Limekiln Gulch

 

Limekiln Gulch is a short but neat hike that takes you to, well, what the gulch was named after, an old Limekiln. At a .15th of a mile it is a quick excursion.

Still experiencing our bizarre winterspring it was a beautiful sunny day, unfortunately accompanied by winter like freezing wind. I had hoped being in a canyon would help with that.

After winding around and up through the neighborhoods we found the small trail situated between houses.

Before long you find yourself in a nice scrub oak filled canyon.

And then rather abruptly you see the old building. I was kind of surprised it was not further back.

Just have to climb this quick steep white (I’m guessing lime covered) slope before you can really check it out.

And here it is in all it’s old glory! 1 of 3 limekilns built in the 1850’s. Wow it’s is in amazing shape for being such an old building.

Oh. According to the sign there has been some restoration, and the gates and fencing added to help prevent further vandalism. So they have had to do significant repair and restoration, and then add fencing because stupid humans can’t respect history.

Anyway, this is pretty significant as not very many limekilns remain standing today. This was the largest and only remaining of 3 kilns in the area. They would mine lime nearby and burn it here to purify it and then the remain product was used in masonry and quite a few other things. It is really rather interesting.

A look inside, through the grate. I was curious why they wouldn’t bother removing some of the old trash some thoughtless people had left behind before fencing it off, but as you will see in a moment, I bet they did, but people found a way around it.

A look inside another opening.

Different angle.

I climbed up the hill to see the remains of the chimneys. the sign mentions they did not restore them as any attempt would not have done justice to them.

So this is where I believe the trashy people are getting in, and see they have damaged the grate just to dump garbage in them. THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS!!!!

Ahem. Moving on.

I glanced up the hill and noticed this old looking cross. Huh, well since this is a historically significant area I wonder what it is.

Oh. 2008, not old at all. I wonder who this Ty person was, and why this marker ended up here.

there is a good view above the kilns here though.

And a great view of downtown!

So the kilns were really neat, but it wasn’t much of a hike, so we decided to see what else this canyon might have to offer.

Pretty little gulch.

However the trail doesn’t seem to take what appears to be the easiest route up.

I just liked the clouds here.

Getting up, quite quickly. You can just make out the kilns just below the view of the valley below.

Okay, the trail was a bit tough and now the winds were blowing us about and it was getting chilly. aside from the chilly weather is was not particularly pretty so we weren’t having a very good time so we headed back.

View down before heading back.We probably went another .15 to a quarter of a mile. It didn’t look like it went much further before connecting to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

View down.

View of the hilltops above.

Returning to the kiln looks a little creepy with the trees.

Another angle of the kiln.

I really just love this old building!

Scrambling down the lime covered slope.

Miserable wind or not, the clouds are fun today.

Near the trailhead where the trail veers off around this homeowners driveway.

You know, vandalism or not, I am glad that the trail remains open and public. this is unique history and people should be allowed to explore it. I am happy this trail exists. We should all get to explore and learn about history and it shouldn’t always have to be in a fee area or a museum or state park. yes, open like this leaves it vulnerable to trashy people as we learned today, but I wonder if we can find some balance somehow. I think posting the historical significance is a start, but I’m not sure what else we could do without making it a fenced off fee area. Interesting subject to explore more.

if you do visit, please do your part in preserving our history. Leave only footprints, take only pictures.

Aside from the winds today I really enjoyed this trail, and I really liked exploring and learning about the old limekiln. Not a lot of people today so I am going to say it was a great adventure. Removing 1 squirrel due to the maze like neighborhoods we had to navigate and the nearby civilization.

As for difficulty, it wasn’t bad at to the kilns just that quick… 20 ft steep climb which if you really want you can avoid by following the trail around the hill and back tracking a bit. Going with a DR3.

Dogs are allowed! Please remember to clean up after your furry friend.

Mount Olivet Cemetery

 Mount Olivet is a cemetery is Salt Lake City, Utah. It was established in 1874 by an act of the U.S. Congress. The first use of the cemetery was in 1877. It was originally 20 acres was part of Camp Douglas. It has since expanded is is currently approximately 80 acres.

One of the fun thing about this cemetery is that is has a herd of resident deer that like to hang out here. Plus a lot of older headstones and mausoleums. We really didn’t have anything in particular we were looking for today, other than the cemetery deer. So, we just kind of wandered aimlessly.

Our first quick trip and we found the deer hanging out.

It really is kind of neat to see, but also a little weird.

A bunch of them up on the hill.

We didn’t have a lot of time today, so we decided we would come back soon.

Our second trip just 2 weeks later was also a success with the deer herd.

Had to wait for deer crossing.

Being extra cautious in case more decide to cross.

There some more go.

Hello cuteys!

They don’t appear to be as skittish as most deer.

Did you know deer squat to go potty? I only learned that not to long ago on a trip down to Bryce Canyon where I noticed it for the first time, and well here for the 2nd time.

Neat old grave markers.

Neat mausoleums.

Closer.

This is a cool one.

The cemetery.

Found a masonic square and compass.

More grave markers.

Old grave marker. I can’t quite make out the date.

Another old one. I think I can make out 1908.

Another old one.

More grave markers and a couple of Canada geese.

Another old one.

1903 and 1907. These ones help up pretty well, or may have been restored.

1904.

The geese again.

More grave markers.

Emma Willard Lay “My Emmie” Adored wife and mother. August 1904.

Now that sounds like a husband that truly loved his wife. I particularly like the angel as well.

Little closer.

More grave markers.

Cute cherub.

This is my favorite grave marker of the day.

No offence intended, but this made me think of a favorite except of a book I recently read:

“One grave in every graveyard belongs to the ghouls. Wander any graveyard long enough and you will find it - water-stained and bulging, with cracked or broken stone, scraggly grass or rank weeds about it, and a feeling, when you reach it, of abandonment. It may be colder than the other gravestones, too, and the name on the stone is all too often impossible to read. If there is a statue on the grave, it will be headless or so scabbed with fungus and lichens as to look like a fungus itself. If one grave in the graveyard looks like a target for petty vandals, that is the ghoul-gate. If the grave makes you want to be somewhere else, that is the ghoul-gate.
There was one in Bod's graveyard.
There is one in every graveyard.”

- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Again.

D.F. Connelly. Born in Newark, Ohio Jan. 8, 1838; Died July 10, 1884.

I think that this might be the oldest one we found today.

From the side.

Another tall marker.

I like the appearance of a shroud.

A big marker.

A Celtic looking cross.

More deer.

A particularly gothic looking mausoleum.

You know, for how old and kind of spooky looking this particular cemetery is, I am kind of surprised that I do not know of any ghost stories or even urban legends here. Quite unlike the not too far from here Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Notable burials:

Ina Clair: Actress.
Charles Eberhard Salomon: Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General.
Frederick Salomon: Civil War Union Brigadier General.
John Smith: Actor.
John Witcher: Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General

Plus several governors, and other politicians.

Well, I really enjoyed our random cemetery visit today. This is a neat old cemetery with a lot of neat grave markers and mausoleums. Plus the resident herd of deer is kind of fun.