Footsteps

This week, my parents and I have taken a few trips to Brighton Canyon. These trips are just a few of many I have made throughout my lifetime. I've been going hiking for as long as I can remember and that is probably why I find hiking so peaceful and relaxing. My dad and I always go for a hike no matter what time of the year it is. Twin Lakes and Mary Lake are the best hikes, though sometimes we just hike to the girls camp that is up there. After a hike, we usually go down a little ways to Silver Lake and we take a walk around that with my mom. Silver Lake has a flat path and doesn't require any hiking to get to, so it is easier on my mom. There is almost always something new to see. This last time we were up there, we saw a mother moose and her baby. It was really cool because I had never seen a baby moose in the wild before. Unfortunately, it was 11:00 at night, so I couldn't get a picture. Nighttime up there is so amazing though because you can see all of the stars up there perfectly. It is absolutely gorgeous. Another cool hike up in that area is the hike to Donut Falls.

Paths are necessary to get to all of these places, but sometimes a trail is missing. The first time my dad and I hiked to Twin Lakes we didn't know there was a path, so we kind of went trailblazing. It was fun, though totally unnecessary. Now we always take the path which is much better because it is not only easier, but ruins less foliage.

The only major landmark up there is a dirt Mickey Mouse head that somebody put on one of the mountains. Over the years he has become kind of deformed, but he used to be perfectly symmetrical.

These kind of recreational places are an important part of the city because they give the everyday joe an opportunity to get away from reality for awhile. It also helps break up the city and adds something else to a valley. Though these kinds of places aren't a part of the actual city, they are very close. I am a firm believer in enjoying nature and I am glad that I live in an area
that has many recreational areas such as Brighton. If I lived in a city like New York, I think I would lose my mind. I enjoy seeing mountains and trees in a perfectly natural environment. This isn't just a park, but an actual part of nature. Nature is a place I could easily lose myself in and would willingly do it if reality didn't come calling.