September 13, 2019

THE NARROWS

hikers: Mark, Lecia, Jacob

This was the first hike that Jacob has really wanted to do in a long time.  It was Seth that got him excited about it and unfortunately Seth was not able to come.  But we were still excited to do the Narrows so this was our main adventure at Zion National Park.  We started out on the Riverside Walk, which starts at the temple of Sinawava. At the end of the walk, about a mile, is where the Narrows start.

Here we are at the beginning of the Narrows.

The weather was perfect for hiking with no sign of flash floods.  We didn't start very early, which is a good idea because it is cool with those high canyon walls and it would really be cold in the morning.  As you can see there are a lot of other hikers.  The further you go, the fewer hikers there are.  

A lot of people had rented shoes, with ankle support, and hiking poles.  These are the shoes I wore and they worked great.  Jacob had some water shoes, the only shoes he had brought with him.  Unfortunately he forgot to bring his shoes! Mark brought hiking poles for us, although any sturdy stick would do.  But you definitely want some kind of hiking stick or pole.  Bring a light jacket too because it is chilly in the shade and there is a lot of shade.

This is where the path forks and you can go right, up Orderville Canyon, or left, further up the main canyon of the narrows.  When we came with our family several years ago we went up Orderville Canyon.  This time we went further up the narrows.   Look how clear that water is!  It is freezing cold.  We were used to it after this far though and didn't even feel the cold.  

I know Mark looks super prepared with that backpack.  He is.  That's the way he hikes.

Looking back 10 years ago:

I just have to include this picture of us hiking the narrows 10 years ago!  

As you can see Seth was not with us then since he was in Portugal.  

He has missed it twice and we will have to do it again when he can come. 

A little more reminiscing, Jacob was only 8 and needed to be ferried across some parts.  But it was definitely doable for him.

And here he is now.  He's got this!

Look at those beautiful canyon walls.  You really have to be there to see the beauty.

We went about 2 1/2  miles up the narrows from where the Riverside Walk ends.  

We found a little patch of sun and stopped to eat our lunch.  After that we turned around and 

went back.  It was much easier going downstream and by the end you feel like you have really accomplished something and had an adventure.  It was a beautiful day and an amazing hike.   

Whether you go a little ways or a longer ways, it is fun to get in the 

water enjoy hiking the Narrows because it is so unique.

August 26, 2019 Willow Lake

hikers:  Dad, Mom, Seth, Marisa, Lydia

The willow heights trail head is about 11 and a half miles up big cottonwood canyon, from the stoplight where you turn to head up the canyon.  Its a little ways past the donut falls parking area and the trail head is on the left had side of the road.  There is room for cars to pull off and park on the right hand side of the road. This was such a fun little hike I can't believe we haven't done it before.  Since it was a Monday morning we didn't run into a lot of people.  

This is the trail head.  You see the sign if you are headed down the canyon.

You see this marker as you begin the hike.

The 600 feet of elevation gain is all on the first part of the trail.  Once you get there its a fairly flat hike around the lake in some beautiful aspen.  

When you come to the fork in the path, go left.  Unless you have kids that are old enough to hike without  being carried and really want an adventure. In that case you can go right. We came back down on the path you see on the right, and going down it is steep but doable but I don't recommend going up that way.

There are a couple of creek crossings but not a lot of water this time of the year.  In the spring it might be more of a challenge.

 

There were lots of wildflowers.  These are only some of them.

This is Willow Lake.

We saw ducks, chipmunk, squirrels, hoof prints from deer and maybe moose at the lake, and a mother deer and her baby when we finished the hike.

There were a lot of aspen.  I hope we can come back in the fall and see them when they have turned to gold. 

Our ratio of adults to kids was 4:1. Plenty of people to carry a one and half year old, however she prefers not to be carried but to walk.  We carried her anyway because it was too far for her and we didn't want to take all day.  For kids just a little older it would be a good hike if they hike without whining.  It is beautiful and the lake would make a nice place for a picnic.  You could even camp there if you wanted to backpack in with your gear.

August 21, 2019

Rocky Mouth Falls

hikers: Dad (grandpa), Mom (Nana), Marisa and Lydia, Landon, Jacob

2 more days until Landon's big day!!!  Annie wasn't available tonight so those of us at home took this little opportunity for some family bonding time and a quick hike to Rocky Mouth Falls.  We knew he would rather be with her but he was so nice to spend time with us.

This photo is blurry but that's because Landon was running, with Lydia in his arms, up the steps from the parking lot.  She thought that was fun!

