Hill Air Force Base Warriors Over Wasatch

If you like air planes and speed, you will love the Hill Air Force Base Warriors Over Wasatch air show.  The show is usually every other year, over Memorial weekend.  Attending the show is one of the coolest visual adventures our family has done.  You can park on base and take a shuttle to the entrance.  There many different air planes displayed near the runway.   We had considered watching the air show in a near by neighborhood, but decided to go face the crowds and go on base. There are many reasons to attend the show at Hill.  The show is situated just for the people on base, with fly buys, aerials and dog fights all choreographed to music.  On base you will feel the pride and honor for the many service people that protect our freedom.   If you dare to go on base, you will not be disappointed. 

• You don't have to be early to the start of the show, you can attend anytime.  The different air performances are linked closely together, and are through out the day. 
• Follow your GPS for parking on base.  Some signs were false, and wanted to get you to park and pay.  Exit the freeway on Hill Field Rd, that will access the base entrance directly.
  The base offers FREE parking and shuttle to the entrance of the show.  UTA has an off base parking lot, and it costs $3 per person to ride the shuttle bus.
• Expect that parking will be crazy. 
• Don't rush to get on a bus, there are many buses and they come and go often.
• Take a lunch (not in a cooler) and eat while watching the show.
• We were allowed a back pack, even though  it was one of the "restricted items."
• Take ear plus, it can get extremely loud!
• Don't forget sun screen. 
• Take cash for treats, or bring your own.
• The blue angels flew about 30 minutes.  If you watch the show 15 minutes and then leave you will miss the majority of the crowd at the end. 
• If you parked on base, and leave at the end of the show plan on about 45 minutes to get out of the gates. 
• The last three years Hill Base has not had a show because of budget cuts. 

Hope you enjoy the show!

Teaching Kids the Fun of Rappelling

WARNING: Do not attempt any rock climbing or rappelling with out a rappelling and climbing safety class!  You need to know your gear to keep you safe!

What kid doesn't love rocks? All kids love rocks, and kids love adventure.  Nothing goes better together than rocks and kids! (Except dirt and mud maybe!)  Kids thrive when there is structure, activity and fun.  Rappelling is the perfect thing to do to get kids outdoors!  Teaching kids to Rappel off a cliff or rock face can be a challenge!  Don't start the learning process on the mountain top.  It can really scare and frighten little adventure, so start someplace safer.  

Beginner Kids Rappelling

• Start your adventure at a local park, or someplace that has a big hill that has a really good slope to it.  
• Get in your gear, harness and all. 
• Attach your rope to a tree or a stable starting point.
• Show the kids how to back off the hill.  Show them how a person on the lower rope can STOP you from coming down the hill. 

• 

  10 year old

  Clip them in and let them feel how the rope feels, how it holds their weight. 
• 
  Teach them to keep their right hand behind their bottom to control their speed.  Show them how you have to pull it tight to slow them down.  Hold the rope loosely to let the rope go through.
•  Have them hold the rope tight, and see how far they can lean back towards the ground.
• Have someone hold the bottom part of the rope and show them how the person below can stop them from decending.
• Practice until they are completely comfortable with rappelling(going) and stopping the rope.

Medium Kids Rappel:

• Find a rock face that is short, and is 60-50% of vertical. Something you could almost walk down.
• Tie off your ropes securely at the top.
• Have the kids

7 year old

St George Mountain Biking Dino Cliffs/ Grapevine

Church Rocks is just North of St. George Utah.  It is an intermediate kids trail.  Although this trail could be rated a much more difficult trail, There are several reasons why it is a great trail for kids with some experience.   While riding on the trail it is very easy to see difficulty sections approaching and it is very easy to get off and walk.  Kids do not have any element of surprise along this trail, you can see it all.   Anything my kids (7 Yrs & 10 Yrs) didn't think they could ride, they got off their bikes and walked.   Both our kids love this trail.  It is full of huge lizards, great views, and slick rock. The trails is a 1.8 mile loop. 

Tips and Tricks

• Take a treat to eat on the slick rock.
• The trail is crazy in the first section, take your time.
• Have the kids walk if they need to, don't make them ride any part of the trail.
• If you don't want to bike it, you can hike it.
• Take plenty of water.
• This trail is warm in April, I wouldn't do it with kids in the summer months.
• Stop and play on the slick rock hill 1/2 through. 
• Make a plan to go to lunch or dinner after your ride.  Someplace the kids love

 Exit on the Washington Parkway, and you will come to a round about with a Mavrick on the south side. 

 Take the third exit on the round about, the one that heads North, and looks like a dead end.  You are at the trail head.

 Just west of that parking area is the trail head.  Hikers and bikers use this trail all year round.

 You pass under TWO tunnels that go under I-15

 The trail goes under the freeway, is almost always covered in water, and a green slime that is very slippery!  Be very careful riding over this green stuff!!!

The trail then heads up a nice pavement incline, and through some steep switch back.  This is the biggest incline of the whole trail.

 You will come to several "Step Over" gate, and a map of the trail.

 Make sure you take a look at the map so you know specifically where you are going.

 The trail heads up a nice dirt road. The views from here are amazing! 

 There are several slick rock areas along the trail.  We love to get up on this one and bike around while our kids catch lizards.

 The wind is always blowing on top of this slick rock bluff, I decided to bring a kite! I had fun flying it, but the kids were more interested in stuffing rocks in their pockets and chasing lizards.  More time for me!

You can either fly a kite, or test your biking skills on the steep slick rock. 

 The next part of the trail is a quick steep up hill, and then a steep down hill. At the bottom you hit sand.

 The trail spits into a "Y" where you go right and stay in the sand and go back under the bridge and back to the cars. OR you can go left and there is more slick rock and the start of Church Rocks Trail.  You actually are at the end of the Chruch Rocks out and back trail.

 Most of Church Rocks is fun and technical slick rock.

When you get to the bottom of the canyon there is a tunnel that goes under the freeway.

The tunnel is so fun, and the highlight of the trip!!! It is dark, and can be scary.  Just go slow and take your time.  Keep your eyes focused on the light at the end.

Once you get through, make your way south on the dirt road back to your car!

Enjoy!!!