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Cottonwood trailhead in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve was Tortoise's starting point for today's after work walk.  Thankfully there is a sign directing you to the narrow dirt road taking you under I-15 a short distance from Winkel Distributing in the Hurricane industrial park to the trailhead.

Round trip distance walked was 3.43 miles, with 348 feet climbed en route, in 1:19:52 -- including several photography stops that were welcome opportunities for this lifetime desk jockey to catch his breath while enjoying the beautiful colors.  Pictured above is a look at the Cottonwood Hills trail about a mile up from the trailhead.  Tortoise rating for this walk was 4.1 and 580 calories were burned today.

For a map, additional short video clips, and today's walking thought by Ezra Taft Benson, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

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2014 Stats:

770.14 miles walked, which is 76.94% of my 2014 goal.

243:13:42 hours walked, which is 77.71% of my 2014 goal

36,556 total feet climbed 

122,981 calories burned
74.44% of the year has passed

I've walked 7 consecutive non-Sundays since my last missed day on September 20, and overall have walked on 220 of the 233 non-Sundays thus far in 2014, a 94.42% consistency rating.

The purpose of the percentages is to have a higher percentage of distance and time walked than of the year. This tells me I am on track. I'm sure this is more numbers than you are interested in, all I can say is I'm really good at setting high goals and having them slip away because I don't do them every, every day.



This video clip gives views and descriptions at the junction of the Prospector and Cottonwood Hills trails.

Here's a view from my turnaround point, 1.7 miles up from the Cottonwood Trailhead.

Today's thought chosen from the sound track of this walk:

"Communion with the Almighty has been a source of strength, inspiration, and enlightenment through the world’s history to men and women who have shaped the destinies of individuals and nations for good."

This was written in God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties, by Ezra Taft Benson (Deseret Book Co., 1974), page 8.  It was quoted by Thomas S. Monson in the opening address of the April 1991 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, entitled "The Power of Prayer", which honored several of President Benson's lifetime statements on the high value of prayer.  You can watch, listen to, or read President Monson's message in its entirety by visiting https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/04/the-power-of-prayer?lang=eng #ShareGoodness

The tortoise is smiling!