Trying to trick Tiffany

Last August we started hiking up the canyons around our house. We promised ourselves that we would start hiking much earlier in the season this year. And while we did attempt a hike with our friend, Carissa back in March. It was still pretty chilly then and the hike itself wasn't my favorite. I prefer to be in the canyon, among the trees and streams when I hike. I don't love hiking in spots where we can see The Salt Lake Valley the whole time. And that was the last time we hiked this year. Lame! So on Saturday we decided to hike up to Cecret Lake near Alta. Kendrick invited our neighbors, the Espnoza's along. Apparently his invitation to Tiffany included the promise, "It's like a mile there and back. It's not hard at all." Tiff is one of the strongest and most hard core exercisers I know of but I just don't think hiking was on her weekend agenda. We truly didn't think that we would be gone hiking for more than 3 hours. And we were unaware that there are two parking options for the Cecret Lake trail. One that makes the trail to the lake only 1.8 miles and one that makes the trail to the lake 2.8 miles. We unknowingly chose the 2.8 mile trail. So all in all we hiked nearly 6 miles that day. I was so happy! What a great workout! I'm not sure how Tiff felt...she sure made a lot of smarty pants comments about Kendrick deceiving her and tricking her into coming with us. But I am so glad the Espinoza's came. Easton did awesome because he had Dean to talk to the whole time and it was just fun to have friends accompany us on a hike. This wasn't my favorite lake we've ever hiked too. Mostly because I don't like hiking to watershed lakes where we can't touch the water- it's cruel to hike up to water when you are hot and tired and be told you can't touch it. I think the kids were rather bummed too. But we did see some Moose along the way and we even stopped to play on a chair lift, so that was fun! And afterward we gorged on Mexcian food until I was sick. All in all it was an awesome day. I wish we could hike every Saturday. It is my favorite form of cardio and I love being up in the mountains with my cute family.

On Monday, I had the car because I had a Dr. appointment, so when I got home Carissa and I decided we should go for a hike up Corner Canyon in Draper. Again, we invited Tiffany. Kendrick and I took the kids to this trail last Spring and I swear it wasn't hard at all. It felt more like a nature walk. So that's exactly what I told Tiffany it was. Well I wasn't aware that there is a waterfall over there that you can hike to and I wasn't aware that there are some much steeper trails in that canyon. Also, it was like 90 something degrees out so it was just too bloody hot to be hiking. The kids all whined and complained and us ladies each switched off carrying baby Allison in her backpack since Carissa is pregnant. We never made it to the waterfall. Carissa's hiking app wouldn't work and the kids were complaining about all the steep hills and quite frankly-I hated towing that backpack around! It was painful. Point of this story-by the end of the hike I had lost all credibility with Tiffany. I think she was convinced that I was trying to kill her. I don't dare invite her on another hike before summer is over even though she is actually a lot of fun to hike with. After the hike up Corner Canyon we went swimming at Carissa's in-laws pool. It felt so good! My big kids are becoming quite the little swimmers. I'm starting to wonder if they need swimming lessons at all? They dive and jump and swim under water and tread water just fine. Even Easton surprised us all and got off the stairs and actually got wet this time!

I intend for us to keep hiking for the remainder of the summer and even through the fall. We are so lucky to live just minutes from hundreds of really neat trails! Hopefully Tiffany will develop amnesia and we can talk her into at least one more hike before the summer is over...