3 more state highpoints

I had the 25-28th of May off of work, and wanted to have a big adventure. Originally I had planned to go to Hawaii with a friend. But my poor friend had to have surgery, and couldn't go. And then I tried to get on some flights by myself, and didn't put in the greatest amount of effort, but found the flights to be completely full. Kids are starting to get out of school, families are starting to take vacations, weather has been crazy here in the states, so why not go to Hawaii? That's what everybody and their dog mush have been thinking too. And so I'm going to postpone any thoughts of Hawaii until kids are back in school, families are back to the grind, and the weather is again crazy. So I decided to continue a little goal that I've had since I was 12. And that is to reach the highpoint of every state. I have already been to the tops of WV, MD, PA, AL, MS, and AR, and wanted to add some local flavor to the list.

So I took off to the East on Tuesday afternoon around 3 pm towards Kansas. I knew it wasn't going to be a difficult highpoint, but a highpoint is a highpoint, and I have to check it off the list. I didn't really know what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. As I drove east on I-70, I was heading into a huge thunderstorm, but it seemed to run away from me as fast as I could catch it. But the rain livened up the lush, green fields, and made the dirt roads not look so dusty, and the sun was going down in the west. The colors were amazing! The state highpoint of Kansas is on the private land of the Harold family, and they have graciously allowed people to visit. They also have made a very inviting sign, and monument complete with picnic table on the "summit". Thank you Harold family for making this highpoint an enjoyable place to visit.

Then Wednesday night, a friend and I took off to the north, to conquer Harney Peak, the highest point between the Rockies, and the Pyrenees Mountains of Europe. It wasn't a difficult hike, but that description makes it sound so awesome, so I'll put it that way. From the top of Harney Peak, you can see the backside of Mt. Rushmore. There is a big tower on top of the mountain, that was used as a forest fire lookout station, and there is a dam up there that houses the water used to put out any forest fires that may break out.

Then we saw one of the nation's treasures; Mt. Rushmore! Indescribable.

From Mt. Rushmore, we headed south towards Nebraska. We drove and drove and drove through field after field after field. We did pass through a cool little town, called Hot Springs, South Dakota, that was full of natural springs, and waterfalls, and delicious water. And Chadron State Park in Nebraska was pretty cool. But seriously, field after field after field. And finally arrived at Panorama Point, Nebraska, the state's highpoint. It was much less impressive than Kansas' highpoint, although it was just as flat. This picture is me contemplating on the incredible it took the reach that point. ha ha. There were buffalo roaming the plains, and a tractor out in the field. But that's about it. So there you have it, 3 new state highpoints, bringing my total up to 9. Only 41 more to go.

Sepia :)

Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, is a 607 foot tall double cataract waterfall. In the winter, you can see many frozen waterfalls and climbers making attempts to scale these ice cascades. An aerial tramway that serviced the top of the falls was built in 1967. The tram was heralded as the world's steepest aerial tram, and led to a restaurant and dance hall. An avalanche destroyed the tram in 1996, and a fire in July 2008 devoured the corroding skeleton of the restaurant. Just a reminder that it is easier to destroy than build.

Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the mortal body. The Fall of Adam brought physical death into the world. Because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, all mankind will be resurrected and redeemed from physical death. Death is an essential part of Heavenly Father's plan of salvation. When the physical body dies, the spirit continue to live. In the spirit world, the spirits of the righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. Although we are left missing those that have passed, we all will be resurrected and see again, those that we knew and loved here.

All of us are born with a purpose. It is our duty to find out what that might be. A horse named Chase, who's older brother is affectionately named Chevy, has survived 22 good years and borne 3 colts. She was somewhat forgotten and overshadowed by her owner's love of her older brother. But quietly, and stubbornly lived a great life.

Lone Peak is one of the most prominent peaks in the Wasatch Mountains, that run north and south, and are an industrial backbone for the state of Utah. Although it is not the tallest point in the area, it is a monarch. The rugged summit is visible from North Salt Lake to Payson. It is made up of a circle of near vertical granite walls, and is easily one of the toughest hikes along the Wasatch Front, for it's elevation gain and mileage to sit atop it's summit at 11,253'. But with proper preparation, and steady dedication, one can enjoy the incredible vistas that this monumental mountain offers.

The Oklahoma City bombing was a bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995 by Timothy McVeigh, an American militia movement sympathizer who detonated an explosive-filled truck parked in front of the building. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until 9/11. The blast claimed 168 lives, including 19 children under the age of 6, and injured more than 680 people. It destroyed or damaged 324 buildings w/in a 16 block radius. The park commemorating these events has 2 gates, one with 9:01 on it, and the other with 9:03 on it. The bomb went off at 9:02.

Exploring Colorado - My new state

I had the first couple of days of this week off, so I decided to head out into the vast Colorado wilderness and see what it has to offer. Being situated near, in and around the Rocky Mountains, there is an inexhaustible amount of area to discover. I headed south to Colorado Springs on Monday. Stopped by the Air Force Academy on the way. The chapel was unbelievably gorgeous. It is the last picture in this post. How would you like to go to church there?

Then I stopped in Garden of the Gods, which is a little public park, with winding walkways, through red rock fins. There were a plethera of rock climbers scaling the spines of rock. I caught a great pic of a climber resting near the top of her ascent. From the Garden, I headed up a dirt road, called Rampart Ridge, into the Rockies. I was across the canyon from Pike's Peak and caught a couple great pics in the breaking clouds.

Tuesday, my friend and I headed to Estes Park, The Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and did a bit of hiking to a small lake, Gem Lake. We got caught in a rain storm on the way back, but the clouds and light provided for some breathtaking views.

My First Post - Chicago

May 10th, I had the day off, so I decided to visit the legendary, Wrigley Field in Chicago. It was built in 1914, and has been the home of the Cubs since 1916. I've been to a few ballparks around the country, and found this one to be one of the most enjoyable, for it's traditions, and heritage, and functionality. It cost just $250,000 to construct, and offers one of the most enjoyable spectator experiences. It's longevity and culture is a tribute to the windy city. Our seats were pretty good, and with my zoom lens on, I was able to capture this photo of Alfonso Soriano ripping an RBI double into left field. One of the only highlights for the Cubs that night in their 4-2 loss to the Marlins.