Jordan River Utah Temple

In South Jordan, Utah, is a notable building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), whose members are also known as Mormons. It is called the Jordan River Temple. It derives its name from The Jordan River which is not too far away. The Jordan River Temple resides in the middle of the Salt Lake Valley. It can be seen from most parts of the valley.

The Jordan River Temple is one of the busiest LDS temples in the world! It is so busy that South Jordan became the first city in the world to have two LDS temples, the other being the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

The Jordan River Temple is a beautiful building and a symbol of a world faith.

South Jordan Utah Temple - 3 photo panorama

South Jordan Utah Temple - 16 photo panorama

Great Salt Lake - 2013

The Great Salt Lake Sunset - 16 photo panorama

Every year I try to go swimming in the Great Salt Lake. I will invite everyone I know to come and enjoy a good float/swim. It is a unique experience. The lake is shallow considering its size. It gets to about 25 feet at its deepest point.

Locals generally do not go to the Great Salt Lake for recreation. The reasons for this vary. The Great Salt Lake has a high salt content which causes you to float though it also stings when you get it in your eye or any open wound, including shaving nicks. So pain is the first downside. 

The second thing people over exaggerate is the smell. Some people will say that the lake stinks which is only partly true. The smell they speak of is from dead brine shrimp that gather along the shore. Dead things stink. It is not bad everywhere and you get away from the smell by going out in the water. When you get out in the water you mainly find that salty smell that is associated with the ocean and the beach. 

The the rest of the reasons are not mentioned very often but they include... There are no good waves for surfing because it is an inland sea, you cannot take a motor boat out because of the shallowness of the lake (though you can take sail boats out), their friends don't go, they don't like flies (there tend to be many tiny gnat-like flies along the shore), It is not something they hear about as a diverting place to go.

Now let me tell you the reasons to go...

The Great Salt Lake Sunset- 15 photo panorama

1)  Hardly anyone goes to the lake

The only people that go to the lake are people from out of state, foreigners, and people who want to go. You will also find photographers who want an awesome shot for landscapes or portraits. 

2)  The lake is a great place to learn how to swim

Everyone floats... unless they are wearing a steel/cement straitjacket. because you float you can concentrate on the swimming part and not be paranoid about sinking. The lake is shallow so you also want to go somewhere where it is deep enough to swim. I suggest the Great Salt Lake Marina because it has an area where the lake gets deep enough to swim with out trekking out a ways. There is also a place to change, restrooms, a pavilion to have a picnic, and a place to wash off the salt water and sand when you are done. Just keep the salt water out of your eyes and don't drink it.

3)  No sharks

The only animal living in the lake is the brine shrimp. It is a tiny animal about a half inch long or less. Brine shrimp are harvested to serve as pet food. Other than that you don't have to think.... "Am I going to get attacked by a shark? Will I get stung by a jellyfish?" You might have to think.... "Will a seagull eat my sandwich that I left out on the beach?" 

4)  A unique experience

There are few places where you can be in water and do absolutely nothing to stay afloat. When you are upright your shoulders are still above the water. No kicking. No need to hold onto anything. The feeling is a little strange but it is enjoyable as well.

The Great Salt Lake Beach 

The Great Salt Lake Beach 

Rock on beach - Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake Sunset - 4 photo panorama

The Great Salt Lake Sunset - 5 photo panorama

The Great Salt Lake Sunset

The Great Salt Lake Sunset - 19 photo panorama

Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are so small and fast. In order to get good photo opportunities of them, you have to be in a place they will come to and wait patiently. And wait for it... and wait for the right shot. It could take a while and multiple shots before you "the one".

It turns out that, while camping, there was a hummingbird nest inside our camp. I did not have to go far to get some shots of the mother and her eggs. I believe the type of hummingbird is Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte Anna)

The following are photos taken over two days of patiently waiting and listening for the sound of this tiny bomber and her chirps.

Swallowtail Butterfly

How many times have you seen a butterfly and wanted it to land on your finger? It would be cool, and I have thought of it from time to time. Butterflies are marvelous creatures that are beautiful and delicate. 

During a recent family camping trip I found a Swallowtail butterfly that had been hit by a truck. It was in the middle of the road. I went and picked it up and found that it was unable to fly and that its tail wing had been trashed. I took some photos because I had a subject that was not going to "flutterby"before I got a chance to pull my camera out. 

The butterfly did not seem scared and it would crawl all over you, including your face, if you gave it the chance. I did give it that chance and so did my wife. We both learned that a butterfly crawling on your face tickles.

We did let the grounded "flutterby" go in a bunch of wild flowers. 

Horseshoe Canyon, Idaho - Near the Town of Sam

8 photo Panorama. Mt Manning and Horseshoe Creek area seen from Horseshoe Canyon

Not many people know about the town of Sam, Idaho. It was a coal mining town back in the day up Horseshoe Canyon. The canyon is west of Driggs, Idaho. 

When you drive up the canyon you should be able to tell that the road has a smooth constant incline for the most part. This is because the road used to be the railroad track. The train would go up the canyon to load up on coal. Where the line ended there was once a bridge across part of the canyon, so the train could turn around to go back down the canyon.

Around the town of Sam there were many mines. I know this because my wife's grandfather grew up in the canyon and he showed me where many of the mines used to be. He also told me about the railroad track turned into road and many other little treasures. It was in this area that he raised a porcupine as a pet from when it was a baby. It is also the area where his brother sat on a different porcupine one night in the outhouse. There are many stories I have heard and countless others that happened. It is amazing how some of the places in the area got their names.

Horseshoe Canyon is a lovely beautiful place. You get a great view of the Tetons and enjoy the beauty of the area. I highly suggest seeing the area but just know the road is narrow.

24 photo Panorama. Mt Manning and Horseshoe Creek area seen from Horseshoe Canyon

looking west from Horseshoe Canyon at sunset.

 photo Panorama. Mt Manning and Horseshoe Creek area seen from Horseshoe Canyon at sunset.

The Teton Mountains seen from Horseshoe Canyon at dusk

The Teton Mountains seen from Horseshoe Canyon at dusk.

 photo Panorama. Mt Manning and Horseshoe Creek area seen from Horseshoe Canyon at dusk.

Colorful campfire flames.

Quaky (Quaking) Aspen at night.

Hummingbird carving in dead tree.

Salt Lake Valley Panorama

This is a 32 photo panorama of the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. It is taken from the bench of the mountain  east of Red Butte Gardens. It was quite the view and It was no a long hike to get to this point. Lovely.

Salt Lake City and Salt Lake Valley from Wasatch Front looking West. Taken near Red Butte Gardens. In the distance the Great Salt Lake Can be see as well as the Oquirrh Mountains. This panorama is a composite of 32 photos.

I was up taking a little hike after a day at work and The view was quite nice. The clouds were beautiful and you could not ask for better weather. The only down side is that I found the only little cactus on the mountain while I was trying to get into position to get this shot. I found it in my leg and shoe. Cactus in not fun to take our of your flesh. But the good news is I was able to take this panorama!

So when you go out hiking remember to be prepared with water, good shoes, bug spray, etc... and pants unless you have the guts to pull barbs out of your flesh when they do not want to come out.

Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

13 months ago I took some photos of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in Daybreak, South Jordan, Utah. Here is a ten photo panorama from that occasion. It really is a lovely temple. It encouraging to see a bit of light standing out among darkness. There are the lights of the city be you better see that those lights are dim when you see a temple all lit up. I'm sure a host of analogies could be made. It must be admitted that the buildings are beautiful. They truly are.