The view across Cougar Canyon from the love shack. Looking South.

At the bottom of cougar canyon just below the love shack, this view reflects the sheer walls of the canyon, some rock formations, and a couple different type of pine trees. this is looking West slightly Northwest from the canyon floor.

A small pool forms in the carved out bedrock at the bottom of cougar canyon. The cabin sits 600 feet off the ledge to this canyon. In Spring and early Summer a small stream runs thought the canyon. This late in the Fall I was surprised to see this much water in the rock holes. Entire ecosystems complete their life cycle in these small pools. Some years back we were educated by a park ranger in the Fiery Furnace of Arches National Park about the life sustained in these little rock pools. Our pool shown here sports a salamander at the top of the food chain with a number of water skippers, water beetles and other little creatures. Hiking down into this canyon is made easier with some silk ropes we have anchored along the top edges. Sitting at 7200 feet elevation I run out of breath pretty quick.

We call this Monte's hoodoo and I am not sure of its official name but will go with naming it after a friend that climbed nearly to the top and bacame stuck. This blue sky against the red rock and scrub oak and cedar trees is on the sand flats road near the cabin. Visitors enjoy the views of hoodoos as they travel up the sand flats road. The cabin sits just to the right and behind this formation on top of the Wilson Mesa. Because the cabin is on a downhill slope this formation is not visible from the cabin but both are visible in the same frame when taking a photo from across the meadow up on the sand flats road on the other side of cougar canyon.

Blue mountain trail

Owen Wilson while turning left on a tight single track trail went off the right side and fell to the bottom of this fairly deep gorge. Amazingly he was not hurt, thank heavens for his safety equipment, but did require a number of the riders in our group to help get him out.

Owen Wilson by-passes a fallen tree on trail

On a particularly narrow single track trail in the Blue Mountains, Dane Lundberg clears the fallen tree and Owen gets around it with help from Paul Ricatelli.

Behind the rocks trail Moab Utah

Behind the rocks trail near Moab Utah offers a change of pace from the mountain trails filled with forest growth. With sparse vegetation, this trail features red rock. Here Ken Wong fails on his first attempt up the steep grade, but made it his second effort. Helping out are Keith Ricatelli, Dane Lundberg and Owen Wilson. Ken Wong just recently bought himself a used Honda XR400 kickstart bike and impressed everyone with his ability to do these type trails so soon after taking up the sport. Ken progressed faster than anyone I have ever witnessed on a dirt bike. He grew better by the hour and completed trails that are generally approached by advanced riders only.

Fall colors in the Blue Mountains

Led by Dan Sheran from Monticello Utah a group of us rode the Blue moutain range and experienced one of Natures divine miracles. The Fall change of colors amongst the forests.
While I have always been disappointed that this change lasts for such a short time, it serves to appreciate it all the more. Photos do not do it justice, but serve as reminders of how beautiful the Blue Mountains are.

Fall colors in the Blue Mountains

In this photo Paul Ricatelli pauses beside a maple tree amongst the scrub oak, pine trees and aspen. This single track trail is difficult but beautiful beyond compare. The trail winds along the mountain sides, dips into the canyons, crosses mountain streams and through open mountain meadows. One advantage of riding directly in front or behind me is the opportunity to be photographed as I generally take the time to snap photos where others simply enjoy the scenery without photographing. This trail is about 55 miles of the cabin and near Monticello.