Take a Hike - We Did!

You are so smart! Many of you knew the purple wildflower was an Elephant Head. It grows along side the  Bog Orchid around the banks of Silver Lake. Before we took our stroll around the lake we took a hike up to Donut Falls.  Donut Falls has been closed to the public for several years, but last year Salt Lake City purchased the land to preserve the watershed.  It is now open to the public, so if you're willing to take a bit of a hike (trail unmarked) and get your feet wet, you'll have loads of fun.  At least it's a lot more fun IF you DO get your feet wet.

The water is as icy cold as it can get (thus the very red feet) and Chaco's or Teva's are the perfect footwear.  It was so cold it hurt, but it was that hurt that hurts so good!  It felt even better when I pulled my feet out of the water into the sun and I did just that over and over again.  Hiking in the mountains makes me feel like a kid.

Donut falls from the bottom isn't so photogenic and you must be willing to climb up the rocky face to get a good view (I was a bit trepid to give it a go), but the views all along the way are well worth the trek.

Just as we finished the hike the realization hit that we were not ready to leave the canyon, and so, up to Silver Lake we went.  It was a fabulous day at the lake and we had a chance to meet the volunteer ranger, Mr. Light.  This was a fun and serendipitous meeting! We have seen, and spoken to Mr. Light before, but not in any depth.  As we strolled around the lake he share some of what he knows about the wild flowers and animals. (A moose was sighted about 2 hours before we arrived). We also learned that Mr. Light was the owner of our favorite spot until about 15 years ago!

As we walked around the lake, identifying wildflowers and the like, Mr. Light showed us two very large pines. He had just measured them that morning and determined that they were about 375 years old.  He also remembered the first year the wild iris' showed up at the lake. They have prospered and now surround the visitors center, and made good subject matter for a Monkey progress picture. (This is a knitting blog, after all.)

It was such a lovely day and our visit with Mr. Light made it all the more enjoyable. The lake was as pretty as it can be and we'll be back to visit again soon (as you well know!).

Comments

[Kelly]

Beautiful pictures! Looks like a wonderful place to hike.

Love the colors or your monkey socks!

[Cara]

I think I've got the same toenail polish. ;-)

[femiknitter]

It looks really beautiful there! I'm totally jealous--I've been spending my days in libraries and courthouses, but I'd much rather be out hiking like you!

I like the Monkey you've got going as well--great colors!

[Norma]

Ohhhhh, I would have loved to put my feet in that cold water yesterday. I was sweltering at my job in an un-air-conditioned chapel at UVM. Looks like a wonderful hike!

[Teresa C]

As usual, you have the best weekends! Thinking about it, mine haven't been too bad lately.

[marie in florida]

as we know, no one can wade into the same stream twice; i appreciate your self portrait.

[Kirsten]

All of the photos are so beautiful! It sounds like you had a wonderful day. You are so lucky to have so much beauty so near to where you live.

[Sarah HB]

Love the photos and the Chaco's.

What a nice day.

[Mama-E]

That is beautiful!~

[Kathleen]

you two have so much fun!

[jackie]

simply beautiful!

[Vicki]

Ooooh, I can almost feel that freezing cold water! Thanks for sharing another beautiful weekend in Utah...
; )

[Carole]

What a great hike! And how cool that you got all that information from Mr. Light.

[Birdsong]

Wow, what a great outing! I am envious and realize I have to hurry up and make room for more hiking before summer slips away.

[Marcia Cooke]

What a change in the flora and fauna in just a few weeks! (We saw wild lupines all over Grand Teton! I've never seen your Elephant thing before, though.)

[Kristi aka Fiber Fool]

Ah, 'tis hiking season! :-) I need to find some better higher elevation places to keep us cool.

The new monkeys look fantastic. I love the colors!

[Roxie]

Love the self-portrait with hat!

[Tonia]

It looks so lovely there. Sounds like you had a wonderful time as well.

The monkeys are looking great.

[Peg]

Beautiful hiking area! Mr. Light - what a great asset to the area!

[Susan P]

How do you get your monkeys to behave so well? Mine are juvenile delinquents! Wait till you see what they've done now...

Blessings! (though with scenery like that around your neighborhood, it appears you already have many.)

Back to the process...

[Arianne]

I feel stupid for not knowing! But your feet look so red! It must've been so cold!

I LOVE walking in cold mountain streams and lakes and such.

[Beth S.]

Very few things in America are that old, so you were in the presence of some very venerable trees indeed. :-)

You really make me want to visit Utah.

[Jennifer]

What a beautiful and restful hike! There's nothing like a little communing with nature to recharge the batteries.

[Ina]

Great hike and great pedicure! Somehow I never think to polish my toes before a trek. ;D

[Ann]

It is so hot here in Virginia today, so the thought of dipping my feet into painfully cold water on a hike sounds like absolute heaven!

[Chris]

Ahhhh... It looks absolutely lovely. I think Minnesota needs a wee mountain or two. Maybe west of downtown Minneapolis a bit.

[Judy]

Margene,
The flowers are lovely. Your pedicure is perfect. I can feel the icy water. Life is good!
Hugs!

[Pat K]

Mr. Light -- what a charming name! Seems to fit him quite well to boot. Love the socks.

[elizabeth]

That's lovely! You make me want to go hiking but it's SO HOT here! (already) Maybe if I got up at the crack of dawn it wouldn't be too bad...

[Mia]

Pretty Monkeys!!! I need to get back to knitting mine. (I am not a fan of gussets.)

And icy cold water always feels good on a really hot day.

[Brenda]

Your description of your hike made me feel like I was there! (and the pretty pictures helped too!

[Peeve]

Beautiful scenery!

[Laura]

It's so special and fun to meet special people on your trips no matter where you go - even if it's close to home. So sweet to know that Mr. Light owned SFL! Isn't it such a small world? Gorgeous Monkeys! :)

[Hillary]

What a great hike! The colors in your sock are wonderful.

[Lark]

Sigh!

Beautiful post

[Wool Winder]

Planning to take a hike tomorrow in Colorado as long as the weather cooperates.

[amanda cathleen]

*L* I love the picture of your shadow! Looks (and sounds) like a fun day

[minnie]

i understand the red feet. i don't wear shoes unless there's considerable snow on the ground (i live in omaha, lol), so when i was in oregon 10 years ago in october, we went to haystack rock. i was BOUND AND DETERMINED to go wading, so i rolled up my pants, left my walking sandals on, and went wading. i waded for half an hour, until my feet were numb, but i was happy! in fact, we were at depoe bay in oregon 2 years ago in early june, and even though the water was cold, again i went wading (my daughter (19 at the time) was even nuttier, she wore a swimsuit and busted waves for almost an hour!)