Peaks and Valleys | Thursday, October 15th, 2009 Hello all, it's Steph again. I'm hope you're not tired of me or Utah yet... Pack your bags because we're headed out for the rest of the week! Today we'll visit some of my favorite spots in the mountains and then off to our 'inland sea', the Great Salt Lake. Like I mentioned in my first post, Utah has some great skiing. Check out that fresh powder! We've also got countless sparkling mountain lakes dotting the landscape. I love kayaking at Little Dell (top right). It's only 15 quick minutes from downtown Salt Lake City and it's oh so peaceful and pretty. Big Cottonwood Canyon (second down on the left) has an abundance of hiking, biking, snowshoeing and x-country ski trails, as well as pine trees, willow, and moose. There's even an 18-hole disc golf course! Greens Lake (second down on the right) is on a high plateau in eastern Utah and is a quiet respite from the busy-ness of Flaming Gorge Reservoir in eastern Utah. Whether you ski, bike, hike, fish, canoe, kayak, camp, or just like being outside swaying in a lazy hammock, our mountains are the perfect place. In stark contrast just a stone's throw from the wildflower-filled mountains lies the Great Salt Lake, a seemingly barren wasteland that covers over one million acres. But if you look close, you'll see that the lake and its surrounding flats are full of life, from the tiny red brine shrimp (remember sea monkeys?) that inhabit the salty waters, to the millions of birds that mix and mingle at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, a truly amazing place any time of year (I like January -- bald eagles!). The lake has proven inspirational for many, including Earthworks artist, Robert Smithson, whose Spiral Jetty lies on the north end near Rozel Point. It's a bumpy ride there, but what an awe-inspiring place. In the desert west of the lake and most of civilization, all along Interstate 80, if you keep your eyes open, you'll find all kinds of interesting 'junk' to photograph. It's one of my favorite places to shoot. So there's a small sampling of Northern Utah. Grab some good tunes and some snacks because tomorrow we're goin' on a road trip!

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