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!

Grand Junction, Colorado 6-16-07

The next day, Vince, Grandma and I spent the whole morning at the Monument.
Going in through the Fruita Entrance, we bought our patch and magnet at the Visitor's Center and then proceeded to drive the scenic park road to Devil's Kitchen trailhead for our hike. It was very enjoyable considering the heat....and Vincent's car sickness. (BAAAAARF!)
Our first stop along the road were the Coke ovens. Thousands of years of rain and wind turned these rocks into squat, fat formations that looked like ovens.
Check it out!





This picture really doesn't do justice to the magnificence of the formations. As for Vince, he was still jazzed to spend time with Granny.






After the Coke Ovens, we traveled to some of the other overlooks in the park.
This one's from an overlook called "Cold Shivers."






And this one was taken at the Ute Canyon overlook.
They were all absolutely gorgeous.







Noticed Vince's clothes have changed? Yeah, this pic was taken "post-yack."
The only bad part about the trip was that it was hotter than Hell when we got to the trailhead. But even though it was hot and he'd left his breakfast along the road, Vince still wanted to hike. What a trooper.



Even though Devil's Kitchen was our shortest hike, I still think it was the hardest. The heat, dust and bugs combined to make a hard trip. Thankfully, I had learned my lessons from Antelope Island. Sunblock, bug spray and water for everyone!





Vince has become fond of crawling into nooks and crannies in the rock. That's him taking a water break.







Devil's Kitchen is a really unusual rock formation. It's essentially a large horseshoe-shaped alcove of towering sandstone with walls on three sides. It's also has plenty of shade, making it a great place for lunch!





My other fellow hikers agreed! Incidentally, that crack between Vince and Grandma led to a hundred-foot drop to the canyon floor.






Once we were done eating, we busted out the cameras and started making memories. Here's me and Grandma's finger on top of the large boulder situated in the alcove.






Here's a picture of the balanced rock near the opening of Devil's Kitchen.







This crack went down some slickrock and back onto the trail. It eventually served as our exit from DK.







That boulder that I was sitting on had tons of little holes carved in it. Vince couldn't help but explore them all!







DK was the perfect little hideaway from the hot desert sun. Unfortunately, things started to get hotter as the sun rose. That gave us plenty of incentive to get back on the trail.






DK was a lot of fun for Vince and Cheryl. I think they really learned a lot about each other.
Hopefully, she'll want to hike with us again!






Going back to the Hotel meant getting in the pool.
How could I refuse?







Once we finally cleaned up, it was time for us to go meet the train for our trip back to Old Salty.
It was late as usual, but it went by a lot faster.
The biggest treat for me was getting Vince to fall asleep in a bunk on our way home. I thought he'd be too wound up because we were on the train. But in the end, fatigue won out!



I love spending time with my son.
I love the challenge he gives me in helping him mitigate the world around him. Most of all, I love the affection he rewards me with when we do something enjoyable.

This trip was an incredible adventure for both of us. And while he might not remember every detail of our voyage, I know that I'll never forget the smiles and laughter he gives thanks to my efforts.
That's what I call incentive.