About a week ago, I strapped on the hiking boots and headed for the Oquirrh Mountains, near Ophir, Utah.   DSCF1988    I hiked up the ATV trail that leads to Lion Hill, and to say that it was steep would be an understatement.  There were areas where I could only walk about 50 steps before I had to stop and catch my breath.  The aspens were spectacular both ahead DSCF2008 and behind  DSCF2011 me on the trail.  Prospectors in the late 1800s were looking for silver, yet I sometimes wonder if they also enjoyed the gold  DSCF2021_B of the aspens each fall.  As it was, the silver mining was most likely a risky business  DSCF2024 as they would dig deep into the mountain in search of elusive riches.  After two and a half miles and a little over 1,800 vertical feet, I reached the plateau near the top of Lion Hill, and in the distance storm clouds were building  DSCF2035_B . 

On my way back down to the truck, I took one final shot looking back up the canyon toward where I had been  DSCF2082 .