The Long Gap

Between stopping by at David and Sarah's and Yellow Stone: Oh boy.

We left David and Sarah's late- real late, and didn't really get anything done- which meant we just picked up Cheetah from the Air port, and were like... hummm what now. There was an attempt at getting Emily's police record, which failed, and a stop at a version of Whole Pay Check which the bagger at once asked if we were the bus people (Chris and I looked at each other and tried to figure out how he knew this), and bashfully admitted to our situation. It's amazing how people can spot you out.

Then we did what any rational beings on their first time in a town called "Salt Lake City" do, and went to see the Salt Lake. David and Sarah had warned us that is smelled of dead shrimp and it's name sake salt. But we found a park in the middle of the lake which was absent of both.

As we drove north through suburban sprawl, we relaxed in the setting sun, and talked about the concept of “Mo’s” (mormons) and how as far as we could tell Salt Lake was a decent place, not a mecca of all that is uptight waspyness.

Antelope island state park was one of those rare gems that we didn’t know existed, and would have never found without the desire for random camping and a green state part indicator on the map. (I’m not sure if locals even go there). As we drove out of the gas stations and super makets into some tall grass and the approaching spit which lead to the island, it became obvious that we had just found one of the best spots in Utah to watch the sun set (Because Arches wasn’t enough). The lake in the fore ground the mountains in the back ground, the shore and the lake difficult to distinguish. Low clouds rolling in and glorifying the gently setting sun. Dashes with hues of pink and light blue the sky caressed the purple mountains with their coverings of snow, deeper this year that any on record. Then we came to the Island.

Unlike it’s surrounding rocky brethren, the mountains on Antelope island are rounded and covered with grass and shrubs. They belong in an iconic version of Ireland, except there are buffalo to be found here, and it’s in the middle of a lake instead of the Atlantic Ocean.

We found our campsite and left it in search of hiking. The hour or so we spent exploring the low hills, and some of the oldest rock in all of North America found on the island are some of the most relaxed memories I’ll have of Salt lake.

As we settled down on the Bus preparing for the long night of stories and pure warm joy which permeated the club house, we saw a car slowly creep outside. This had happened before, people were often curious, but this time someone go out and ran over to up. Emily started yelling in joy, Chris, Cheetah, and I looked at each other confused.

Five men in puffy jackets (so not rangers) exited the SUV and ran towards us. Emily Hugged one of them, and invited them all on the bus. It should be noted that the bugs were horrible outside, and the door had to be kept shut in fear that they feed on us all night.

The strangers turned out to friends of Emily's form back at Georgia Tech, who just happened to meet up with us- really we didn’t plan this- on their trip out to Yellow Stone from LA. So of course we drank the night away, playing silly games and waiting for Kyle and Charity to find the bus later that night (who we were expecting) to find ourselves with 10 people in out tiny school bus.

The next morning; after everyone parted their separate ways, The Boys North, Kyle and Charity West, The bus headed to REI in attempt to not repeat some of the incidences in the Rockys and procure boots for Emily and Cheetah. While there, I found some info on the passes to Jackson WY, and we explored a liquor store, which as far as we could tell… wasn’t that bad, which made us question stories we had heard about the liquor scene in Utah.

After REI we headed to Big cotton wood canyon, and with some help from Mountain Project, found a nice after work crag, where we met other climbers and Salt Lake Locals who were tons of fun, and helped us out with the climbs and ropes (we brough our own, but it’s nice to share too) Ethan and his group were in Salt Lake, an Ex-Mormon and his girl friend were to our left, it was good time all around.

We made plans to meet up in the city for pizza, but on our way out had a slight incident... which We'll get to Next time!