An Elevated View

Although a generous intake of sugar helps to color my world beautiful, it occurs to me from time to time that even an I.V. of my carbohydrate-laden friend may not be enough to escape the harsh blues that emanate from monotonous daily living. Sometimes, we have to think outside the cookie and embrace a change of pace or an elevated view to give clarity to our muted vision. Living in Utah provides ample opportunity for a person to explore new environments and if the view at 4500 feet doesn't suit you, there is always higher terrain to ascend. It must be no surprise that Utah's state motto is "Life Elevated". I am not sure if this is because Utahns are known for daring outdoor adventure among our mountainous peaks or because we are so high on caffeinated products that we cannot tell the difference. Perhaps you should visit us and decide for yourselves...


Destination: Mount Nebo
View from our front yard.

Several members of the Amonett clan gathered in northern Utah this past weekend to celebrate the birth of Thaus' elder sister Kesit and her husband David's first child, Riley Elizabeth Evans. Riley joined our family in August, and this is the first opportunity we have had to become acquainted with her. As a family, we introduced seven-week old Riley to the fall foliage and rugged landscape of Mount Nebo on Saturday, October 16.


On the road to adventure!



As is the case with preparing large families for travel, our plan to leave at 4 p.m. turned into 5:30 p.m. by the time we entered the base of Nebo canyon. The sun was already setting in the west, and the glow from the late afternoon rays sparkled among the red and gold hues enveloping the lower elevations. We did not stop for photos until we reached a mountain river bed so the kids could climb on the rocks and explore the nearby trails.


Thaus' youngest sister Apria


Guess who is avoiding the camera lens at all costs?


Xavier inset with his grandma Karen


I was hoping the breadth of the tree would hide the growing girth of me.

As you can see, the sun was not in our favor as it was on the opposite side of the mountain. Consequently, the chill in the air convinced us to pack up quickly and chase what was left of the fading light.


As we returned to our ascent, the natives emerged for feeding time.

We reached a base of just over 8000 feet and allowed the kids to explore again. At this point on the mountain all the vibrant hues had dissipated into the rich greens of pine and the barren limbs of birch. In the fading blue of the sky, the moon was making its presence known.



It was a beautiful sight to behold, yet I was disappointed that I was unable to capture the true beauty of the upper atmosphere. The waning light did not permit me any fabulous shots neither for memory nor posterity, so I will have to wait until our next annual sojourn to try it all again.



We had planned on climbing a little higher to a lookout point around 9000 feet, but young Riley decided she had her fill of Nebo adventure. She stayed in the car while the rest of the kids chased each other through the woods and around the cars.




After we wrangled the kids into the vehicles, we turned around and headed for home. Everyone say, "Adios, Nebo! It's time for dinner!"