We arrived at the trail head, not the parking lot, but the trail head at 8:30 pm. 

 Notice the hours on the sign.

This was a perfect hike for Lydia.  It was the first hike she ever went on with us, last summer when she was 6 months old.  She's a lot bigger now and wanted to walk, but we carried her when she would let us.  

It was a good time for a hike because there was only one small group of people there.  It was dark on the way down but we could see the lights of the city from the falls.

We arrived back at the trail head at 8:55!  

Last stop was arctic circle to complete our evening.  Lydia's first courtesy cone!

June 2, 2019 - Bloods Lake

hikers:  Mark, Lecia, Seth, Marisa, Rees, Lydia

Seth is here for a few days so of course we needed to get up the canyon and hike!  To get to Blood's Lake we drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon and turned up the Guardsman Pass Road.  
Before we got to the top  we came to the area where the scouts have done snow caves for I don't know how many years. All our boys have been up there to dig caves and camp in the snow, and learn they can do hard things. 

.  

trash duty-sometimes boys lose things
in the snow and they reappear in the spring!

showing Lydia around

After reminiscing we drove to the Guardsman Pass overlook.  It straddles the border of Wasatch and Salt Lake counties. From the top of the mountain you can see down both sides and it is an incredible view.

Looking towards Midway.

Looking back towards Big Cottonwood Canyon.  The trees are hiding the view but you can see there is still snow on the mountain.

 Not a ton of parking, but luckily we found a spot.  This is the trail head, although it is not labeled.  The hike to the lake is downhill!  Part of the trail was covered with snow, but with so many hikers it was not hard to follow.

I was surprised to see green growth poking thru the icy snow.

This is one end of the lake.  It is beautiful but the water must be very cold!  There was still snow all along the edge on one side.

The last part of the trail was very steep so going back we were hiking up a steep hill.  But it wasn't very far.  In fact the entire hike was about 1.3 miles round trip.  It was worth the drive and maybe some day we'll go over the top and come out through Midway or Park City!

Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - Little Cottonwood Trail and Lisa Falls

Hikers:  Mark, Lecia, Marisa, Rees, Lydia!

Mark and I have hiked the Little Cottonwood trail before, from the bottom, and this time we started at the trailhead across from Lisa Falls and walked up to the old Power Plant.  It wasn't a long hike but the canyon sure is beautiful and the creek is full of water this year!

 I think this is the first time we have hiked with Lydia when she wasn't in a back pack or front pack, but she's bigger now so she walked a bit and was carried a lot.

After the Little Cottonwood trail we got the cooler, crossed the road, and headed up to Lisa Falls for a picnic.  Two short hikes in a day, and it was just right!

June 1 - Park City

We spent the night in Park City and in the morning Landon and Jacob went on a trail run.  They went far and fast on the spiro trail.  Mark and I walked up the road from our condo and hiked up Sweeney's Switchbacks.  

It is a gradual uphill with lots of switchbacks as titled. You go under a ski lift several times and pass by the old lift towers.

It was a pleasant hike in the pines with lots of views of Park City since you are definitely up on the mountain. There were a lot of pretty wildflowers.   I'm not sure how far we went but we didn't go to the end of the trail.

2 hikes at Capitol Reef

November 23, day after Thanksgiving
Hickman Bridge and Grand Wash
hikers: Mom, Dad, Landon, Jacob


We decided to head out on a day trip to Capitol Reef National Park.  Mom has been wanting to go here for a long time and we finally made it.  

Hickman Bridge

Hickman Bridge was a fun hike.  The trail was fun and the reward at the end was a beautiful Natural bridge that you walk under.  The information listed it as a moderate hike.  It really wasn't hard but it was nearly two miles there and back and 400 ft elevation gain. The trail is down and back with a little loop at the end. The trailhead is along highway 24 so you don't go into the park to do this hike.  You don't have to pay to go into the park for this hike.  

Spotted this in the parking lot at Grand Wash 

and had to get several photos because it was impressive.

Grand Wash

Grand Wash was our second hike.  Jacob didn't go on this hike and we started at the trailhead in the park.  There is also a trailhead on highway 24, a little east of the Hickman bridge trailhead. Super easy hike because its flat. That would make it good for small kids. You're walking in a dry stream bed. The trail is just over 2 miles, down and back.  We didn't go all the way.  Almost but not quite.  The part we saw had lots of echos, interesting rock, and was pretty but it meant we didn't have time for the Capitol Gorge trail and I'm left wondering if that was more spectacular.