• Blog
  • LDS
    • Canada
    • Japan
    • U.K.
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politicians
  • Site
    • About
    • Archive
    • Best of Rickety
    • Comments Policy
    • Copyright
    • FAQ
    • Feedback
    • Guests
    • Privacy Policy
    • Technical
    • Why Blog?
  • Sundry
    • Comics
    • HyperCheese Help
    • JFHE
    • Projects
      • Book of Mormon
    • Wishful Thinking

Rickety

Mostly about Utah

  • Family
    • Jill
    • Rick
    • Children
      • Daniel
      • Jake
      • Paul
      • Sarah
      • Steven
    • Children’s Spouses
      • Adelaide
      • Derek
      • Megan
      • Rachel
      • Shelese
    • Grandchildren
      • Aurora
      • Benjamin
      • Bryson
      • Caleb
      • Calvin
      • Cassandra
      • Elizabeth
      • Ezra
      • Helen
      • Jameson
      • Ryan
      • Sadie
  • Finance
    • Bank Rewards Checking
    • Credit Union Rewards Checking
    • Debt
    • Employment
    • Money
    • Rewards Checking Posts
  • Government
    • City
    • Elections
    • Federal
    • Military
    • Paul on Politics
    • Politics
    • States
    • Taxes
  • Recreation
    • Competition
    • Food
    • Fun in Utah
    • Games
    • Music
    • Parade
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Religion
    • Christmas
    • Family History
    • Jesus Christ
    • LDS
    • Marriage
    • Missionary
    • On Religion
    • Preparedness
    • Scriptures
    • Temple
  • Series
    • 100 Years Ago
    • Christmas Letter
    • Epic Excerpts
    • On Religion
    • Past Pictures
    • Daniel’s Mission
    • Jake’s Mission
    • Paul’s Mission
  • Technology
    • Applications
    • Blogging
    • Communication
    • Computer
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • How To
    • Photography
    • Population
    • Transportation

Happy New Year

January 1, 2012 by rickety 2 Comments

Happy New Year
Happy New Year!

Rickety signature

Filed Under: Bryson, Jill, Sarah Tagged With: Shauna

Shepard Creek Trail

July 2, 2011 by rickety 3 Comments

Shepard Creek Trail - Susan,  Shauna, and Jill

Shepard Creek Trail - Susan, Shauna, and Jill

Yesterday Susan, Shauna, Jill and I hiked Shepard Creek Trail. Shepard Creek Trail winds out of several residential areas in Somerset and Shepard Heights and up a canyon. To get to the trail, from Main Street go east toward the mountains on 1400 North one block. Look for a dirt road to the north and park along 1400 North. Step over the pedestrian gate.

Shepard Creek Trail stream

Shepard Creek

Walk north up the dirt road. This is part of the old Bamberger Railroad right of way. As you come to a large open area, cross near a stone culvert, past the weather station, to the far side of Shepard Creek. The trail parallels the creek winding through trees and crossing two bridges. The first bridge is a large log with a rope as a handrail. Turn left and follow the trail beside the stream.

Shepard Creek Trail steep in places

The trail was steep in places

When you come to some wooden steps, go straight across and continue paralleling the stream until you reach another set of wooden steps. Turn left and cross the second bridge. Follow the trail again paralleling the stream. You will pass some houses. If you take a wrong turn you could end up in someone’s kitchen. So watch for the trail markers.

Shepard Creek Trail flowers

Flowers along the trail

Keep bearing to the right and eventually you will rise up a short hill to an intersection where there is a bench. The Somerset section of the trail continues on from here.

In 10 or 20 minutes, the trail will come out on Bella Vista Drive. Look up the canyon over your right shoulder to see the break in the chain link fence where the trail continues.

Hike up the dirt road about 200 feet and watch for the trail to cut up the slope to the right. Continue up the trail beyond the chain link fence and hike straight up the dirt road until it “T’s”.

Go left at the “T” and follow this dirt road. After 75 to 100 feet, keep an eye to the right of the road for a faint footpath. Follow the footpath up a ways where it turns to the south. Notice that there is a footpath that travels east up and over a rock outcropping. Another trail goes south from here to Farmington Canyon.

It was a hot day but most of the first part of the trail was shaded. Once out in the open one could feel the sun. Occasionally there was a gentle breeze which felt really good.

We didn’t get to the end of the trail. A hiker on his return trip said it was very steep further up the trail. We weren’t equipped with hiking boots so we eventually turned back after admiring the view.

Shepard Creek Trail bench

There were several benches along the trail

Shepard Creek Trail uphill

Further up the trail

Shepard Creek Trail - Jill

Jill on the trail

Shepard Creek Trail - Shauna

Shauna with a view of the valley behin her

Shepard Creek Trail view of LDS granary

Jill with the Kaysville LDS granary in the distance

Shepard Creek Trail sego lily

Utah's state flower, the sego lily, by the side of the trail

Shepard Creek Trail flowers Shauna

Shauna and flowers

FAA long-range radar site atop Francis Peak

Shepard Creek Trail return trip

Jill, Shauna, and Susan make the return trip

Shepard Creek Trail waterfall

On our return, this little waterfall cooled the air while we rested

Rickety signature

Filed Under: Fun in Utah, Jill, Recreation, Rick, Rickety Picks Tagged With: Hike, Shauna, Susan

The Mueller Park Trail

July 23, 2010 by rickety 4 Comments

Mueller Park Trail

Today we hiked The Mueller Park Trail in Bountiful. It is a great walk that is mostly shaded all the way up. Much of the trail is gently sloped. From various locations there are good views of the Great Salt Lake and the valley far below.

