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Mile 751.  It was a near perfect evening for walking.  Last Monday and Tuesday there was steady rain, which cleaned everything up and added moisture to the sandy places.  This was followed by three days of warm, dry weather that eliminated the muddy spots.  Today the skies were a crystal clear blue.  So ... around 6 pm Lou headed out for a 10k loop walk.  Now you runners won't be impressed as he didn't set any speed records, but Tortoise did get some beautiful views along the full length of the Cottonwood Hills trail before returning to his starting trailhead by way of the Spanish Wash and Prospector trails.  There are lots of pictures today, so if you click below to continue reading, there is bound to be something that will catch your eye ...

Cheerio!

First mile steadily climbs 185 feet (while dropping just 13) from the Cottonwood trailhead accessed off of Old Highway 91 near Winkel Distributing in the Hurricane Industrial Park.  This section is the access to several trails Lou has previously visited (including the Prospector Trail he will return on) so he opted to wait until near the mile mark to take these first three pictures.  Tortoise rating is 4.3, average elevation is 3358.

Second mile starts by dropping 64 feet, then climbing 151 feet to the highest elevation of this walk before dropping the first 13 feet of a two mile downhill stretch.  The added height provides some great views in every direction.  Tortoise rating is 4.6, average elevation is 3435.

Tortoise enjoyed the lone tree on the hill to the right

The sun dropped below this short, steep knoll before it set elsewhere

Lou has now made it to the Cottonwood Wilderness Study Area.  (The entrance
was shown in the first picture above.)  The trail stays in this wilderness area
for about a mile.

Lou always enjoys looking both directions as he walks.  Especially if it is
to take in West Temple in Zion Park from a new vantage point. (low on the
horizon in the upper center of the picture.

The third mile drops 152 feet without climbing any.  Tortoise rating was 6.0 and average elevation 3439.

About half way through the fourth mile, Lou completed the Cottonwood Hills trail at Spanish Wash.  The map indicates that you can go left or right at the Spanish Wash trail, depending on which trail you want to use it to connect to.   Tortoise could see no signs at the junction, perhaps they were washed away in the recent heavy rains.  He wanted to return using the Prospector trail, so he turned left and went down the wash.  It is about a half mile to the junction with the Prospector trail, which is marked, but you have to look closely to see the sign.  Most of that half mile the trail literally is the wash, so you particularly would want to avoid this one if it even might rain.  It also would be harder to find your way if you did this loop the other direction, starting with the Prospector and ending with Cottonwood Hills.  In this mile Tortoise dropped another 118 feet without climbing any.  Tortoise rating was 6.1, average elevation was 3300.

Love the weathered, layered rocks

A sunset view of the junction with Spanish Wash trail

A few turns downstream, and this sign appears for the one and only time
the Spanish Wash trail leaves the wash.  Good thing, because the wash
itself becomes very rocky and steep for a short section.

On the Prospector trail now, looking at the Harley Davidson dealer in Coral
Canyon just across the now nearby I-15 freeway.

A welcome sign confirming Lou is on the Prospector trail at about the start
of the fifth mile.

 Lou took no more pictures because he quickly was back on trail he had photographed and written about before as recently as August 26.  The fifth mile is the nearest to being flat of this loop, climbing 31 feet and dropping 45 along the way.  Tortoise rating is 5.8, average elevation is 3232.  The sixth mile climbs steadily 118 feet without dropping any while returning to the Cottonwood Hills trail junction.  Tortoise rating is 4.9, average elevation is 3286.  Once back on the Cottonwood Hills trail, the final 0.65 miles to complete this loop is all downhill, dropping 80 feet.  Tortoise rating is 6.1, average elevation is 3305.

Here's a map showing the full loop.  The steepest section climbs a 6% grade near the top of the second mile, as shown by the bright red color on the elevation/climb chart below the map.

Today's walk was 6.65 miles, with a 4.7 average tortoise rating earned by climbing 485 feet in the 3.33 mile uphill portion at an average elevation of 3361.  The walk burned 990 calories in 2:13:13 hours.

Here are the overall stats so far for 2015:

751.65 miles walked, which is 75.01% of Lou's 2015 goal. On this day in 2014, Tortoise had walked 745.56 year-to-date miles.   

230:05:21 hours walked, which is 73.51% of the 2015 goal (which is to walk 1 hour a day on the 313 days other than Sunday in the year)

38,713 total feet climbed, compared with 35,713 feet on this day in 2014.  

112,676 calories burned.

71.57% of the year has passed.

Lou has walked 112 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11. Overall he has walked on 215 of the 224 non-Sundays in 2015, a 95.98% consistency rating.  This compares with 212 days walked in the same period in 2014 (a 94.64% consistency rating).

The purpose of the percentages is to have a higher percentage of distance and time walked than of the year. This tells Tortoise that he is on track. Yes, this is more numbers than you are likely interested in, all Tortoise can say is he's really good at setting high goals and having them slip away because he doesn't do them every, every day.  (If you doubt this, compare Tortoise's 2013 walking record with 2014 ... for him, it is what it takes to be consistent. And Tortoise feels much more vibrant when he is consistent.  He hopes you find what works for you)

And now for today's walking thought by Dieter Uchtdorf ...

"The Everlasting and Almighty God, the Creator of this vast universe, will speak to those who approach Him with a sincere heart and real intent.  (think about that!)

"He will speak to them in dreams, visions, thoughts, and feelings.

"He will speak in a way that is unmistakable and that transcends human experience.  He will give them divine direction and answers for their personal lives.

"Of course, there will be those who scoff and say such a thing is impossible, that if there were a God, He would have better things to do than hear and answer a single person's prayer.

"But I tell you this:  God cares about you.  He will listen, and He will answer your personal questions.  The answers to your prayers will come in His own way and in His own time, and therefore, you need to learn to listen to His voice.  God wants you to find your way back to Him, and the Savior is the way.  God wants you to learn of His Son, Jesus Christ, and experience the profound peace and joy that come from following the path of divine discipleship."

-- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Receiving A Testimony Of Light And Truth", October 2014 LDS General Conference

The tortoise is smiling!