Last weekend we hiked along the New Fork Lake Trail in the Wind River Mountains, our home mountain range. I had hiked the trail just days before with a friend while Matthew was at work. I enjoyed it so much, I couldn't wait to take him, and I knew Isaac wouldn't mind going again.
This hike is great for many reasons. From our house, the drive to the trailhead is less than 30 minutes. The trail provides scenic beauty from the beginning and becomes more gorgeous the further you hike. A narrow beach on the lake's eastern shore is the perfect spot for a rest, lunch, or sand and water play. Like all the trails here, it's not crowded. In fact, it feels rather secluded. The trail is not strenuous and can be enjoyed without too much effort.
On our way in, we didn't stop at the beach because we were drawn to the deep canyon that lies beyond the lake. I had only gone as far as the lake's shore on my previous visit, and I was anxious to get a closer look at the granite ridges that beckoned us onward.
Of course, with a babe in tow, we have to stay on the conservative side of adventure. This means being mindful to turn around long before a break down might occur. Hiking several miles out with a very unhappy baby does not seem like fun.
We hiked about a mile and a half beyond the lake and decided to stop at this spot overlooking the New Fork River. While enjoying the views, we ate lunch and watched Isaac drum on rocks with sticks (his latest obsession). We soon joined him and had a pretty good drum line going as we all three jammed--with superb rhythm and synchronization, I'm sure. :)
The hike made for a wonderful day spent together!
