My brain crashed. I mean that figuratively, of course, the software I use called TheBrain died a week ago on a Thursday evening. I won't belabor the point; however, as the days' drug on waiting to hear back from the customer service department, I was worried that, figuratively speaking, would turn into actuality.

I've used TheBrain for 15 years as my primary note-taking and everything else you can think of tool. It holds journal entries, trip reports, pictures covering that space of time, and other items. I've had the problem before, so I wasn't too worried about getting the issue resolved; what was worrisome was the lack of service for something that had a specific resolution. If I could remember the solution to my previous problems, I'd be fine; however, I had attempted every known avenue I could remember. Fed up, I decided to experiment with a new program I have heard excellent things about called Obsidian.

I won't bore you with the details; however, with TheBrain back up and running, I'm using my time to migrate the 30,000 notes from TheBrain to the new software. Now a few days later, I need to get out of the house.

Monsoon season has ended, and although we'll still get the occasional storm now and again, the rain is gone. Things are drying up, and the days are turning hot. I have a specific plan today as I pack my Fj and head toward Enterprise, UT.

On my last pass along the Veyo-Shoal Creek Road, I had attempted to summit UNP6442 only to discover a few dozen feet from my jeep that the knee I replaced this spring had met its limit for that day. Today, I will drive to the exact location and first tackle UNP6507, which sits directly west of the road. The high saddle provides a junction with a trail leading east and west, a livestock pen, and rounded grassy terrain if camping was part of the travel package.

I drive west along fire road number 866. Reaching another saddle, I park the Fj and decide to walk from here. The summit of 6507 is an elongated peak, and the rock outcropping I can see from the road is a false summit. The going is easy; however, as I skirt the hillside, following the road toward the top along the southern face. A short scramble and I am standing on the summit. It was a quick hike, so I didn't rest for too long, taking pictures and checking for any registration log near the small summit cairn.

Not finding a log, I hike back along the elongated portion of the summit, deciding to drop off the northern face following cattle paths through the low brush. It's lunchtime when I arrive back at my jeep, and I choose to eat a snack while sitting on a nearby stump. The rains have filled the surrounding hillsides with color. Not only green grasses but flowers in red, white, and yellow are common. It is a beautiful sight.

I drive back along the fire road, crossing Veyo-Shoal Creek Road, picking up road 864 toward 6442. I mentioned I had traveled down this road before parking just beyond the slight ridgeline rise around the bend. I plan to travel a little farther this time; however, I don't make it far as the terrain becomes extremely rugged and narrow. Parking the Fj again, I hike along the road before cutting across the subsequent rise toward the wide saddle at the base of peak 6442.

“View of junction and the rounded summit of UNP6442”

Fire roads split just above the saddle, 865 heading north and 869 continuing east before turning south. I consult my TOPO and turn right at the fork. Rising gently, 869 appears to lead to a ridgeline up the mountain's eastern side, and I hike until the road starts to descend. Then, cutting across the hillside, I cut back against the grain, heading west. Following cow paths, I soon reach the summit of UNP6442.

“Summit cairn of UNP6442 with UNP6507 in background”

A substantial cairn resides at the summit; however, I could not find a registration jar in this location either. I always find it fun to scan the names and home locations of those hiking these remote peaks. No such luck today on either mountain top. Leaving the summit, I decided to walk west and follow a gentle ridgeline a few hundred feet before discovering another cairn marking an old mine.

Several rock specimens contain a deep blue which I would later learn from my rockhounding wife is the result of copper. I pick up a few of the rocks and load them into my pack; it's a little bit of a hike back to the jeep, so I don't overload the weight, Linda and I can return if she likes what she sees in the samples.

Veyo pies only had two customers when I entered and eight inside, with a few more outside when I exited. Nevertheless, the small Veyo, UT pie store is one of the reasons I like to travel along the Veyo-Shoal Creek Road, picking up a banana cream and peach-blueberry pie for the upcoming long weekend.

Written September 3, 2022