Saturday, March 12, 2022

 So this hike was supposed to be the Jungle Trail, same as the last hike I posted many months ago. 

 I thought it would be a good birthday outing.  

Unfortunately, the grandkids were not able to make it and that is who the Jungle trail is for,  and to top it off, the Jungle Trail itself was very muddy!  Nevertheless we hiked, right past the turnoff for the muddy Jungle Trail and continued on until we came to some forks in the road.  

Then we turned around and went back the same way we came. 

 So it wasn't what I expected, but still it was nice to get out and about a little.  

And it's always a good time when I am with my kids!

Tuesday, November 18, 2021 Jungle Trail, in Draper

Jungle Trail

trail:  We started at the Carolina Hills Trailhead in Draper.  

hikers:  Dad or Grandpa, Mom or Nana, Marisa, Rees, and the two girls!

length of hike: about a mile and it is a loop.  It is an easy hike and made for kids! I can't wait to bring the other grandkids here.

The trailhead is in a cul de sac but it wasn't busy the day we were there and there was room for parking.  

Ready to hike?

Follow the signs for the Jungle Trail!

Just keep walking!  And watch for bikes.

"If you see a horse say Hay!"

I guess you need to watch for horses too. But we didn't see any.

And watch for poison ivy!  There were lost of warning signs!

Off to the right, across a creek, you can catch a glimpse of the Jungle trail just before you get to the turnoff.

The turnoff to the jungle trail was just before this sign warning that there are downhill bikes on the left, to stay to the right!  If you pass that sign you've gone too far.  

There is good signage.  This is where we turned on to the Jungle Trail.

It's made for kids!

But adults are allowed too.  

Then you follow the signs to go back to the trail that takes you to the Caroline Hills trail head.  

Cross the bridge, turn left, and you're almost back where you started.  

This was a fun little hike!

Monday, October 11, 2021 Aspen Grove trail to the second falls

 For future reference, this was the perfect weekend to drive the Alpine Loop.  These things change from year to year but we hit it just right this time!

hikers:  mark, lecia, seth

trail:  the Aspen Grove side of  Mount Timpanogos up to the 2nd falls.

length:  2.5 miles round trip (1 mile to first falls, another .25 miles to second falls); 770 ft. elevation gain.

We parked in the parking lot  that is just above the toll booth near Aspen Grove.  There is a fee for this canyon, whether you are driving through or stopping to hike.  This time we started on the American Fork Canyon side and drove over the Alpine Loop.  The parking lot near Aspen Grove is for access to the Mt. Timpanogos trail and also the trailhead for Stewart Falls.  The trails start near the restrooms.  

Driving the Alpine Loop.

Gold on the mountains.  It really was a beautiful time of year.

Trailhead at the edge of the parking lot.  

Another good thing about this time of year, at least on a Monday afternoon, 

was that the parking lot wasn't full.  This is a well used trail and can get very busy.

Gold on the trail!

There's a bridge to cross and parts of the trail are paved.  

Look around and you can see signs of avalanches!

We have hiked up this trail quite a few times over the years.  Once, several years ago we saw a moose.  Today we saw something very interesting.  There was this critter on the trail.

Here is a close up of his victim.  From listening to the kids who had just passed this before we got there, it  had just happened!  Right before their eyes!

The one critter, I can't remember what it was called, was hauling off the dead squirrel, even though he was smaller than the squirrel.

We arrived at the first falls and kept going because 2nd falls is not a lot further.

Seth at 2nd falls.