Hap, Hap, Happy Birthday to my Luvva

Happy Birthday Alina,
I tried to post this on the Wild Murdocks Blog but it would not let me so this will have to do.
I just wanted to wish you Happy Birthday and let you know how much I love an appreciate you (in as public a forum as possible). You are the greatest companion and friend I could ever ask for and my life (and many others) are full because of you. Thanks for all you do.

Bikes and Rock Art

Anyone who knows me knows that I have long made fun of mountain bikers/sprocket heads. However, mainly to get in shape for our upcoming British Columbia ski trip, I started biking some of the trails and have actually really started to enjoy it. I will not be purchasing any spandex or Lycra in the near future, and I would much rather be skiing, rafting, hiking or on the back of a horse, but I now know why so many people come here with bikes strapped on top of their vehicles. The best part is that I am usually so worried about dieing or breaking my neck, that I don't even realize how much of a work out it is.


Tyler crossing frozen Kane Creek on the Amasa Back Trail





















River on the Bar M Trail at the very head of Courthouse Wash.





















The Owl Man Panel. The Man in the panel is about five feet tall. All panels have a story behind them, but this is one where you just know there is some significant event being portrayed. You can also see the Birthing Panel from this site and several other significant rock art sites.

Ancient Turns

This is where it all began. Pure Skiing. Climbing mountains and skiing back down. No lifts, no motors, just some sticks strapped on your feet, some snow, and a mountain.

South Mountain Epic

The La Sals have been getting hit by some big storms and the white stuff is piling up. So, we headed down to check the snow pack and stability on South Mountain which you can only ski in good snow years. One of the forecasters, several volunteers, and myself headed to the backside of the La Sals with trucks, chains, snowmobiles and skis. We drove the truck until it got hopelessly stuck, unloaded the snowmobiles and headed towards La Sal Pass until even they got stuck in the incredibly deep snow. We then threw our skis on and headed towards top of the East Ridge of South Mountain. We did not go all the way to the top as the snow was showing some signs of instability and the top of the run was getting steeper. The skiing was incredible over what is normally a huge talus slope but is now buried deep in Utah cold smoke.

Happy New Year!

We are still up Utah County visiting the Grandparents. Christmas was great for the Murdock Family (I am sure Alina will post details when we get back to the homestead in Moab). We got to see lots of family including Toady and Ashli from Belize.

We skied (and yes, snowmobiled, although I won't admit it) up to the Castle Peak Yurt in the Western Uintas for a night and got dumped on with some amazingly dry and light snow, but since a snowmobiler was killed by an avalanche two days before in the same area, we stayed off of anything steep and just toured and explored the area around the yurt. We all had a great time, no details will be provided on topics of discussion at the Yurt. What's said at the Yurt, stays at the Yurt, at least I hope.



Alina skiing out of the Uintas



Alina and myself at the Castle Peak Yurt, I am not sure when the last time was that we actually went on a trip together without kids.

We also got some good skiing in the Wasatch, mostly in the vicinity of Mill D North Fork. Creed, Toad and myself skied a bunch of different shots in very good conditions. Living in Belize did not affect Todds ability to ski as you can see in the photo. You rock Todd! He was a little slower on the uptrack though.

I also took the boys up to Heber Valley to see where Joseph Stacy Murdock is buried and see where their roots are. Prenetta's name is on the left side of the monument, which for you non-Murdocks is the Native American wife (Shoshone or Ute) that our lineage comes from. We also got to see Tom Tabby's (a young Ute Indian) grave, where Joseph buried him with a Christian burial and then Tom's Father slit the throat of the boy's favorite horse and burned them both according to Ute custom. The best of both worlds.