)

Timpanogos Cave National Monument, A “Cool” Caving Adventure, American Fork, UT

August 4, 2026livevigorously

The Hike to the Cave Entrance

Distance: 1.5-mile / 3 Mile RT

Elevation Gain: ~1k ft

Difficulty: It’s a steep, sun-exposed, paved trail. Know your limits. (Hats, water, running or hiking shoes.)

Cave Temps: 43° to 49°F, wear layers

Scenic Location: The Timpanogos Cave system (Hansen, Middle, and Timpanogos) is located on the south side of the steep-walled American Fork Canyon, in the center of the Wasatch Range at the convergence of the Great Basin, Unita Basin, and the Unita Mountains.

The 3 caves are located an average of 150–400 feet below the surface. Most of the ceilings are 5 feet or higher, so if you have slight claustrophobia like I do, you’ll be fine.

The caves formed along three minor faults and the bedding planes in the Tetro and Uncle Joe Members of the Deseret Formation. They are distinguished by vibrant colors and plentiful delicate helictites (sideways, curving), rare anthodites (flower/snowflake/coral-like), and stalactites (hanging from the cave ceilings like icicles) and stalagmites (rising from the cave floor). The mineral deposits that form from slow drops of water over the ages and sometimes meet, connecting to form stalagnates—single pillars from the cave’s ceiling to its floor. All of these structures take thousands of years to “grow” just a few inches.

History: From discovery to preservation, the story of the Timpanogos Cave System is one of exploration, irreplaceable loss, and ultimately protection.

Pioneer logger Martin Hansen discovered Hansen Cave in 1887, and his family soon began guiding visitors through its remarkable passages. In the early 1890s, the Duke Onyx Company mistakenly believed the cave’s colorful calcite flowstone was valuable onyx. In those days, miners relied on appearance to make their determinations, rather than hardness or acid test, which would have distinguished quartz-based onyx from soft calcite (fingernail texture/fragility). Based on the false assumption that the flowstone was Onyx, the company removed a massive 15-ton slab—erasing millions of years of natural history in just a few months.

In 1913, teenage explorers James Gough and Frank Johnson discovered Timpanogos Cave while touring Hansen Cave with their families. Like many at the time, they believed the cave contained valuable minerals and filed mining claims. After years of legal disputes, independent geological experts confirmed that the limestone caves contained no precious ores.

Recognizing the caves’ true value as a natural treasure, President Warren G. Harding signed Proclamation No. 15040 in 1922 under the Antiquities Act of 1906, permanently protecting the cave system for future generations.

Today, Timpanogos Cave stands as a reminder of how easily and carelessly Earth’s greatest treasures can be destroyed and how important it is that we practice stewardship, protection, and preservation.

Various tours, including a caving adventure and a lantern tour, are available to explore the Caves. Plan ahead and book your tickets (~$22) in advance.

Getting there: Visitor Center& Trailhead,2038 W. Alpine Loop Road, American Fork, UT

Into caves? Check out these caves in New Zealand and Thailand.

Happy Caving!