Mullein Land and My Paper

Here is a paper I wrote for my English class about a place I enjoy going. It is no work of art but I hope you enjoy.


Many of us have made the drive through Logan Canyon and admired its beauty. The flowing river and the slabs of limestone rock are only a few of the many beauties the canyon boasts, some of which are in plain sight and visible from the road. One such area that I love is a rock formation called Mullein Land. It can be seen from the road, however very few have made the fifteen minute hike to enjoy what it has to offer. There are many reasons why I love visiting Mullein Land but the top two reasons are rock climbing and the view.
Getting to Mullein Land is easy; just hop in the car and a short fifteen-minute drive up the canyon toward Bear Lake brings you to a guard station on the left side of the road. Upon reaching the station, take one more quick turn and pull off to the right. This large pull-off is big enough for three of four cars, making it easy to spot. Just across the road is the trailhead, which is hidden amongst the trees and overgrown grass but is easily found once you have crossed over.
I have hiked this trail many times in daylight and in the dark; and every time I go I find something new. One of the greatest and most startling discoveries was when I nearly stepped on a baby rattlesnake sunning itself on the trail. I quickly backpedaled and heard mama snake in the bushes, so I elected to scramble up a rock and hike around the snakes, letting them have the sun and the trail. Most of the time I don’t find anything quite so startling; normally I just find rattlesnake skins and their dens.
The hike is not very long, but it gets me far enough off the road that it makes me feel like I am in a separate world. At the trailhead, the mountains towering on both sides make me feel very enclosed, but the higher I climb the more open the trees become and noise from the road lessens. Upon reaching the top of the short hike the rock, like a present, always awaits. All the climbs at Mullein Land are fun and offer an absolutely spectacular view, but there are two in particular that are my favorite climbs in all of Logan Canyon. One climb is a traditional or “trad” climb, and the other is a sport route. The difference between trad climbing and sport climbing is simple. Trad climbing consists of the climber wedging specialized gear, such as nuts and cams, into small cracks that stop the climber if they fall. In sport climbing, bolts are pre-drilled into the rock, and the climber uses carabineers to clip the rope to the bolts on the way up.
I particularly love the trad climb at Mullein Land because it’s one of the first trad routes I ever completed. Until I had completed this climb, I did not realize the difference between completing a trad route and completing a sport route. A trad route signifies that the individual climbing gear is placed and then taken when the climb is completed. There is no artificial gear left behind dotting the climb like buttons up a shirt as there is with sport climbing. Leaving the rock as it was gives me a feeling of coming closer to nature because no alterations were made or left behind. The trad route is also special to me because it requires a variety of climbing techniques. In some places the climber is required to insert the hand into a crack and then flex the fingers, pressing the finger tips against one side of the crack and the back of the hand against the other. This creates what is called a hand jam, which is more effective than just grabbing onto a ledge and pulling up. Other parts of the climb require the use of a technique called a lay back. A lay back is where hands are grabbing a flake, or section of rock that juts out, and the feet are brought near the hands so the climber is perpendicular to the wall. By continually pulling on the flake with the hands, the climber is able to walk up the rock much like using a rope to scale a wall.
These are only two of the many moves required to surmount this climb. The use of these moves combined with some grunting is the only way to get to the top of the climb. Despite the effort, there is a reward waiting at the top; the rock melts back into the mountain, revealing a grassy slope. Every time I get to the top, I love sitting down and enjoying the view of Logan Canyon below, which surprises me every time with its beauty. The view from Mullein Land is unique because it is located above a curve in the river. The rock feature sits at the apex of a large horseshoe bend in the canyon, thus presenting a full view of the river, which snakes up and down the canyon.
After enjoying the view and quickly rappelling down, the opportunity to go over to the sport climb that lies on the other side of the rock face presents itself. This climb is on the northern arête of the rock feature, and from the start of the climb to the top there is a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape. A few great holds in the rock create specific spots where I love to pause and really look around. Just before reaching the top of the climb there is a place both feet can be planted firmly and both hands can reach up to an “undercling”, which is much like a car door handle. At this place, I can lean away from the rock and enjoy the view.
Something spectacular comes over me when great natural beauty is combined with rock climbing. For me, this combination almost has the ability to transform life itself. Problems and concerns melt away, and all that becomes important is not letting go. My mind becomes so clearly set on this one goal that nothing else matters. I often close my eyes, settle my breathing, and find that a sense of inner peace arises. When I finally do open my eyes and look around, all I see is absolute natural magnificence. I see the mountains around me, everywhere I look. I see the Logan River, flowing peacefully below me. I’ve seen a hawk circling in the air, riding thermals higher and higher, and a squirrel running across a ledge. Mullein Land presents treasure after treasure, each a feast for my eyes.
I have made many trips to Mullein Land and each time I go, it is a unique experience. It is easy to get to, and the effort is well paid for in the climbing and in the beautiful view from the top. And I always come home a little more relaxed and ready to take on the day-to-day challenges of life. The combination of rock climbing and a beautiful view provide a sense of healing and relaxation not only for me but others who have come along. I am lucky that Logan Canyon is basically in my back yard, for the potential of experiences and moments of tranquility like these are limitless.

London Spire

On the 17th of October myself along with two other friends, Brigham and Clint, took on the London Spire which is located in the just west of Willard Bay. The day started when I got up at four fifteen am so excited for the day to start. After a quick breakfast I picked up Brigham and we took off down to the Willard area. Finally, after waiting for this day to come for a month and not knowing if it would really happen (due to weather) we were off. Meeting up with Clint at the base of the mountain we geared up, clicked on the headlamps, and started up the mountain. The hike up was not too bad we connected with a switch back for the first forty five minutes then it was bushwhacking from there. I have never really hiked in much scrub oak before but for those of you who have not it was definitely an adventure. The branches are very stiff so when you walk into them they nearly push you over. (don't laugh I didn't get beat up by a tree) But we had to hack our way through scrub oak, pine, sand, rock piles, field weeds, and anything else in our way. After about two hours or so we reached the base of where we would start climbing.

