A Drive Up the Street

If you drive up our street to the top, about a quarter mile, and take a left, you enter a road which quickly becomes dirt and ascends Ward Canyon. Twenty-six white-nuckled miles later, you descend Farmington Canyon. In between lies a VERY narrow road, a lot of fun, and some of the most sweeping views of the Great Salt Lake you can find anywhere. We decided to drive it last Sunday afternoon, and were not disappointed, except, perhaps, for the one of us who was trying to sleep as his dad drove the washed out road.

During one particularly bouncy stretch, there was a tense exchange:

Keegan: "Whoa, what was that?"
Dad: "Sorry, it is a very bumpy road."
Keegan: "That means you have to slow down, dad. SLOW DOWN!"

Whoever heard of a 2 year old backseat driver? Well, I have one. Lucky me. Here he is in all his glory.

Kate and Alden were much more tolerant, and generally didn't let the bouncing get in the way of watching Scooby Doo episodes on the DVD player, or enjoying the views along the way.


After a bit, even Keegan began to have fun, walking amongst the alpine flowers and clinging to binoculars every step of the way.

Of course, there is nothing like a beaver pond to make any trip, no matter how bouncy, a success.  We found a really great one about 2/3rds of the way through, and the kids had a heyday, wading, throwing rocks, and making friends with some boys who caught a salamander in the pond, and were kind enough to share.  


No sign of the beaver, but his handiwork was evident everywhere.  Farther along, up Francis Peak, there were some wonderful wildflowers.

The photo below is a view from the top.  The near peak is Bountiful Peak, and in the background lies the much higher mountains that tower over Salt Lake City and give us our great skiing.  

 I want to send the photo in to Chrysler with the caption "There is Only One Jeep."  Maybe it would even help them pay back that loan from my tax dollars. Win, win there.

Here is the family hiking up an un-named peak with Bountiful below to the left and the Salt Lake Valley in the background.   It was a hazy day, but the views were spectacular nonetheless.  In any event, I plan to come back a few times, because the sunsets are simply amazing.

All in all, a great afternoon.