May 18, 2009

Top of the World



Grayhead Peak, with a trailhead just off a paved road in Indian Canyon, is a favorite destination for us. The ride to the top (in the center of the above photo) is about 6 miles and a 2000 foot climb.
We ride ridgetops along the way, passing through a healthy grove of rare Great Basin Bristlecone pines. Some bristlecones have been alive for nearly 5000 years, the oldest single living organisms. The trees on these ridgetops are much younger, but since they are slow-growing, they are surely older than their size would suggest.

Here's the approach to Grayhead.

We're getting closer. The last few hundred feet are very steep.

And here are our faithful companions, taking a break on the peak at 9500 feet.

If you enlarge the above photo, you'll see snow-covered peaks of the Wasatch Mountain chain, about 50 miles distant.
To the southwest is Reservation Ridge, 10,000 feet.
To the north is the Uinta Range, with peaks as high as 13,500 feet.
Every way we turn, the views are breathtaking. Being in the midst of rugged country with no signs of civilazation in sight makes us feel small, and yet in sync with the natural world.
To see more worlds, all of them fascinating, click here.

35 comments:

  1. That's the key word, Janie: NATURAL... When you can see no other signs of human life, that is being in tune with the natural world. All I can say is Wow.

    When we hike deep in the woods, we can get that feeling --but we are seldom on the 'top' of the world!!!!

    All of those views are fabulous. Being on top like that has to be very very rewarding... I'm SO envious!!!

    Have a great Monday.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. We really are on the same wavelength. The day I took the cabin picture in Indian Canyon I saw some of the same views! Not all of them though. Tell your horses thank you for taking you up so high! Do they get winded?

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  3. Beautiful view from all sides! Boss looks like he is working hard on that last leg of the climb. Boss looks a little like he has two heads in the pic with Mischief and Daisy.

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  4. This is so amazingly beautiful!! The whole concept of combining nature, animals and a beautiful sky is as life qualitish as things can get (in my book)!

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  5. the mountains are breathtaking. I can imagin how you must be feeling on horseback all this grandeur around you...on top of the world.

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  6. Wow, great adventure and views. Thanks for taking us along.

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  7. Janie,

    your photos are wonderful...I feel like I'm there with you

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  8. We rode to UT last summer on our motorcycle. What a great trip to a great place. So much to see and all of it beyond beautiful. Thanks for reawakening some of those memories.

    R, J, B and D

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  9. such clear sharp colours and views...breath-taking indeed

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  10. Wow! And 9500 ft is high! That's enough to make you catch your breath. I remember a similar peak near Tucson to get to the top of the Santa Ritas. Of course I hiked, not no horseback.

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  11. beautiful ride to the top of the world and the vistas everywhere you turn awe inspiring.
    have a wonderful week.

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  12. Your world is stark and subtle and beautiful.

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  13. What a great sequence of photos. It seems as if you really are on top of the world when standing on Grayhead Peak. To look in all directions and see nothing but God's majestic creation is a real blessing.

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  14. I simply love your views from the top of the world. Seems a little early for no snow at 9500'. You ride to the most beautiful places. And those ancient bristlecones, Wow! I always love your rides.

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  15. The Mountain Plains Are Really Giving The Beauty !! I Love Such Locations !!! Wonderful

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  16. Being one with nature has to be one of the best experiences ever. I can not imagine how people survive in the city all the time. The land makes me feel like I belong and am a part of something. Your part of the world is magnificant and your photographs beautiful Janie. Thank you for sharing.
    Smiles

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  17. Simply breathtaking. You're really privileged to be able to access these mountains.

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  18. As always a wonderful ride to take us on with such splendid scenery!
    Thank you for showing us all this splendour.

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  19. lovely breathtaking views everywhere!
    lovely!!

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  20. Feel so fresh and clean looking vat these pics!!

    thanks for dropping by again...

    FFF x

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  21. Hi Janie,,
    Looks like the animals had quite the climb. I live above 10,000'- air gets thin up there.

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  22. Thank you for your visit!
    Your pictures are just what I needed this evening! A neverending horizon, a marvellous landscape, and the possiblitity of travelling endlessly! Thank you for sharing!

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  23. Janie -

    One would think from your photos that we live in the middle of a beautiful sapphire. Yours is clear and compelling evidence that the world is a blessing for which we are both blessed and responsible. Thanks!

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  24. Do you ever get tired of living so close to God? It is so beautiful there.

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  25. WOW ... what a view. I don't think I'd want to come down !!

    Great photos !

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  26. A proxy server means that when I'm accessing blogger, instead of connecting directly to the blogger website, i go to a proxy server which connects for me and then sends me the information. thus the great firewall of china sees only that i'm connecting to the proxy server website, not blogger!
    That looks like a fantastic ride, although perhaps an esclator could be installed at the top. ;)

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  27. Oh my gosh, gorgeous photos, Janie. And the one of your "faithful companions"...that is priceless!

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  28. Gorgeous scenery. I really like the lines and texture in the third to last photo. Thanks for sharing your ride with your readers.

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  29. Wow! What beautiful country. I especially loved the desert flower post.

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  30. Breathtaking views that made for some breathtaking photos!!

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  31. Wonderful views in all directions, and your so high up, on top of the world. Your faithful companions are enjoying the view too.
    Thanks for taking us with you.

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  32. I can see why that's a favorite destination for you. Absolutely gorgeous views. Thank you for showing them to us.

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  33. is that first photo real?? oh my goodness.

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