Big Cottonwood Canyon Hike

 I took Heather on a little "date" hike up the canyon, but it was really a ploy to get her away from the house so our friends could set up for the surprise half-birthday party I had planned for her. We had a blast in the canyon taking pictures and exploring the gorgeous outdoors. I love Heather and I love to hike so there was no going wrong!

 Heather freaked out when she was this glove moving in the wind... it looked like a REAL hand! Freaky!

 She cracks me up. She is always so fun and and fun to be with!

 It doesn't look like it, but the snow got really deep over to the side of the path, which was already covered in snow. We love a little adventure!

 Heather is so pretty!

 This is me fixing my bangs like Amanda Bynes does on the movie She's the Man. Too funny!

 Yeah the hike we chose to do was closed for winter... but we didn't let that stop us...

 As this picture was taking on the self-timer it was falling off of the rock!

 After I developed this picture I blew it up, framed it, and put it up in my room. I call it "Finding the beach in the mountains." I think it is so pretty.

 We had to straddle this log to get over the river... ok ,we didn't have to but it made for fun memories.

Grant YSA Ward Escalante Hike

 The hike through the slot canyons was so beautiful but so scary at one point too! Heather and I were in the second group of hikers (close behind the bishop and a few others). As we were hiking through an extremely narrow part of one of the slot canyons a big black bull came charging through the canyon completely unexpectedly! The bull first rammed the guy who was about 15feet in front of us in the chest and pushed him into the canyon wall. The bull then came running towards our small group of five, of which I was at the front of the line, frozen pressed up against the wall as the bull approached us. ! Because the spot we were in was so narrow and the canyon walls completely smooth, there was nowhere for us to seek safety so w just had to stand still and hope the bull didn't think we were posing any threat. The bull passed us without terrorizing any of us, but I was scared stiff!

Right after the bull passed us, next thing we knew a cow and her calf came running towards us in a similar fashion. I was already shaking with fear from the bull that had just passed us. I felt like Kronk on Emperor's New Groove and stood motionless pressed up against the rock wall hoping that if I didn't move the cow wouldn't see me... like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park... yeah I totally was! I was terrified. The cow looked like it was going to pass us without harming us, but at the last second it veered it's head and started to come towards me, but Abe, a friend in the ward, protected us and pushed the cows head away from us. I was honestly so scared I was shaking for the next hour or so. Every time I heard echos in the canyon I felt anxiety and thought the sounds were hoofs coming through the canyon. So scary!

 If the cows in the canyon weren't enough to make this ward camping trip a memorable one.... we got lost about 14 or 15 miles into the hike! The hike was suppose to be 13 miles but it really ended up being closer to 16 or so miles. After being lost for at least an hour we said a prayer and within about 15 minutes we had found our way and could continue moving. The Lord is amazing. He is all knowing and all powerful. He knows the way; He just waits for us to ask.

 Most of the 16 mile hike was through sand.... luckily it was a sunny day and we were with good friends :)

 I went off by myself on Saturday morning and took some pictures. I love to take pictures!

 Michelle, Heather, and Shelly featured in this picture.

 Bishop Bettinson, Kaylyn Shakespear, and Sister Bettinson in this picture.

 Love this picture, so cute.

 After the cow attack in the canyon I will always be grateful for cattle guards!!!

 Heather can be so violent sometimes... ha ha

 Me and Alaina