Solitude Lake

Hike: Solitude Lake
Location: Big Cottonwood Canyon

My love for Big Cottonwood Canyon grows every week. We had such a blast hiking part way around Silver Lake, then up to Solitude Lake. We figured out today that Twin Lakes comes off the same fork off Silver Lake, it's shorter, and just a little more steep. I think that and Willow Heights might be our next two hikes. But let's not get away from today. Lisa again packed a great lunch and snacks. We left lunch in the car as the hike wasn't too long and the snacks were perfect. It was supposed to hit 100 degrees in the valley, but under the shade of the trees on the hike, it was perfect! Since the hike is 1.4 miles each way, we were a little concerned about Mountain Goat (aka Sydney), but she did awesome. Here are the pictures.

Not her best shot, but you have to enjoy the "Addicted to Love" t-shirt.

Passing Silver Lake on the way up and down.

The far side of Solitude Lake.

Also on the far side. Couldn't decide which picture I liked better.

The boys enjoying the hike.

The beautiful scenery on the hike.

I found Sydney a walking stick. She was so cute with it.

Chubs (Tanner) and Nana (Natalie) enjoying snack time at the lake.

Sydney looking over the lake.

My life.

Visitors #1.

Visitor #2.

Dog Lake

Hike: Dog Lake
Location: Big Cottonwood Canyon
Company: none

About 2pm on Monday, Lisa informs me that our friends forgot about getting together last night and made other plans, and wondered if I wanted to go hiking. I think she knew the answer before asking. We have had a few hikes that we've wanted to do, and Sydney was thrilled that you could have twin lakes, so we went up to Brighton. However, we decided on the Dog Lake trail, as we couldn't find good directions to twin lakes. When we made it up to Dog Lake, the sun was starting to go down and we decided it best not to go the extra .3 miles to Lake Mary or the .5 after that to Lake Catherine. We unpacked dinner (Lisa made yummy pasta salad), and tried to kill all the mosquitoes around, but they were horrible. We had put on bug spray but it didn't have DEET and it was obviously not enough to keep them away. Lisa is always so prepared, it's the first time something has gone wrong. She's so amazing. Natalie and Tanner thought putting bananas in the dirt for extra protein was the best way to eat them. It was a good idea to head back after dinner as Sydney was pretty tired, after running around all day before hiking. I carried her down the last half mile, which balanced out Tanner moving around in the backpack. Here are the pictures:

The women-folk

Waterfall / river on the way up

A great shot of Brighton

The infamous Dog Lake



Proof we did have mosquito repellant

Mom...don't take pictures of me....mom...take pictures of me.

Our own Frisco Flyer (for all you Monk fans), though not in a green jumpsuit and goggles

Cecret Lake (yes...with a 'C')

Hike: Cecret Lake
Location: Little Cottonwood Canyon
Company: none

What a great day. I'm always looking forward to Saturday for the time we spend as a family hiking. A few years ago Lisa and I went up to Cecret Lake with Lisa's friends Steph and Neil. We remembered it being a lot of fun and decided we could make a mile and a half round trip. It was great to see Sydney (aka "Mountain Goat") have a ton of energy and easily make the hike. Almost to the lake, she said "I'm running out of air!", and we took a break. But otherwise, she was just awesome. Lisa made and packed us lunch, which we ate up next to the lake. It's kinda sad Sydney gets sick of us taking so many pictures, but almost always wants a personal photo shoot near the end of the trip. They're some of my favorites though. As with last trip, Tanner fell asleep in the backpack on the hike back. Here are some of my favorite pictures:

Dogwood Lake and Donut Falls

Hike: Dogwood Lake and Donut Falls
Location: Big Cottonwood Canyon
Company: none

On Sunday after church and dinner, we packed everyone up for another hike up the canyon. I can't get enough lately as there's nothing like fresh air, a little exercise, and enjoying God's creations. We were driving up towards Donut Falls and decided to try out the hike just before the Donut Falls turn off. We're pretty sure it was going up to Dogwood Lake. It was really pretty, but got pretty steep after about twenty minutes in. It had rained somewhat recently, and we were concerned Sydney wouldn't make it down if it started to rain. We turned around, then went a quarter of the way up Donut Falls and turned around as a potty break was needed. I love backpacking the kids up the canyon. Tanner fell asleep on the way back down, and Natalie does great as long as we keep moving. If we stop to look at the scenery, Natalie keeps us in check. We're looking to do Cecret Lake (yes...it's spelled with a "C") this weekend and Some Albion Bason (Brighton) hikes the following week. We've looked up some more local hikes and are excited to see what Sydney can do. She never tires...Lisa calls her our mountain goat.

Star Lake

Hike: Star Lake
Location: Uintahs
Company: Lisa's dad

We were up with Lisa's family at Trial Lake in the Uintahs on Friday. The sun came out during the afternoon which we were all very happy about because it often rains all day up there. So we took off for a little hike up to Star Lake. The trail is very difficult to find so you just sort of go and hope you're heading in the right direction until you find some trail markers. Sydney got very good at pointing out every pile of rocks for us.

Sydney did a little "fishing" once we got there.

Natalie found a rock that she thought was pretty cool.
Doesn't she look kind of like a little monk in her sweatshirt?

Tanner and Grandpa are just enjoying the scenery.