Ensign Peak

Another Saturday, another family outing! 

This makes 4 for 4!! Way to go, Me! October helped us out a lot to make this milestone. (It helps that October is my favorite color!) First, we did Red Pine, then Doughnut Falls, then Vista Mound barefoot, and today we did it with shoes and made it all the way to the top of Ensign Peak! 

That is a windy mountain top. Once you come over the northwest side onto the top, the gusts of wind just start hitting ya.

We were a little worried that someone would be sent over the hillside. Had to keep an eye and a hand on the little ones.

Don't blow away Sophi!!!

(That's a windy peak!)

 Natalie felt like she was going on some super fast car ride or something - hold on tight!!

It was fun, I love family outings. And the cherry on top:

Best picture in the world is a dad walking with his little girls.

Hike to Vista Mound

Today was a little more than it's usual busy... In addition to Melodie's orchestra and flute lesson, the boys had some jazz band thing in American Fork. So two things and both at the same time. That means all of our sitters were going to be gone and busy, so guess what little kids! You get to come with me to take Mel. It was around 8:15 am that I learned of these logistics, and all the little girls were still sleeping. So I opted to drop Mel off at Orchestra (at the U of U) then came back home for the rest of the kids. I figured I'd rather make two 30 minute trips downtown than to try and get everyone up and dressed and fed by the time Melodie had to leave in 15 minutes. So I dropped her off then came home just in time to wave to Corey and the boys as they left, then we had an hour to get my crew ready.

I made sure they all ate breakfast but didn't do a good job making sure they had jackets... or socks and shoes. I told them to get ready and then told them to go get in the car when it was departure time. As we were on our way, Wesley informed me "Abi doesn't have her shoes. Or Lily. Or Sophi." Doh. I had planned on possibly taking a little hike to Ensign Peak while we wait for Mel's flute lesson to be done, but sounded like that just got cancelled since my hiking companions were shoeless. I knew Natalie didn't have shoes, but I was planning to carry her anyway. So, that's okay, we'll just go on a drive around the capitol and look at the view from the car. Up and up the hills we went.

And as we drove past the Engisn peak trail entrance, I saw that it had a nice trailhead with cement steps and what seemed like a cement trail going up the start of the trail. Well, let's get out of the car and just look around for a bit. 

Turned out the cement side walk went all the way up to a lookout point called Vista Mound, so we were kinda able to do a hike!

Barefoot and all. I may have gotten a few looks from other trail walkers, but that's okay I do not attempt to hide the fact that I do not have my act together. But I do like to roll with it and take what opportunities I can get, and that means our little hike today was barefoot, and that's okay! Abi said "There's broken glass!" Yes, there were more than a few broken beer bottles. "Don't step on it."

Lots of cigarette butts too plus graffiti on the information sign. That's too bad.

Nice view though!

The kids all ran back to the car without me. I called for them to stop for a photo. Abi strikes a pose as usual.

So we didn't go up all the way to the peak, just to Vista Mound, a short hop skip and jump from the entrance with a nicely paved trail. Sweet.

I wanted to make everyone come out with me again that evening to do it with shoes, then we could have gone all the way to the top. But maybe we'll give that a go next weekend?

Doughnut Falls

I was able to get my 6 trusty companions to go on a hike with me again on Saturday. I looked at my phone as I put Natalie down for a nap at 2:15 and saw that I'd received a text from my little brother at noon, informing me that they were going on a little hike with their kids to Doughnut Falls at 3. I assayed my situation, tested my kid's willingness, and then it was decided and we got on our shoes and headed for the door. Joseph stayed home to do homework, Ethan was at a Airsoft war game. I got Natalie down for a nap again and we headed out.

There were a lot of cars, but timing helped us get a place in the parking lot at just the right moment. Everyone ready? Abi, you set to take on the trail? Mark, set...

 Go!!

It is a very child friendly stroll through the mountains.

25 minutes later we arrived at the falls. Look! A river!

They just can't help themselves.

 Into the river bed they go

I was loving the patterns and line designs in the rocks. We had to head out earlier than they'd like (only 20 minutes to play in the falls) cause Melodie had to be back by 5 to babysit.

We ran down the trail to the car and got back fast enough that we had time to swing by Arctic Circle for twist ice cream cones on the way home (my little reward/bribe in hopes that they'll come with me on future outings. We didn't get anything for the boys at home, too bad for you Joe and Eth if you're reading this! You missed out! So you better come next time!)

More cool rocks on the trail - love the lines!

How are those lines made anyway? Lava? I'm sure I learned that back in high school geology... I shall have to offer myself a refresher course. Just a few shots of the mountains on the drive down the canyon. Here they are with a vibrant color feature...

 And without...

They weren't this gray looking, but they weren't as vibrant as the vibrant pictures show either.

So imagine somewhere in between those two. But even with their colors fading, the mountains and trees are still beautiful!

It's Glorious!

Melodie was on the go all day yesterday... she didn't get home til late but had to get up early and be on the go again today with orchestra practice down town at 9, then flute lesson at 11:30. She seemed a bit frustrated and shared that she was feeling the burden of "busy". I feel it too Mel. Time for a break. We decided after we got home, we'd have lunch and then go for a hike.

Joseph and Ethan were gone on a scout trip, so after Natalie went down for a nap, I loaded the remaining 6 kids in the car and we headed out. Corey stayed home with Natalie, and we were gone for 3 hours. 1:40 pm and we were headed up the canyon. The views from the car were a huge distraction. Melodie and I were hardly able to contain our amazement. It was truly and amazingly glorious out every window and on every side of the canyon ~

Just a short drive from our home and it's like driving through a Dr. Seuss book and visiting the Lorax's forest! What a spectacular show - so over the top, it was insane. Lots of cars up the canyon enjoying the color that the mountains and trees were showing off. I'm glad that they aren't modest about their colors I'm glad it's abundant and over the top. I mean, what an idea to come up with! "Let's have all the leaves and trees just explode with color when it gets cold and before they die." Snowflakes are crazy too - I am in awe at the creativity of the Creator. God is glorious.

The ridge between the canyons - huge and majestic and wow. Melodie and I were not able to put our feelings into words, so we were mostly just screaming the whole time.

The kids were such good little hikers too, it was so fun. And look!...

The trails up there are literally paved with gold!!! I was singing Glorious the whole time, specifically the line "it's like a symphony" ~ each little leaf plays a part, the mountains play a part, the trees, the rocks, it's amazing what it's all creating! Just an abundance of color and wonder to behold.

The air was a bit hazy, so I did turn the camera on "vibrant color" mode for some of these pictures. That mode could almost capture how bright and beautiful it was.

We made it up to the mountain stream where it splits to the White Pine or Red Pine trail. The kids played in the water briefly and then we tried to go a little further.

I didn't want to make them go all the way to the lake, just to the spot on the trail with the huge view of the canyon that was the inspiration for this family outing. We found it. Vibrant color filter applied again and I think it about captured the beauty.

I carried Sophia for about half of the hike, but that's okay. I was planning on it when I brought her along and I didn't mind, we just needed to make it out into the lovely world of fall in Utah.

We took like 100 pictures. One last one, laying on the trail of gold. Perfect afternoon. Heaven.