Mountain Trails

It's hard to believe that it has almost been a year since I broke my tailbone mountain biking. I am still reminded of that experience whenever I sit for a long period of time because the pain will come back, but a lot of healing has taken place over the past year, which I am grateful for!

An old trail walker buddy of mine, Krissy, has recently become my new room roommate. She happens to enjoy mountain biking too. In fact, I took her on her first mountain biking adventure in Arizona - the ride before I broke my tailbone. Anyway, she is training for a mountain biking adventure in North Dakota later this month and invited me to go on a trail her co-worker told her about located by HI-C. Not hitting any trails myself this past summer I decided it was past time for me to get on my mountain bike again.

The drive out there took a lot longer than expected but the real surprise came when we hit the trail. The first mile or so was great terrain - not too difficult, not too easy. But we soon found ourselves walking our bikes more than we were riding them. The trail was littered with medium to large size boulders and the dirt was soft and light which caused our tires to spin out in our attempts to bike up the steep hills. These two factors were the reasons why we spent the last mile hiking our bikes rather than riding them. We both concluded that this trail was more advanced than where our skill level was and that we would be returning when our skills were more developed.

But we both experienced something new that neither one of us had experienced mountain biking before. The trail we biked followed a canyon that had a stream that flows into the Snake River. The biking trail crossed this stream a number of times and so Krissy and I had the opportunity to bike through it. It was SO fun!

Krissy was leading the bike ride and she stopped at the first river crossing. When I caught up to her she said, "I don't know if we should ride through it." "Why not!?!" was my reply as I flew by her and splashed into the stream getting my Chaco shoes soaked and legs dripping with water. Next to riding all downhill back to the truck, the river crossings were our favorite part. Here are a few videos of our splashing adventure!

Krissy's First River Crossing Attempt

My River Crossing Ride
(Sorry for the sideways video!)

Krissy's Redeemed River Crossing Ride
(Again, I apologize for the sideways video).

Still shot of Krissy crossing the river

Everything was SO gorgeous!

The clouds looked like desert sand in the sky with its ripples and waves

It was so good to get on my mountain bike again after a year of absence. Even though the terrain was a bit more advanced we still enjoyed the challenge, had some fun splashing in the water, and soaked in the beauty of nature!

Coming to Terms

I don't think it is rare to find somebody who doesn't have a good amount of state-pride in them. When people ask me where I am from I still claim Washington state, even though I haven't lived in Washington for six years now and my parents have moved to Texas. I love Washington - it's my teenage stomping grounds. And the beauty found in western Washington is priceless.

When I discovered that my Washington State Driver's License was expiring on my birthday I had to begin mentally preparing myself to get an Idaho Driver's License. And even through that mental preparation I still resisted going until a month after my license expired. I know - I'm a criminal. Well, I was until today. (Phew!).

In order for me receive an Idaho Driver's License I had to take a driving test. They gave me an Idaho Driver's Manual to study from, but I threw it aside thinking "driving is driving no matter what state you're in." When I went in to take the test today the first question that came up on the screen was, "In an 'open range' who has the right away?" After reading this question my first thought was, "Only in Idaho..." Maybe I should have read that manual. But I passed with flying colors and received my Idaho Driver's License. It's official.


Actually, I have come a long way since my first realization that I was coming to Idaho upon receiving my acceptance letter to BYU-Idaho. Idaho was the last place I wanted to go. But I wouldn't trade my education or experiences here for anything! And I am even beginning to come close to claiming Idaho as home.

OH! I am supposed to inform my family that I am an organ donor. So, for all you family members that read this I am informing you that I have chosen to be an organ donor in case I ever die in some kind of accident.

Letting Go

When I first began working at Anasazi I had layered hair. I quickly learned that layered hair was a lot more difficult to manage on the trail and decided to grow out my hair long and even for the most part. That was three years ago. I have only received occassional trims since that decision in order to keep my hair healthy. I have really enjoyed having long hair and came pretty attached to it. But at the beginning of this past summer I decided that it was time for something different, but wanted to wait until the summer was over before doing anything.

I think I just needed the summer months in order for me to come to grips with cutting my hair and letting go of the long hair that I love. Well, it's September and the summer is fading fast. It was a spur of the moment decision to get my hair cut coupled with the encouragement of my friend that got me into the salon chair. The Results:

Before the Cut

Before the Cut - that's some long hair!

The finished product!

Ok, so it wasn't as drastic as I thought it was going to be. Nobody even noticed that I got my hair cut and layered, which still bewilders me a little bit. After getting home from having it cut I realized a problem that I didn't think of before hand. How in the world do I style layered hair!?! For any of you who know me well know that hair, make-up - you know all that girly stuff - isn't my forte. I am horrible at it! (I like to blame having three brothers for my girl styling deficiencies - sorry brothers). I was just beginning to get comfortable and expand styling techniques with straight hair. Back to square one. My skill and knowledge doesn't go beyond four styles - straight, crunched, curled under, and back in a pony tail. Sad.

