youngutah

The backyard is undefeated.

Cache Valley locals — you’re sitting on some of the best summer hiking in the state and most people don’t even know it. Here are 5 hikes you need to hit before summer’s over:

•Wind Caves — 3.6 miles / Moderate. Wind-carved caves tucked into the canyon walls above Logan. The kids will scramble right in and you’ll wonder why you don’t do this every weekend.

•High Creek Trail — 6 miles / Moderate. Aspen groves, wildflower meadows, and a quiet alpine lake waiting at the end. Feels like a secret. Won’t be for long.

•White Pine Lake — 7.4 miles / Moderate-Hard. The payoff is an alpine lake so perfect it looks fake. Start early, bring layers, and don’t forget your camera.

•Naomi Peak — 10 miles / Hard. Highest point in Cache County at 9,980 feet. This one will test you — and remind you exactly what you’re made of when you hit that summit.

•Tony Grove — 2 miles / Easy. Wildflowers, a turquoise lake, and views that make non-hikers want to become hikers. The most beautiful easy hike in northern Utah. Period.

Save this post — your summer bucket list just got an upgrade.

Which one are you hitting first? Drop it below 👇

Where do I turn for peace?

Ever since I was a little kid, the water has always felt like home. Whether it was a lake, a river, or just sitting on a dock watching the ripples move across the surface, there was something about being near the water that quieted the noise around me.

As an adult, I still find myself chasing that same feeling.

These days, you’ll usually find me in a kayak, paddle in hand, drifting across the water before sunrise or as the day comes to a close. No notifications. No deadlines. No distractions. Just the sound of the paddle breaking the surface and the reminder that sometimes peace isn’t something you find—it’s somewhere you return to.

Life gets busy. Work gets demanding. Raising five boys keeps me on my toes. But every time I get out on the water, I’m reminded to slow down and appreciate the moments that matter most.

Where do you go when you need a little peace?

👇 Drop your answer in the comments. I’d love to hear it.

Save this for the next time life feels a little too loud.

Twenty boys. Two days. One unforgettable adventure.

Last week we loaded up our packs and headed into High Creek Canyon in northern Utah for a camping and hiking trip I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

No screens. No permanent schedules. Just miles of trail, campfire conversations, cold mountain air, and the kind of memories that only happen when you’re out in the wild together.

Watching these boys push through tough climbs, spent time talking with God, help each other on the trail, and discover what they’re capable of reminded me why getting outside matters so much. The lessons learned in the mountains often last longer than the ones learned anywhere else.

Utah has some incredible places to explore, and High Creek Canyon is one of those hidden gems that reminds you to slow down and appreciate what really matters.

If you could take your kids on one outdoor adventure this summer, where would you go?

Save this as a reminder to spend more time outside and send it to someone who needs a camping trip.

Before summer ends, how many of these Cache Valley adventures can you check off?

From hiking the Wind Caves and floating the Logan River to grabbing Aggie Ice Cream, Italian Ice at Karie Anne’s, and catching a Blue Sox game, there’s no shortage of adventures waiting right here in our backyard.

The best part? The memories your kids will talk about years from now probably won’t come from expensive vacations—they’ll come from simple summer days spent together.

✅ Save this for your summer adventures
✅ Check off your favorites
✅ Share it with a friend who loves Cache Valley
✅ Comment with the one thing I missed

What’s the ultimate Cache Valley summer experience? 👇



# cachevalleyutah

Before summer ends, how many of these Cache Valley adventures can you check off?

From hiking the Wind Caves and floating the Logan River to grabbing Aggie Ice Cream, Italian Ice at Karie Anne’s, and catching a Blue Sox game, there’s no shortage of adventures waiting right here in our backyard.

The best part? The memories your kids will talk about years from now probably won’t come from expensive vacations—they’ll come from simple summer days spent together.

✅ Save this for your summer adventures
✅ Check off your favorites
✅ Share it with a friend who loves Cache Valley
✅ Comment with the one thing I missed

What’s the ultimate Cache Valley summer experience? 👇

Being a dad to five boys means I think about this a lot.

What kind of men are they going to be? How will they handle hard days, heavy seasons, the moments life doesn’t go the way they planned?

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month — and the numbers are sobering:

→ Men are 3.5x more likely to die by su***de than women
→ 1 in 8 men struggle with depression or anxiety
→ Yet most never seek help

Why? Because we were handed a script that said tough it out. push through. don’t talk about it.

I’m trying to not raise my boys with that script.

We talk about hard stuff at our house. Feelings aren’t weakness — silence is the danger.

If you’re new here — I’m a Utah dad of five boys who loves the outdoors, chasing adventures, and being really honest about what it means to show up as a man and a father today.

This month, check in on the men in your life. Not a “hey how are you” text — a real conversation.

And if you’re the one who’s struggling? You don’t have to be tough right now. Just honest.

Drop a 🤙 below if you’ve got a man in your life worth checking in on. Let’s normalize this.

It’s Monday.

Someone is starting from scratch.
Someone is starting over.
Someone is wondering if all the effort is worth it.

Keep going.

The strongest people I know aren’t the most talented. They’re the ones who kept taking the next step when nobody was watching.

A trail doesn’t become memorable because it’s easy.
A life doesn’t become meaningful because it’s comfortable.

Take one step today.
Then another tomorrow.

That’s how mountains are climbed.
That’s how families are built.
That’s how dreams become reality.

What’s one goal you’re working toward this week?

I wonder how many moments we’ll miss because we’re too busy looking ahead.

I think one of the reasons so many of us are drawn to wild places is because nature doesn’t ask us to be anything other than who we are.

A mountain doesn’t care what title you have.
A trail doesn’t care how much money you make.
A sunrise doesn’t care how many people know your name.

Out there, we’re all just people.

Parents trying to raise good kids.
Friends making memories.
People carrying burdens no one else can see.
People hoping they’re doing better than they think they are.

Maybe that’s why a few hours outside can feel so restorative. It strips away all the noise and reminds us what actually matters.

The people walking beside us.
The time we’ve been given.
The chance to start again tomorrow.

As Sunday comes to a close later today, I hope you find a little gratitude for where you are right now—not because life is perfect, but because this chapter, with all its challenges and beauty, won’t last forever.

One day these days will be the stories we tell.

And that’s worth paying attention to.

There’s something about being on a trail before the rest of the world wakes up that resets everything.

No noise. No notifications. Just you, the mountain, and a pack that doesn’t get in the way of any of it.

Been running the Timpanogos Elevation 22L in Moab colorway and it’s become my go-to. Lightweight enough that I forget it’s there. Built well enough that I trust it. And honestly — it just looks good at sunrise.

What I love most about is that they actually get it. This brand was built around one idea — that getting outside is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. As someone who’s been hitting Utah trails for years that hits different than just another gear company.

Worth every penny.