9.27.11: donut falls...

donut falls is about 15-20 minutes from my place, up big cottonwood canyon.  i went with my friend, amber, who i asked to find a place to hike in the area.  apparently, there are a bunch of other trails to hike up this canyon and in the area in general.  amber chose this particular one.  why?  not really sure cuz she'd already been there.  maybe cuz it was short and sweet?  ;-)  and the final destination was gorgeous.  i'd never been there and we definitely had a great time!

the hike wasn't very long at all.  maybe about 40-45 minutes roundtrip, a lil over an hour with a lil bit of climbing involved to the very top.  it was a fun!  and scurry. and exciting.  and beautiful!

there weren't too many people on the trail, being it was a tuesday.  we did see a couple of old folks.  it was cute.  they were like "you can pass us turtles."  hehe.  there was a couple with their baby.  a group of friends.  we were the only ones who attempted and actually made it up to the donut falls.  

we had to climb/walk through the creek
and climb these rocks to reach that water
spewing at the top.

view looking back down the trail, which
is on the left.  we crossed the creek on
the immediate left.

when we reached the end of the hike, i couldn't really tell why it's called donut falls.    we actually had to walk across the creek several times and climb up these rocks. hella sketchy, i tell ya.  i wasn't sure what amber had gotten me into, i kept sayin', "i'ma kick yer a$$!"  plus i didn't really wanna get another pair of shoes wet.  i'd already kinda ruined/stepped in water on previous hikes and i wasn't about to do it again.  sheesh!  guess maybe i should use the same pair of shoes hiking, huh?  derrr! lol.  

i kept taking pictures along the climb up.  it was scurry. my shoes didn't have very good traction so i was slipping in certain spots.  there weren't too many dry rocks or logs i could step on either.  some parts were kinda steep too. like i said, hella sketchy!  to be honest, i was kinda cursing the whole way up.  hahaha.  

different falls before the donut falls

looking back down...

we climbed this...

and all of that...  =/

then we FINALLY reached our destination...

can you see why it's called donut falls now?  =)

it was so cool!  it was definitely sketchy climbing all the rocks and whatnot, but it was so worth it!!!

and didn't i say it was gorgeous??

we also walked or should i say crouch walked into the lil cave underneath.  the water was a bit too deep to cross to hang out on the other side.  it was probably about knee or so deep.  no thanks!  =)

then amber was like, "let's climb up and see it from the top."  omg, even more sketchy!!!  very little rocks for grip.  steep.  dirt.  no grip.  holy $#1+!!!  but we did it anyways.  and once again, it was so cool and worth it!!!

it was super sketchy trying to climb down but we made it.  and took more pix.

then came the hard part.  climbing all the way back down.  even way, way more sketchy!  at one point, i kinda got stuck and didn't know where to go.  then came another point where i got stuck again and didn't know where to go.  OR i woulda had to walk in the water.  uh, NO!  i stood at that one spot for a few minutes.  i even had all eyes on me.  amber had already made it across.  she stepped in the water, btw.  and this family of about sevenish was sitting at this tree having lunch.  oh, the pressure! then i was like, "f it!  if i get my shoes wet, i get my shoes wet.  just go already!"  and i went.  and i conquered!  without stepping in the water, what?!!!!  =)  i was soooo happy!  so relieved!  sheesh! almost started sweatin' bullets. hahaha.  i had to take a picture of what i just accomplished...

doesn't look like much.  but it was...

when we got back to where we didn't have to cross the creek anymore, we started to have lunch. pbnj.  well mine was only the j.  hehe.  we were sitting at these rocks when all of a sudden, a bunch of bees started swarming us.  i wasn't trippin'.  but amber, oh boy!  she started screaming and wildin' out a lil.  fyi, she's scurred ishless of bees.  she couldn't even grab her back pack on the ground.  so i grabbed it for her and we walked away, climbed another lil rock area (easy!) and started our trek back down the trail.  

we actually got caught up chitchattin' and eating, we ended up going the wrong way.

i don't remember seeing the creek on that side walking up...

amber got attacked by another bee and threw her water bottle at it.  it worked.  cuz the bee was nowhere to be found.  hahaha.

it actually lead us down an easier path.  and an amazing sight...

and just around the bend was the parking lot.  thank goodness, cuz i was holding it for a while. hahaha...

the drive leaving was beautiful too.  fall is definitely here!  the change of colors on the mountains was amazing.  bright reds, oranges and yellows.  in little sporadic spots.  the mountains here aren't completely filled with the awesome changing colors and whatnot.  it was still a pretty sight to see though.  

and definitely worth the short hike and amazing views...

9.19.11: destination: slc public library

what a fun day!  i'm exhausted...

directions from my place to the library

it was my day off.  my only plans were to chill and clean.  glad i got outdoors cuz it was a gorgeous day! i decided to go for a spin.  since i've lived here, i've only ridden my bike in the residential streets and up the canyon, places that aren't really busy.  man, was driving on the main roads scurry. and drivers are not that nice.  i was trying to cross this busy street and cars would not let me go.  RUUUU! sheesh.  i had to really rush across the street when i finally got the chance.  no fun!!! i guess rush hour was starting cuz it was around 345pm but still...

i believe this is at south 1100 east

some of the ride was in the residential streets, which was nice. reminded me of seattle cuz of the trees.  lotsa greenery.  =) beautiful.

