Smores, Friends, and Cecret Lake

Last Summer we went with a group of friends up to Cecret Lake, and then stopped at the camp ground to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. We wanted to do that again this year, but with the campground and hike opening so late this year we were having a hard time getting it in. Monday the kids were out of school, so we decided to head up there for lunch.

I was surprised to see how much lower the lake was in just the few weeks between our hikes. We could see all of our favorite rocks again, and the waterfall was gone........so I guess that is why I never noticed it before.

The kids were glad to be there with their friends. This is Joe with his friend cooper.

This is Valerie's little friend Addie. WE decided to pack a picnic lunch to eat at the lake, because we were not sure if the campground would be open, so we didn't want to risk not being able to cook our hot dogs.

The campground was closed, but after reading all of the signs at the campground we decided to go ahead and build a fire. After we got it going some Alta canyon people drove by in their truck, but they just waved and drove on.

So the roasting began.

and the eating.

Hike to Cecret Lake

Thursday was the last day of Summer Vacation for our family. Emily was headed to school on Friday for 7th grade orientation and after that we would be in full back to school mode.

So for our final summer vacation adventure, we hiked to Cecret Lake.

Ryan had a little bit of free time, so he came with us. Valerie was really glad to have dad with us, because that meant she could be carried up the trail a little more than usual.

Josh loved using his hiking stick on the trail. He kept telling me how he was using it to make hiking easier,


Joe kept telling me where good spots for pictures were, and then he would pose for me.

Most of the spots were somewhere on a rock.

About halfway up the trail the kids found something very unusual for the end of August in Utah.

SNOW!

We also discovered something that we did not notice last year, a waterfall. I am not sure if it was there last year. I think it must have been, but maybe there just wasn't enough water to make it noticeable. I have asked a couple of my friends if they remembered it and they said no. But there is definitely one this year.

We went and got a closer look at it, and then headed over the hill to the lake.

It was beautiful and very full. Last year there was a beach around it, but this year we had to just climb around on the rocks.

The kids did not mind though.

Valerie liked the water, but she also liked the squirrels that came over to see if we had any snacks.

The lake was at least three feet higher than last year. I could not get a picture of the biggest rock we sat on last year with our church group, because it was much smaller and what was there had people on it, but this was another rock we sat on last summer, and it is completely under water.

Emily found a good place for pictures this year.

I had Emily take a picture of Ryan and I. He has been very busy this summer, and I am so happy he could come with us this time. (He wished I would have warned him about the picture taking.)

Cecret Lake it still one of my favorite hikes.

I love my hiking buddies, and will miss hiking around the canyons with them. Maybe we will be able to sneak another one in on a Saturday before the snow starts flying again.

Playing in Little Cottonwood Canyon

One of the activities my mom and I had planned to do while she was here was to go on a hike or two in Little Cottonwood Canyon. We were hoping the snow would be melted enough that we could go up to Alta and hike to Cecret Lake or Catherine Pass, but unfortunately those trails are still closed due to the snow pack. So we settled for a couple of short trails instead.

The first trail we went on was to Lisa Falls. It is only about 1/4 mile. It is very rocky and a little bit of a climb, but nothing the kids could not handle.

Joe brought his walking stick that he found on our last hike, and as soon as Josh saw it, he started looking for his own. The beginning of this trail had lots to choose from so all of the kids now have walking sticks. I think I even have and extra in my trunk now......just in case.


It was a good thing they had their sticks, because they came in handy climbing up and down the rocks.

The waterfall was right at the end of the trail.

We could stand right next to it and feel the cool spray off the rocks.

The information on the Internet about this hike said that the kids could play in the water, but with the river running so high the fall was running too fast for the kids to do that. Maybe we will have to do this hike again in late August or September and see if the water has slowed down.




Because Lisa Falls was a short hike, we decided to stop at the Temple Quarry on the way home. My mom had never been there, and it is a short 1/4 mile walk. It is fun to go and read about the Quarry. There are still granite rocks with the marking from the tools they used to cut the stones.

The river bed that runs along the path is usually empty, because they have diverted the water for use in a power plant, but because it has been such a wet winter and spring, the river bed not only had water in it, it was full.

There are also lots of trees,

And big rocks for the kids to climb. So they had fun playing.

I love going to the canyon. Even though it is not very far from our house, it is a little cooler, and a nice break. I also love the pictures I get of my kids on these hikes.

You couldn't ask for a better setting.

First Hike Of The Season

The weather has finally started cooperating, so we headed into the canyon with a few friends for a hike. Because there are still quite a few feet of snow in the mountains we started our hiking season off at Bell Canyon Reservoir. This hike is about 3/4 of a mile to the reservoir. With an elevation gain of about 500 feet.

Two of our hikers were small, but they were determined to do it themselves. This slowed the pace a little so the older kids got a few extra breaks while they waited for us.

I was impressed with how well the kids did, especially the little ones. We got almost 1/2 mile before they started wanting to be carried.

Then after a few minutes of being carried they would try to walk again.

The view was really cool on this hike.

the kids liked looking out over our city and seeing places that were familiar. We had a really good view of the park in our neighborhood.

Somewhere along the trail Joe found a great walking stick. He was really excited. He used it the rest of the hike, and then brought it home to use on our next hike too.

The first thing we did when we made it to the end of the trail was have a snack.

Then we headed over to check out the water.

The water in this canyon is part of the watershed.

So that means no swimming.

But it was fun to look at, and throw rocks in.

Valerie was tired, so I carried her back down the trail most of the way. I think the other kids liked this because that meant we could go faster.

It was a great day for a hike and with the water so high this year, everything was very green and pretty. I can't wait for the snow to melt a little more, so we can check things out a little higher up the canyon.