By Kathryn Pruett
While most people who climb Mount Nebo in the winter hike both up and down the slope, Kimo Coray takes a slightly different approach - one that involves slick plastic sheets and lots of faith.
Coray, a storeowner and resident of Mona, Juab County, has been hiking Mount Nebo with his wife for six years.
It was not until his second year of winter hiking that he thought of sliding down the mountain instead of hiking down.
'We usually just went down the mountain kind of sliding on our bums. It''s quicker than walking,' Coray said.
A disadvantage Coray found with this method was the damage done to his ski pants.
On one hike with his sons, Coray tried sliding down the mountain on a plastic sheet rather than his ski pants.
'The best place to slide down is a place where you can have control,' Coray said.
Marie Coray, Kimo''s wife, described 'having control as any place where you were not in danger of rolling or hitting a tree.'
Kimo Coray said after the first try, he improved the experience by getting better plastic.
'Now when we hike it we have larger plastic sheets that we can sit and hold on to,' Kimo Coray said.
Depending on who is with him, Kimo Coray said the hike to the top could last eight hours. Coming back down only takes four.
Kimo and Marie Coray first started hiking Mount Nebo with a guided hiking group sponsored by Outdoors Unlimited.
The store has offered two winter tours for those interested in hiking Mount Nebo since the store''s opening 18 years ago, said Gardner Kearsley, coordinator of recreation services.
Staff members must first be assistant guides before they are allowed to lead a hike, Kearsley said.
While Kimo Coray felt he had the knowledge to hike the mountain without the help of the guides, he said he has never hiked Mount Nebo alone.
'This is a hike you don''t want to do by yourself,' Kimo Coray said.
Kimo Coray said he likes to hike the mountain because everyone wins in the end.
'There is no first or second,' Kimo Coray said. 'If you make it to the top, you win.'
Marie Coray said she thought it was worth the time to hike to the top knowing that she could slide back down.
'You are so tired when you make it to the top and it just really makes it worth it sliding back down,' Marie Coray said.
While Kimo also said he has never experienced any major injuries, but he has suffered a few minor ones.
'Of course we have had minor injuries to our bums,' Kimo said.