It is a dream come true. My little Toads LOVE to hike.
We had some time to kill and a baby who needed napping one afternoon in Utah. We decided to take a drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon and see the torrential run-off from this year's thaw. When we got up to Silver Lake (the very top of the canyon) 'Lil Chief was asleep and the other Toads wanted to stretch their legs. We decided to wander around a little while Pops and 'Lil Chief chilled in the car.
We're loving that fresh mountain air.
Before I knew it, the kids were galloping as fast as they could down the trail. If you can't tell, Abizella and Tadpole are riding their horses and Superkid is rattling along on his covered wagon.
There were still patches of snow, but our little naked feet were not undeterred.
Superkid continues to prove that he is a regular billy goat...
The other two started to follow him and then thought better of it.
We ended up circumnavigating the whole lake... about 1.5 miles. The kids were cheery and delightful the entire way.
This fueled me with ambition for another hike. We stopped at the visitor's center and chatted with the ranger about some possibilities. He took one look at our band of miniature hikers and recommended Willow Heights. He assured me that it was 1.7 miles round trip and easy for little legs. He did warn me about one short section at the beginning of the hike that was steep for 200-300 feet, where he said the kids would whine for sure. But he assured it me it was mostly a stroll through the aspen.
So we recruited some other troops for the adventure. In all, we had 4 adults and 8 kids under the age of 7 (2 of which had to be carried).
Just so you know, the ranger probably had never done this hike. It was STEEP. We took many opportunities to rest. Surprisingly, the kids did very well. The kids kept egging each other on and racing to the top.
It was especially wonderful to have Glama along. There were may hikes I went on in my youth with Bampa where we would get to a gorgeous look-out and he would say, "Well, here is another view your mother will never see." Boy did she show him!
This is my little hiking buddy, Scooby. He took a little snuggle nap on the return trip.
Our little band of explorers...
Pops and Uncle James corralled the kids in the front of the pack, while Glama and I picked up any stragglers.
Good times, we will be back for sure!
it was no match for the 4 little hurricanes that ripped through our house! FEMA is definitely going to have to send emergency disaster relief.
While it was absolutely too dangerous to drive to church (we are 100% behind the Bishop), we took our chances in the elements out on the driveway. We figured that Irene was no match for the Toads.
We're just grateful that the electricity behaved all day so that we could have a steady stream of comfort food. Mmmmm blueberry buckle, roast, and Pop's chocolate chip cookies.
it was no match for the 4 little hurricanes that ripped through our house! FEMA is definitely going to have to send emergency disaster relief.
While it was absolutely too dangerous to drive to church (we are 100% behind the Bishop), we took our chances in the elements out on the driveway. We figured that Irene was no match for the Toads.
We're just grateful that the electricity behaved all day so that we could have a steady stream of comfort food. Mmmmm blueberry buckle, roast, and Pop's chocolate chip cookies.
