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It's that time of year for working late and then walking, so we have the 10pm indoor special again. For pictures I will refer you to Wednesday (34 of those laps), followed by Monday (135 times). This worked out to 4.24 miles for day 538. Ytd miles 91.61 (+0.58), time 1:18:06, pace 18:25, climb 597, tortoise rating 3.4, ytd climb 7988 (+616). Cheerio!

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Mile 784.  Confluence Park was so nice on Tuesday, Tortoise decided to go back today, this time on the south side of the Virgin River.  He started at the trailhead at the far north end of Hurricane's Main Street, went down the Confluence View trail to the river, then climbed back up the steep hill by taking Chub Trace to the Basalt Trail to Tortoise Track until it becomes 200 West.  He then walked city streets for a little over a mile before returning to his car.  A map follows after more pictures.  The day's walking thought is by Silvia Allred ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 773.   Lou has been looking for the Rusty Cliffs trail, which he had noticed on maps just north of City Creek trail.  But he had found it challenging to actually find along the Red Cliffs Parkway.  Today, Tortoise figured it out.  It turns out the City Creek trail forks near its western terminus at the Parkway.  The right fork he walked back on September 7.  It ends at the Parkway.  The left fork goes under the parkway, and when you emerge from the tunnel, the view shown above appears and the Rusty Cliffs trail begins.  Lou accessed it today by parking near the Sunset shopping center and theaters and walking up to the Red Cliffs Parkway and taking the right fork of City Creek trail to the left fork.  There's a map later on if that was confusing.  The views are lovely on this path just across highway 18 from the Chuckawalla trailhead.  Somehow the dirt path compared with the paved one that hugs the highway seems much more like you are out in the wilds.  Be sure to let Lou know what you think!  

Walking thought was provided by Quentin Cook today.

Cheerio!

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Mile 760.  The T-Bone Trail is a beautiful, hilly, two mile trail that goes north from the Red Hills Desert Garden in St. George.  Lou took lots of pictures as he walked it this afternoon, and hopes you will enjoy them!  Walking thought was provided by Matthew Richardson ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 737.  The most exciting part of this evening's walk was the beautiful sunset.  It was designed to be quick and hilly -- three laps down the hill to River Road and back up.  Walking thought tonight was by Henry Eyring ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 733.  Tortoise went exploring today.  He has taken the old road out of La Verkin before headed towards Virgin and Zion Park, but has never gotten past the La Verkin Overlook Road.  This sunny Saturday he parked just off the highway so he didn't have to walk on it, and headed up the hill past the Overlook Road for an additional mile, enjoying the views all the way!  The day's thought was provided by Thomas Monson ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 723.  Closing in on yet another tax filing deadline, Tortoise snuck in a minimum two mile walk climbing part way up this hill.  It was quick and exhilarating!  Thought of the day was by Christopher Waddell ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 705.  Since he walked the Owen's Loop Trail on August 24, with its terrific views from an observation point like setting, Tortoise has been excited to try the City Creek Trail nearby.  From the maps, it looks like a good way to walk through the country cars drive through on Red Hills Parkway without being right next to the cars -- at least for one direction of a loop.  

It is that, and more.  It turns out to be a popular training ground for cross country runners with its up and down meandering path, which consumes mileage without actually going very far.  Lou generally differs from most hikers with regards to switchbacks.  He would prefer to walk farther if it keeps slopes to below, say, 10%.  As you will see a little later on the trail map, the City Creek Trail takes switchbacks to an extreme.  A couple times the trail actually goes up and down in a segment more than if it took the direct route instead of a long switchback.  This left Tortoise amused.  He still enjoyed this walk though.

Some might think it late in the year to be attempting this, but Lou has just discovered the 52 Hike Challenge, and he is intrigued enough to try to finish it in 2016, with a personal criteria of at least 5k (3.1 miles) in order for a given day's effort to qualify.  Today's adventure is #hike1.  This should be fun!

The day's walking thought was by Carl Cook ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 664.  Lou has wanted to walk the Owens Loop trail for probably a year now, since he discovered its existence in the rugged terrain of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, yet within the St. George city limits and the promise of excellent views from its perch 300 or so feet directly above the city.  It did not disappoint!

