A Hike in the Wasatch (7-2-07)

It's always great to hike the local areas around our home. This past Monday, Cheryl and Mike treated Vince and I to a day in the Wasatch Mountains. The hikes were incredible thanks to the perfect weather. It's nice to know that great hiking is less than thirty minutes away. This was the first trip where I used a proper digital camera instead of Lisa's phone cam. The pics came out great.
Take a look!
Our first hike of the day was a short jaunt to Donut Falls.
Here, Kimosabe takes a break at a stream crossing.







It was also a great place for Vince and Grandma to toss some stones!







Vince and Mike were a team again.








Towards the end of the trail, the lot of us had to cross a tricky little log bridge. I had handed the camera to Cheryl while Mike and I helped Vince cross. Thanks for the shot, Mom!






Donut Falls was a real treat. We got there before the sun crested the canyon, so the setting for our hike was still cool and perfect.










As is our custom, we had snacks at the trail midpoint.
Vince really had his breath taken away by the falls.







Once we were done, it was time to play. Vince and Mike scrambled across the boulders in the stream.







Taking a break.








Here's a view of our spot from up high.








Mike and Squirt crossing the log bridge on our way back.








After Donut Falls, Grandma treated us to lunch at the Silver Fork Lodge. Here's Vince, digging in on his grilled cheese sandwich.







After lunch, we hiked the Silver Lake to Solitude Lake trail.
It was gorgeous.







This picture is for my Mom in LA.
During my Mom's last visit, Cheryl and Mike had taken her to Silver Lake. Once I told her about Vince's affinity for hiking, she insisted that I take him as well.





I told you I'd do it, Ma!








Once we passed Silver Lake, it was a steadily ascending hike to Solitude.

The scenery was perfect.





We even had a local check us out.








When we finally arrived at Solitude, it was pretty hot. Luckily, there was a large Ponderosa Pine there to shade us.







Cheryl's feet were bugging her from the march, so she wanted to soak them. Sadly, Solitude wasn't an ideal place for a feet soak.







The view however, was awesome. Don't mind the construction workers. They're grading down more ski slopes. :-(







Vince chomped down a PB&J...








...and then kicked back in the shade!








Not too bad for a self portrait!








Once we finally made it back to Silver Lake, Mom found the perfect spot to soak her feet.

At that point, Squirt had started to get a little cranky.





But as you can imagine, the bellyaching stopped once he joined in with Grandma.







After we were done with our second hike, we jumped Guardsman Pass over to Park City.







Vince really took in the scenery.








Cheryl mentioned most matter-of-factly that one couldn't pass through Park City without getting some ice cream.

Needless to say, Vince was all for it.














While we ate, I let Vince take command of the digital camera. This is the shot he took of handsome ol' me.







And here's the shot Vince took of Grandma.

Waitaminute! Is she shooting him the bird?!?






Overall, it was a great day.
Thank you, Cheryl and Mike!