Dog Lake Trail

We took the kids on another hike on Saturday- but this time- we steered clear of anywhere that we might have run into snow.  Though I think we're getting closer to not having to worry about it anymore... it's getting HOT around here now!  We went up to Dog Lake (which would maybe should have been named Dog Puddle... it wasn't much as far as a lake goes), which is up Big Cottonwood Canyon and was a little bit harder than our jaunt up the ski hill two weeks ago.  Okay- maybe it was just hard for me- the movie "127 Hours" kept coming to mind as I dragged my sorry butt up the last half a mile... but I couldn't figure out what I could cut off that would let me avoid the rest of the hike up and the trek back down the mountain.  Everything from the neck down maybe?  At that point maybe I could have just rolled down the mountain... just in two separate pieces.  

Alas.  

I had nothing sharp enough to make it happen.  Next time... :)

Despite my violent tendencies on the way up the hill- it was nice once we were there.  The kids spent some time throwing rocks in the lake and I spent some time laying on a log praying for an instantaneous alien abduction.  

Grandpa, Melissa and Jeremiah came with us too.

Kate had a GREAT time- her dad is the equivalent of SUPER-DAD.  He carried her most of the way (we borrowed a friend's backpack for her to ride in this time) and didn't bat an eye.  He's awesome like that.  She spent the morning yelling at the birds and screaming at the butterflies.  She snacked on mangoes and drank her brother's water (Ryan was sweet enough to share with her).  And she and her dad counted to 12 more times than I could keep track of and the two of them sang songs together.  She played around on the trail for a little bit, but was more than content to be carried on the way down.  So content in fact- she actually fell asleep.  It was so cute watching this little blonde head bob up and down with each of her dad's steps.  

I came to a realization though... while the hike was OVERALL very fun- I need to do it more often.  What a fun way to get some exercise AND spend time with my family!