Cedar Breaks single track.

With a long over due desire and a recent change in weekend plans, we finally made it to the Brianhead/ Cedar Breaks area to ride the pedal bikes. We chose to camp up by Navajo Lake to stay close to trails and as a great in between spot nestled in the peaking aspens. Here's what we found.

 One of the uncrowded overlooks at Cedar Breaks and a glimpse to the distant Blowhard trail by the small dot atop the distant peak (Blowhard mountain).

 Yes, it is still Milkyway season and the wind finally let up enough to shoot a few exposures looking straight south towards Navajo Lake.

 The landscape around the lake was reminiscent of Bend Oregon and the Mckenzie River sections with lava.

Lichen covered lava was only on the east end of the lake and made for a cool start to our loop up to the Virgin Rim trail.

 Insert postcard title here "               ". wish you were here! Looking south towards Zion National park.

Hard to tell just how windy it was, but that was as close to the edge as I felt confident with.

Although we did not ride the Blowhard trail together, I chose to hike up from the parking to get one shot of Amy descending the last fun narrow canyon section before the drive back.

Since we only rode the Blowhard trail on our last day, we thought a hot lap in Cedar City on the Boulder dash and Lava flow trails would be appropriate. Look at my wife slaying this section of Boulder Dash.

Both the drive there and back provided amazing displays of Gods craftsmanship in the sky.

Mt. Timpanogos with #newlywedsnotnewlyweds!

I was fortunate enough 6 years ago to photograph Devon and Kaydee's wedding in Steamboat Springs Colorado, where we all met several years prior  serving in the youth ministry together. These two are my favorite couple ever!!!

At 11,752 feet Mt. Timpanogos is the icon of the Wasatch as far as I am concerned. So when Devon asked if I wanted to hang with them on their first summit as husband and wife, I jumped on it. Naturally I turned it into a photo shoot for their 6th anniversary and what a great day it was. To add to the challenge my friends are triathletes now, in full fledged training mode AND it was my first hike/run of the season! I am not a runner by definition, but if I was it would strictly be trail running. But, I am not a runner...... perhaps a fast hiker. Anyhow, they were a joy to follow up the 5,000 vertical foot, 15 mile roundtrip heart pumper that is Timp, with a photo backpack on.

 We chose the more scenic approach from the Aspen Grove site which gives you a few hundred more vertical and is loaded with waterfalls this time of year. I liken it to an escalator in the woods, with every switch back you make the valley just drops away and the scenery only improves the higher you go.

Never a shortage of "God showers" to cool off in either.

 A stunning landscape alone, but add 2 trail runners and their dog.....................WOW! The wildflowers are just starting their magical transition too.

Emerald Lake is a proglacial beauty and a nice place to refill your water before the final 2,000 feet up to the summit (top right). Also, the snow glaciers are what counts for the highest number of accidents, resues and death with hikers, due to the practice of "glissading" with less than ample skill.

 This was the only mandatory snow crossing, and will be gone in another month.

 Kaydee in her last few strides to the summit and almost 7,000 feet above the Provo valley floor.

 In case you didn't know, both male and female goats have horns. This little one is getting first hand experience on cliff management from Mom.

The observation hut at the summit was constructed around 1959 to help with infrastructure for hikers and rescue parties. It also helps block the summit winds during snack time.

 Perfect day for a summit with this crew! Yay human skittles.............

Happy 6th anniversary guys. #newlywedsNOTnewlyweds

Rolls Family Liberty Park SLC

One of the greatest parts of photographing people and their life events is seeing their forward progression of life from the first time you met! I was fortunate enough to cover Eric and Jo Rolls' wedding several years back in Steamboat Springs Colorado where we all lived at the time. Jump ahead more then 5 years later in Salt Lake City (we live 2 miles apart now) and I got to meet their first edition to the family. At 12 months, Evelyn already has this beautiful adventurous spirit and seems to enjoy being in front of a strangers camera like a walk in the park.

Yes, Patagonia may be calling soon for a sponsorship.

Heather and Kevins Wedding

What a great venue and an amazing celebration on the perfect fall day in Park City Utah. Heather and Kevin recently shared the official joining of their two lives at the Utah Olympic Park with a fun mix of family and friends. It's not everyday you get to try an Olympic sport without any prior training! Here are some highlights of their day.

I encouraged them to have a first look so we could get some of the formals done before hand, which allows more time together with family and friends at the reception. These guys ride bikes, so I asked a nearby bike shop if we could borrow their tandem for 10 minutes.

 Wouldn't be complete without a test ride.

On a day where so many things happen and nervousness abounds, it's all about the happy moments.

Fun, happy group-filled moments.

Peaceful, personal Olympic sized moments.

 Did someone say Bobsled!

Who gets to travel down a mountain at 80 mph legally on their wedding night? Yes, the bride and groom (orange helmets) and anyone else who wanted.

Cheers to a great new life together Heather and Kevin Van Loon! "Eric Rolls".

Heather and Kevin's engagement hike on Mt. Olympus

It has been a while since my last engagement session but I really like when we get to use a location that doesn't see a lot of action. If you know Utah then you know that Alta's Albion basin, Memory Grove park, Big and Little Cottonwoods can get really congested with family photo shoots in the height of wild flower and Fall foliage seasons. My friends Heather and Kevin also have two dogs, which makes shooting outdoors even trickier in the Wasatch. Today's session was more PJ (photo journalistic) then "stage and rage" which fit them just perfectly. I wanted to shoot light and fast so I kept it real simple, Sony A 6000, 16-70 F4, 10-18 F4 and 70-200 F4 all in my favorite action shooting back pack the Mindshiftgear 34L Panorama.

The trail to the summit of Mt. Olympus starts right at the edge of the valley and is an amazing place to enjoy sunset and watch the whole valley come alive.

There are several rock outcroppings that make for some great viewing spots in just the first 5 minutes of hiking.

That is Thunder mountain in the back drop, some 5000+ feet above the valley floor.

A little privacy for the happy couple.

Their two dogs were real troopers and would have kept going if it weren't for the dang photo shoot.

Not a bad spot for a break.

Happy happy.

Looking forward to a real cool Wedding in September at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City with a finale down the bob sled course!