The Blanch Herd: June Hiking

Hiking in June just might be my favorite (but only until we get to October, of course). Everything is green, green, green and the wildflowers are blooming and the world is glorious! Here are our first few hikes of this month, but be sure to come back to see more (because there will definitely be more!).

1 June 2019: Wolf Creek Disc Golf Course

Okay, okay, so this wasn't exactly a "hike" officially, but I'm counting it because we walked on trails through grass and flowers and trees and next to a little stream and it was perfectly gorgeous! We just had a handful of discs in our hands and pouch to toss in the baskets along the way. We love this course especially in the spring before all the weeds get extra dry and pokey.

He's been watching disc golf competitions on youtube with Gregg
and even had a little approach run/step thing going on when he
got to the tee boxes. Can you say adorable?!

5 June 2019: Birdsong Trail

Tyke Hike #2 was excellent, as usual. We always enjoy birdsong trail, but it's extra nice in the early season when the trees are lush and the birds are singing. Last year we only went as far as the little stream and shady bench with this group (where we took the group shot) but this year's group was up for another quarter mile past that and we all got to enjoy the views of Ogden and the mountains from the top.

Again, I'm not going to attempt to list everyone's names, but
we had almost half of these moms and kids as first timers!
Even one mom (Maranda) just happened to show up at the same
trailhead at the same time as us, so she just stayed with us and
has now "joined" the group (all you have to do is give me your
number so I can text you the info each week). So fun to see this
little hobby grow and be loved by so many!
(We had Lara, Maren, Sara, Maranda, Jennii, Kelsey, Brecklyn,
Alicia, Lupita, Marin, Megan and me and all those cute kiddos.)

I'm leaving this one, too, just because I love Sam's cute folded
arms pose that he's started doing in many photos lately.

Almost to the top!

See what I mean about the folded arms? Too cute!

For future reference - I want to see if I can
find a good waterfall overlook spot on one
of these trails.

Resting and visiting at the top.

Back down we go.

I didn't know a tree like this had flowers.

But it was in full bloom!

bonus video!

"birdsong on the Birdsong"

Wonder how it got its name?

16 June 2019: Pineview Trail from the North Arm Trailhead

Gregg requested a Father's Day hike/walk after dinner and we happily obliged on our nearby favorite. This place is so lush right now! It almost looks tropical in places!

Posing with one leg up. Okie doke.

Someone built a cool little stick hut off the
trail that was fun to explore.

Cuties. And the best dad in the whole wide
world in the middle. (He's cute, too.)

A new hiking technique here.

17 June 2019: Mules Ear Connector Trail in North Fork Park

A new trail and a Monday Night Hike! Woo! Heaven! The Mules Ears were lovely, as to be expected on a trail named after them. We didn't hike far because of the threatening storm, but the mile round trip that we did get to see was entirely lovely.

Dyers Woad pickers.

Time for a rest and a Come Follow Me lesson
(and an oatmeal cream pie).

I'm in love!

19 May 2019: Pineview Trail from the North Arm Trailhead

Yes, again. Always! This time with the Tyke Hikers. This is my third season of leading Tyke Hikes and only the first time I've been able to take them on my favorite trail since it has been closed from the spring of 2017 (when I started the group) till last fall (after we were done summer hiking). Finally! We were fewer in numbers by this year's standards, and were missing a few of the bigger kids who were at soccer camp, but it was a fun time showing most of these newbies this gem.

Moms who came this time: Sadie, Erin, Kelsey, Jennica, Amanda,
Savanna, Jennii and me (and not pictured was Jamie, who got there
late and missed the group shot).

Sam was so at home on this trail (as he should
be since we hike it so much) that he took
over as tour guide and showed the kids and moms
all the cool features on the hike.

A gorgeous bluebird day for a hike with friends!

26 June 2019: Art Nord Trailhead Mini Loop

Tyke Hike #4 was up at the Art Nord Trailhead at the end of Old Snowbasin Road. It was lush and green and gorgeous and the hikers were in abundance. We hiked up the trail till it met up with the road and then looped back down on the (yes, it's closed and the kids are fine to walk down it!) road. Minus the part where another mom and I had to speedwalk/jog further down the trail than expected to find three kids (one was hers, the other two belonged to other moms) who were having a ball being the leaders but didn't know when to turn, the hike was a success. The kids found bones and shells and caterpillars and everyone seemed to have a great time.