Bell Canyon

Over the fourth of July weekend I took Jessi and the boys hiking up Bell Canyon.  We had a really good time and the kids did a great job start to finish.

Obviously at the trailhead on the southeast bench in Sandy.

This was my view for most of the day as the kids took turns being the fearless leader.

We had Spencer take the larger pack in preparation for his overnight scout camp that was to follow this hike by two weeks.

Saw this guy when we finally met back up with the river after passing the reservoir.  He was a good 20 feet away from the trail.

Overlooking the South Salt Lake Valley a little over halfway to the falls.

Last big push before the falls.

Spencer at Bell's Canyon Falls

Salt Lake Valley in the distance.  Nader had just fallen and was doing his best to keep it together.

The two boys spent the majority of the hike with the mouthpiece in their mouths.  As a result we had to stop three times on the way down for Nader to relieve himself.  At least they didn't get dehydrated.

Climbing out of the falls

Better resolution would show the falls in this picture.   The falls are that white dot almost directly in the center of the picture.

Finished and Tired

Camping

We've spent a fair amount of time camping this summer.  Sometime back in June I spent a long weekend up at the ranch (that's what my Grandfather used to call my parents' property up by Navajo Lake on the North Fork road, it never caught on, but I remember him when I say/write it).  I took Jessi and the boys and a nephew and niece.  We hiked a bit, played a bit of ball, ate lots of junk food and even did some fishing.

 We rented a pontoon boat from the Navajo Lodge.  This turned out to be a blessing as it was so windy there is no way I would have felt safe on the lake in a rounded rowboat.  Most of the time we spent trolling along the north shore of the lake and that is where we caught all our fish.  As I recall Jessi and Ashlyn spent most of the time laying down in the front of the boat to stay out of the wind.

These next few pics are poor because of my camera, but the kids had a great time playing with glow sticks after it got dark.  Of course they got one stuck 20 feet up in a tree.

Melissa showed up after a day or two to make sure we were alive.  That's her on right.