Pictures and the day's walking thought by Mary Cook await ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 659 was walked a little past the top of this hill above the office this afternoon.  The 12% slope provided a hearty workout while listening to a thought by Thomas Monson ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 618.  After work, Tortoise found himself in Washington City running errands.  There had been a downpour in the afternoon, and looked like there would be more, so Lou found himself high ground to walk on rather than the river trail that was calling his name.  He took the "Mt. Everest/Cardiac Arrest" trail starting on Coral Canyon Dr. just off Telegraph.  The trail quickly climbs to the top of the ridge, after which Tortoise continued on the paved Highland trail which becomes an unpaved trail past the park.  When he had walked a little over a mile, the clouds became more intense and lightning in the distance pronounced.  Lou cut his planned walk short and hastily retraced his steps without getting wet and was thankful for safe passage!  Today's thought was by Todd Christofferson ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 600.  More storm clouds this evening.  Tortoise responded by doing a quick mile loop up the hill from his St. George office.  Then, when the rain hadn't quite started, he did it a second time.  That loop he finished just in time before the deluge began.  Walking thought was provided by Henry Eyring ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 562.  Four deer grazing in the trees.  A block from home.  Tortoise was thrilled, especially because they let him get close before scampering off.  You'll see that picture presently.

Lou cut a mile off his walk this morning, passing through the shortest of the paths through Confluence Park.   Walking through this park always invigorates him, even when an unseen insect bores deep into the insides of his knuckles in the midst of his stride.  Whatever it was, a nasty stinging substance was left in Tortoise's hand.
It was still a most pleasant walk though.

Today's thought was by Paul Koelliker ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 555.  Lou was helped by his sweet lady, and by neighbor Shy, moving some filing cabinets this morning.  His walk came as the sun was fading this evening, so there are some nice sunset shots tonight, some involving the river.  Tortoise always likes those.  Cheryl Esplin provided the walking thought ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 546.  Lou went off to pick up eggs, buttermilk, and lemons at the store this morning.  Sounds like something good's cooking in the kitchen!  To add a hill to the mix, Tortoise dropped into Confluence Park on the Cactus Cliff trail at the west end of Center Street.  As soon as he got to the trail junction at the bottom, he turned around and went right back up.  That 14% grade will get you every time!  

There are two walking thoughts today.  Another high quality one by Henry Eyring, followed by one from Tortoise, telling you another thread of his history.  This time it is about a math teacher from the eighth grade, Mr. George Wendt, who was energetic and loved helping students find "aha!" moments.  We lost Mr. Wendt at age 75 to lymphoma a few days ago, so Lou is in reminiscing mode ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 494.  Tortoise set out on a "watch the sky illuminate" walk this morning.  This picture was taken at the halfway point near the north entrance to Confluence Park at 5:35 am.  The moon is still providing most of the light but the sky is now turning purple.  Lou loved it!

The day's walking thought was by Walter Gonzalez ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 489, June 22.  Tortoise thanks his children for this fine Father's Day present ... his old boots had 2,500 miles on them since November 2013, so these are most appreciated.  Picture was taken across the street from the 600 North trailhead into Confluence Park so as to record them as they were before walking through the rocks and dirt.  The day's walking thought was by Linda Burton ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 471.  The morning dawned beautiful and inviting.  Tortoise set off on the large loop through Confluence Park by walking up Main Street to the highway, then through Spanish Gardens and Riverwoods to the north park entrance.  The location pictured above is near the beginning of the Confluence Trail as it follows La Verkin Creek.  From there he followed his usual path to the south trailhead on State Street.  Accompanying Lou was the day's walking thought by Henry Eyring ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 466, June 16.  This morning, Tortoise went northbound through a mile or so of Confluence Park before climbing out and looping back by way of the store to bring home some cream cheese.  Multitasking at its best!  Lou also had ulterior motives to lengthening his walk a bit ... he was reminded last night that his Ragozzine grandchildren would like him to take them on the two mile round trip walk up the Virgin River from the end of the Zion National Park shuttle to where the trail becomes the river and a fun, scenic place to play in the water.  Well ... that being the plan, Tortoise decided to pick up his daily pace so that he could complete his fifth time walking 500 miles since January 2014.  Not so bad at an average of about an hour a day.  So stay tuned to see if he pulls this off -- there are still 32 miles to be walked in 7 days in order to be ready to do that.  

Today's thought heard while walking was by Dieter Uchtdorf, and yes, it involves flying ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 432.  Tortoise enjoyed a pleasant Saturday stroll through Confluence Park, entering off of 600 North and exiting on State Street in La Verkin.  The thought of the day was by Tom Perry ...

Cheerio!