liberty park pond

i was pretty happy with the directions google maps gave me cuz it took me through liberty park, which is a really nice, good-sized park. a bunch of people were enjoying the day, chillin' on the grass, skateboarding, biking, running, playing in the lil creek. apparently, there's a bunch of stuff to do there but i didn't get to do any of them.  i saw a green house, a museum, a fire pit, a youth center and a lil bridge going over a creek that ran through a section of the park.  i probably didn't even see half the park though.  they even have free wi-fi, which i thought about using but didn't. hehehe.  i was on a mission...

monument dedicated to
those who served in the
world wars

liberty park creek

the rest of the way was mainly busy streets.  eek!  i kinda missed a turn and ended up at the salt lake city and county building.  oops.  it's all good though cuz the architecture of the building is amazing.  and the clock on the top reminded of the clock tower in seattle.  =)  plus the whole block was like another lil park, which salt lake city seems to have a lot of...

when i headed out to go down the correct street, i didn't realize the library was right there.  felt kinda stupid cuz i was standing on the street for a minute at the red light when i realized.  haha.  so i rode onto the sidewalk.  luckily i did cuz the bike racks were right there.  and they're really cool.  can you figure out what it says?

quite creative, i must say...

destination reached!  it was about 5pm.  the library is a pretty awesome piece of architecture as well.  i entered from the northwest side.  when i walked in, there were shops to the left and right above them were floors where you could read and use your laptop or computer (if you wanted to lug it around.  hehe.).  to the right was the actual library with spiral stairs you could use to go from floor to floor. i forget how many floors there are.  i only went to two.  =)  it seemed really small compared to the one in seattle.  figures.  smaller city...

view from the coffee shop on the first floor

view from the 2nd floor bridge

spots to hook up to the
internet, read a book
or just chill.

when i walked out the south entrance, it opened up to this pavilion with more shops.  there was also this really cool water fountain and a lil garden area with walkways.  seemed like they didn't really keep up on the gardening.  =/  woulda been really pretty with bright colored flowers or even rose bushes or something.  maybe i should work on my green thumb.  hahaha.  

the pavilion with more shops on the
southside

on the opposite side of the pavilion, there were stairs which led up to the rooftop of the library.  i didn't even realize looking up from the pavilion that there were stairs above the shops.

view from the stairs leading up to the
rooftop of the library

walking up the stairway

view to the west

view to the east

view to the north

view down east 400 south

at the very top of the stairs, there's a lil viewing area on the northwest side.  i didn't get to stand there cuz this couple was hoggin' up the space and wouldn't share.  sheesh!  =P  to the left was the rooftop of the library.  it's a nice, peaceful spot to chill.  more gorgeous views!!!

i was gonna walk down these other stairs to leave the library cuz it was on the same side where i locked my bike but the stairs seemed kinda sketchy and i wasn't sure if i'd be able to exit the stairwell so i scratched that idea.  hehehe.

so i went back down the way i came.  better safe than sorry.  plus if there wasn't an exit, i'd have to walk back up all those stairs.  no thanks!  =)

i walked back towards the library through the pavilion and right before the shops to the right and through the structure, it looked like another lil park.  there were people just hanging out.  i saw one lady with her kiddies.  i saw a few skateboarders doing tricks.  there was another lady who was just sittin' there.  i think it's cool there are all these lil parks everywhere cuz you can just relax and enjoy the day wherever you go.  and you'd have plenty of places to choose from if you wanted to eat outside, go for a stroll or just hang out.  =)  kinda reminds me of corporate.  there's a pond to walk around, a nice lil grassy area and a lil ampitheater section to chill when it's nice out.  i kinda miss it...

i went through the library once again then left.  i was getting hungry.  hehe...

next stop:  cafe zupas.  =)  

directions from cafe zupas to my place 

the library is on a really busy street, east 400 south.  when i left, i decided to take a roundabout way.  and rode on the sidewalk part of the time.  =)  i wasn't tryna risk it.  i'm not too experienced at riding on the roads.  =/  i kinda got lost cuz i forgot what the cross street was.  east 400 south and what?  south 700 east?  wrong guess.  it was south 600 east.  haha.  hey, i made it so it's all good.  =)  cafe zupas is so delish! they have sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts.  i've always been satisfied with everything i've eaten there.  plus they give you bread and a chocolate covered strawberry everytime!  tonight i got the nuts about berries salad and the wild mushroom bisque soup.  i thought i took a pic but i didn't. sorry.  hehe.  i wanted to eat something light cuz i still had to ride back home.  i chilled for a lil after i ate cuz i didn't wanna cramp up.  it was about 7pm when i headed home.  i had to hurry cuz it was starting to get dark and i had lost my tail light.  i only had the tail reflector.  =/

i knew the ride back was gonna be a lil difficult cuz i had to go uphill any which way i went.  no fun! the first 10 minutes were fine cuz it was flat.  =)  but boy, when i started going up the hill on east 800 south, it got really steep, no joke!  i had such a rough time, i had to get off my bike.  haha.  i walked about a block and took some pix at the top of the hill.  i needed to take a breather.  =)

the sign shows a steep grade going down
and trucks are only supposed to go 25mph.

sun setting.  it was getting dark.

getting closer, i see the mountains! =)
i believe this is foothill drive in the residentials.

i strayed away from the directions cuz i didn't wanna go up anymore hills.  hehe.  so i ended up taking foothill drive all the way down until i reached the apartment complex.  it's a really busy street too so i stayed on the sidewalk the whole time.  =)

almost there.  next door in some parking lot.

yay, home!  the view from foothill drive.
i love the sunset!!!

i finally made it home at about 8pm.  =)  it was a great day!!!  i'm probably gonna be sore tomorrow. hahaha....