But needless to say, I am a little excited to expand my hair styling knowledge. Hopefully in all of my failed attempts I'll learn something and find a new way of styling. Any pointers, tips, or suggestions would be wonderful!

Putting Things Aside......FOR YOU!

Ok, ok, ok....I get the picture! So...I'm putting aside the things that I should be doing right now to ease all you anxious yet patient lookers. THANKS for wanting to keep updated on my life!! :o) I have been wanting to post many things and have been keeping a list of all of them, but some of them are long posts and I haven't had time to dedicate to those long posts. So for now here are some quick posts to hopefully satisfy you until I can get those longer posts posted. Enjoy!

Quick Plug!

In my long list of things 'To Do' writing about my adventure hiking Table Rock yesterday is low on the list, but I wanted to put in a plug about hiking Table Rock to all the locals before too much time passed because time is running out.

If you have the opportunity or have room in your schedule to hike Table Rock.....GO!!!

Due to the long winter and amount of snow on the mountain Table Rock opened late this year. This also means that the wild flowers came late too. They are in full bloom and blanket the mountain side in tons of different colors! Even if you don't make it to the top or even half way to the top, the wild flowers are definitely worth it! THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!! Summer is coming to a close soon, so don't miss out! Hopefully the picture below will entice you to go...


And if you are hesitant to go because you don't have a hiking buddy to go with you, I went alone yesterday - the reason being that Table Rock is such a frequently hiked trail that if anything were to happen somebody will run into you sooner rather than later. Be prepared yourself, of course, but I feel it is a safe enough hike to do alone if you are a confident hiker.

Where the Pavement Ends.......

.......And Dreams Begin

Today I went on a quest that I have been wanting to do for over a year now. It has always been a dream of mine to run through a corn field. Don’t ask me where this dream came from or why I have it, but it has something that I have wanted to do for years and years. Last summer after I finished school and moved to Arizona my best friend Angie vicariously fulfilled this dream for me during one of her bike rides on the back farm roads of Rexburg. It meant so much to me that she took the time to become apart of one of my dreams. It has been my goal this summer to find the same corn field and run through it too.

Vaguely remembering the directions that Angie had once told me on where the corn fields were I set out on my quest heading East to Poleline Road, where our most frequent rides took us last summer. Instead of turning North on the usual road (Rd. 3000) that would bring us back towards Rexburg I continued to head East in hopes to find the corn fields over a few rolling hills. Cresting the top of the rolling hills I tried to see any corn fields in distance. I couldn’t distinguish between corn fields and potato fields at such a far distance. I was tempted to turn around several times, but something kept pushing me on. A few miles down the roads I came to a “Pavement Ends” sign. Whether there were corn fields beyond that point or not, I wouldn’t know because I couldn’t go any further with my road bike.

Where the pavement ended there was a road that turned North (Rd. 5000). I debated whether to head down this road or head back and take the usual route back. Intrigued and having a little sense of adventure I decided to take Road 5000 to see where it would take me. I was disappointed that I had not found the corn fields where I thought they would be and didn’t expect to come across any during the rest of my bike ride. I thought maybe this year may have been an off year for growing corn. My focus had changed to exploring this area that I had never been on. The road cut through more beautiful potato and hay fields with a few ups and downs along the way. I took the first left that I could (2000), which would spit me out North of Rexburg on the road that lead to Sugar City.

As I cruised down this road I debated on the several different routes I could take to get back home. I thought about turning and heading South or Road 3000 to meet up and finish out on the route that I normally ride, but as I came up on that road I decided last minute to turn left on the next road. This intersects with the same route I normally ride, just a mile or so down the road at the Rexburg Cemetery.

I had picked up quite a bit of speed as I was biking to my next turn and was keeping an eye on my odometer to see how fast I could ride on flat ground. I glanced up to quickly get my bearings when I noticed on the other side of the road a corn field that I had already completely passed! I yelled out, “A CORN FIELD!!” as I slammed on my breaks. It came as a complete surprise!

I rode to the furthest entrance and set my bike down. I couldn’t stop smiling! I was filled with so much excitement that I had found the corn field and I was finally able to fulfill one of my dreams!

The sprinklers were going, which caused the ground to become muddy – all the more fun I thought! I was wearing Chacos (because they make the world go round) and didn’t hesitate to jump right in the mud! I bypassed the sprinklers, taking a moment to breath in the extra oxygen from the mist, and then completely surrounded myself in the corn! The corn towered over me at about 7 ½ feet or so. I was in my own little heaven!

My camera was the first thing to come out! I was grateful I brought it so I could capture this dream. After taking a few pictures I was more than ready and excited to finally do what I had been wanting to do for so long. I lined myself up in one of the corn rows and took off running! I spread my arms out as wide as the corn row and let my hands brush over all of the corn leaves as I ran passed them. The only thing I wished for was somebody to be with me to video record me running through the corn field. But since that wasn’t an option I didn’t let it taint my experience one bit, but let my dream be as full and filling as it could possibly be!

I am grateful that Angie vicariously fulfilled this dream until the opportunity came for me to experience, and that we were able to experience it together even at separate times! (Y+M=WE)!