The Mueller Park Trail is 13 miles round trip. The route begins at the Mueller Park Picnic Grounds in the east Bountiful foothills and ends at a small grassy clearing called Rudy’s Flat. We chose to turn around at Big Rock, called “Elephant Rock” by the locals, to make it a 7 mile round trip.

Mueller Park Trail can be busy on weekends and holidays. Its multi-use designation means it’s open to hikers, mountain bikers, and motorcycles. Today we were passed by numerous bikers.

Click on the images to enlarge. In the video Jill explains what we are doing.

Mueller Park Trail

Jill at the trailhead


Mueller Park Trail

Susan, Shauna, Jill, and Mike begin the ascent

Mueller Park Trail

We are headed for Big Rock

Mueller Park Trail

Mueller Park Trail

Mueller Park Trail

Here we are just above Big Rock

Mueller Park Trail

Taking a break on the bench above Big Rock to admire the view

Mueller Park Trail

Mueller Park Trail

JIll says, "I'll race you down!"


Mueller Park Trail

Goodbye folks, I'm glad you could join us on the Mueller Park Trail. Photo by Susan Ward

Rickety signature.

Filed Under: Fun in Utah, Jill, Mike, Recreation, Rick, Rickety Picks Tagged With: Hike, Shauna, Susan

City Creek Canyon Trail

July 10, 2010 by rickety 1 Comment

Yesterday found us walking along City Creek Canyon Trail. City Creek was the first water source used by the Mormon Pioneers settling the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. In the early years water flowed through ditches for irrigating gardens. Residents hand dipped water for their culinary and domestic needs. In 1866, City Creek was first diverted into a municipally-owned, piped water distribution system to provide fire protection and culinary water supply to city residents.

The maximum recorded flow in City Creek during the floods of 1983 was 322 cubic feet per second, which resulted in considerable debris flows, flooding and damage through downtown Salt Lake City as State Street was converted into a temporary “river” after debris clogged the city’s storm drain pipes.

We walked up the road 2.5 miles and back again. So not many photographs (click to enlarge). The first two shots about sum it up:

City Creek Canyon Trail

Going up. Shauna, Jill, Susan, and Mike.

City Creek Canyon Trail

Coming down. Susan, Shauna, and Jill.

Mike carried on when we turned back. However, we did find a concrete staircase built in the middle of the wilderness by a lost civilization.

City Creek Canyon Trail

City Creek Canyon Trail

We stopped for lunch.

City Creek Canyon Trail

We sent Shauna out over a rotting log to find the trail but there was none.

City Creek Canyon Trail

The girls found a geocache by a big tree stump.

City Creek Canyon Trail

I love it when the directions say, "You will find it by the tree down by the river"

City Creek Canyon Trail

Mike went on to Area 26, about a 10 mile round trip.


Rickety signature.

Filed Under: Fun in Utah, Jill, Mike, Recreation, Rick, Rickety Picks Tagged With: Hike, Salt Lake City, Shauna, Susan

West Bountiful Parade

June 28, 2008 by rickety 2 Comments

It is time for the 4th July parades to begin. Today at 9am found Jill, Sarah, and I at West Bountiful.
The National Guard carried the flag

Kent and Susan had saved seats for us. From left to right in the photograph below are Rick (me), Kent, Jill, Sarah, Shauna, Mark, Connie, and Susan. Shauna had brought candy just in case we didn’t like the parade offerings. There was also water but it wasn’t needed as I think we had the coolest spot on the parade route.

The coolest people in town

The National Guard carried the flag followed by Mayor James Behunin on a horse. Val Verda Stake, where Jill and I used to live, had a pioneer themed float. There were the usual bands, fire engines, and old cars. There were even Star Wars characters entertaining the crowd. With fifty entries the parade was over in less than an hour which is about the right amount of time for me.

Mayor James Behunin of West Bountiful

The Val Verda Stake

Sarah (left) and Shauna flying the flag

Filed Under: Parade Tagged With: 4th July, Connie, Kent, Mark, National Guard, Shauna, Susan, West Bountiful

Recent Comments

  • Anonymous on Arduino AVR High-Voltage Serial Programmer
  • Anonymous on The Twelve Stones of The Apocalypse
  • Randall on Parrish Canyon Fremont Pictographs
  • Jon on Testing Our APack Ready Meals
  • Jennifer Danelle Sexton on Missionary Dan Email #3 from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  • Anonymous on The Twelve Stones of The Apocalypse
  • Anonymous on The Twelve Stones of The Apocalypse
  • Anonymous on The Twelve Stones of The Apocalypse
  • Bl on The Twelve Stones of The Apocalypse
  • ken on Arduino AVR High-Voltage Serial Programmer

Who is this Rickety?

Rick at homeI'm Rick Willoughby. I live in Utah, a retired Software Engineer. I'm a Mormon, married with 5 children and 12 grandchildren.

I emigrated from England in my late twenties, bringing with me one small suitcase and a few dollars. I appreciate the opportunities America has given me and the friendliness of the people to new citizens.

I blog about my family as well as politics, religion, finance, technology, and other topics.

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in