I will admit when reaching this point I was extremely nervous. Not really having done much of this style of climbing I didn't know what to expect. But all three of us tied into the same rope with Brigham in lead, Clint in the middle, and me as the caboose. The whole climb is about ten pitches and rated at a 5.7 so we did it in our hiking boots which was very convenient but also very scary because trying to smear a hiking boot doesn't work as well. But we were there and so there was no backing out. Brigham took off and started laying gear for our protection. When he was thirty meters up the climb Clint was on his way. And there I was watching these two take off. I was contemplating just backing down but then I felt a light tug on the rope as Clint had pulled thirty meters away from me and it was my turn to start climbing. It was like climbing with a time bomb. For if I went too slow then I would start to get pulled along by Clint and Brigham but conversely if I went to fast I would have to carry the rope with me so it didn't get caught on rocks or in cracks. But we all settled into pace nicely and up we went.

I was starting to feel very comfortable until we hit the crux. The move is not too hard it is just a slight roof that needs to be pulled but doing it in hiking boots and due to the fact it was right on the edge of the cliff it was a little scary. So we set up to belay and Brigham went up and over. Then Clint made it look easy and it was my turn. Now I could not see anyone at this point so I just yelled "on belay" and believing I heard a "belay on" I took on the roof. Working my way onto the edge of the cliff I found two good hand holds and pulled. Getting my feet over the roof I shifted my weight to move my right hand. Then both my feet slipped. . . I was scrambling thinking of falling over seven hundred feet to the rocky landing. My left hand held on but my feet slipped away. Looking down I saw my feet slide over the edge and when I thought I was going to tumble down the cliff the rope pulled tight and brought me back into the rock. Yes indeed my friends the belay was most certainly on. Taking a minute and regaining my composure I pulled the move and climbing the remaining twenty meters to where Brigham and Clint had set up the belay. Upon reaching this location all Brigham did was smile and say "How was it, I felt the rope get a little tight."

Laughing I sat down at the lunch counter, a large flat-ish section, and pulled out some water and lunch. We took some time, gratefully, and I regained my composure for the last few pitches of the climb. Setting off again we took on the the last part of the climb. This was steeper and more mantles and pull ups over and over again. The climb though all of this was not really on the widest of paths, at some points we were on a two foot wide boulder with cliff drops on both sides. Climbing along we made good time and when I came within the last pitch of the summit Brigham and Clint gave me the go ahead and I took on the last section to the top. Around eleven am we reached the top. The view was amazing and feeling was perfect and the adventure was only half over. We still had to go down.

After a celebration and a picture we headed down. The down climb was not what I expected. We finished the ridge line and headed into a canyon. All that was there were bark sized rocks that were as sharp as arrow heads and the only way to get down was ski. (It felt like winter had come early) These sharp rocks got bigger and bigger until we hit boulders. We joined back up with the trail we took on the way up and hiked out. Getting home around four it was wonderful to jump into the shower and have a nap. What a great day!!

London Spire Pictures

Outstanding Climbers

The human body can do amazing things. If you are needing a boost or just want to watch something absolutely outstanding here is a video for you. It is a video of Alex and Thomas Huber, Stephan Siegrist, and cameraman Max Reichel and how they traveled to our most southern neighbor on this planet, Antartica, to put these first ascents and show how extreme the "will to climb" can take someone. I don't really have any comments on this video for it speaks for itself. Here are two links for the video:

http://www.videoclimb.com/2009/03/26/antartica-expedition-with-the-huber-brothers/#comment-737

http://static.ryzome.info/video/antartica_huber.mov

Additional Information:

http://www.huberbuam.de/

http://www.stephan-siegrist.ch/

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=huber+brothers+antarctica&aq=0p&aqi=g-p2g8&oq=huber&fp=2755c6b3e9b2e9

http://www.suunto.com/suunto/Worlds/outdoor/main/Outdoor_ambassador.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673987190&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302757975&bmUID=1213904126238

Why Skiing and Rock Climbing?

Why Skiing and Rock Climbing? I have wondered how I have ended up on these two out of all the activities and hobbies that are out there in the world. After a lot of thought I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy social individual sports. Both skiing and rock climbing can be in a very social environment though it only depends on how well I perform that determines if I complete the climb or make it down the slope. Being with people is one of the greatest things in life, there is so much to learn from one another for we all have different experiences in life. Specifically with skiing and rock climbing we can all teach one another about technique or tricks that one has learned.

For me personally most of my family skis and now rock climbs. It is great to be able to push ourselves individually but motivate each other as a group. We, my family and I, are all very competitive so we don't like to get "one-uped" by each other thus we just push ourselves harder and harder to be better. I know I have a long way to go until I am "good" but it is so much fun to walk the path of improvement with those around me but at the same time it comes down to myself and if I am going to complete the climb or not.

Lastly, why I love these two sports is when I accomplish a tough climb or ski really well it feels like everyone is excited for me. For example, I was on a really tough climb a few weeks ago and I just kept falling and struggling and looking more or less like a fish out of water. However, when I would connect one or two moves it was as if I had just hit a home run to win the game. Everyone was excited and clapping. And when I returned to solid ground it was as if I was returning from a mission to the moon. There were high-fives and congratulations all around, yes it was a boost to the self confidence and encouragement to keep climbing. So if you ever need really positive reinforcement let me know I have just the people