Lake x2 Hike

Happy Pioneer Day!

Everyone was off work and school so it was time for a hike.  Being Pioneer Day, it would be crowded at most popular hiking spots, so we left early - to beat the crowds and beat the heat.

Our destination this time was Big Cottonwood Canyon in East Salt Lake.  We'd not been up that canyon and there are tons of trails.  We bypassed the two most popular ones, as all the websites said you have to get there before 9am on weekedays during the summer to get a parking spot..so we will wait on those.

Instead, we opted for two very short and easy hikes - each was around 1 mile round trip, and mostly even ground.

The first, was at the very top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Guardsman Pass, which is a scary narrow road with extreme drop offs!  It's only open in the summer as it's covered with sometimes over a hundred feet of snow..or something like that. It wasn't open until June this year.  The elevation up at the trailhead is close to 10,000 feet.

Bloods Lake was our destination.  A very small alpine lake (1 of 3 close by), but the hike was beautiful as was the small lake.  We loved it!

There is a small parking lot (about 10 cars) and then everyone else has to park precariously on the edge of the road!

Of course, Jacob had to find the "edge" of something to scare his mom.

The view from the beginning of our hike

This was the only steep part. 

The lake is in view!

Of course we found a geo-cache that was on the little island there

There was a little "trail" that went around the lake

I really like how this pic turned out looking up through the pine trees.  This trail went another mile to a larger lake.  Next time.

Time to head back

Then we headed down the mountain about 3 miles to Brighton Ski Resort and hiked around Silver Lake.  There are two Silver Lakes in the area, we've been to the other one, and it's a longer hike. This Silver Lake isn't really a hike.  There is a boardwalk that goes around the lake in a .8 mile loop, so it's all just flat walking.  

Even though it was a simple hike, it was beautiful as well.  It was extremely crowded here as we got there late morning...we had to circle and circle and circle for a parking spot.  Well worth the wait though!

Yes, the lake is under this meadow looking wetlands.  There are running streams all over....and even some beaver dams.  Moose are often seen here too

It was beautiful!!

July 4 - Balloons and Stadiums

We started our 4th of July weekend by going to the Balloon Festival in Provo, as we've done for several years.

This is the only place in the world where you can get so close (you can reach out and touch them) to balloons and watch the entire process of unpacking, laying out, blowing up and taking off of the balloons.

It's held three days and all three days are the same.  It starts a 6am so you gotta get up early!  After the balloons take off, they all come back to the field and play "games"  - they throw a joust at large balloons tethered down, and throw bean bags at big targets on the ground to see who gets closest. 

After the balloons, we usually go and have all you can eat french toast from Magelby's - yummm!!

That same night was the Stadium of Fire and we decided we were going to go this year, because it's very different being inside than just watching the fireworks from the outside.

We had a great time and it was a wonderful day and we are glad for the country we live in and thankful for all those who have fought and served to make and keep it free!

This year the entertainers for Stadium of Fire were Hunter Hayes (?? a country singer),  Brian Reagan (comedian) and Little Big Town (??  a country group).  It was a good show.

The stage was set

First came the sky divers who all landed on the field. They had go-pros on so we could watch the view they were seeing on the video board

After the skydivers, was the flyover.  This year one of the pilots was a BYU Graduate serving in North Carolina.  They also had cameras and we could see their view.

There was a large group of dancers who did awesome!

The "Human Fuse" was there - a guy who got lit on fire and then shot out of a cannon.

VIDEO:

The original "Stadium of Fire" song that they used to play all the time, but had been absent the past few years was brought back and the stadium was on fire:

VIDEO:

Later in the show when it was dark, the dancers did a glow in the dark dance and it was very cool!

 Video be sure to watch this one full screen:

We loved the addition of lasers this year....the flag laser was amazing - much better in person

And of course, there were lots and lots of fireworks:

VIDEOS:

Because you can't have enough fireworks:

And the best part of it all:  We found a great parking place for going to stadium events where we get out FAST and don't have to wait in traffic!