Brighton Resort Hikes

As the reality of moving sinks in, I've realized there is still SO much we wanted to do here in Utah- places to go, things to see, people to visit, etc. I had made a list of top places to go visit, but between my spring classes and finding a place to live in Madison and looking for mini-vans and making moving arrangements...we have been amazed at how fast our time is disappearing ;(
There's just no way to do it all/see it all before we leave, so we just have more reasons to come back for visits :)
**The good news is we DO have a place to live in Madison now! We had to sign the lease just trusting the pictures online, so hopefully we're not disappointed when we get there- but we sure are relieved to have that taken care of! Now it's just a matter of GETTING to Madison...

We were able to go up Big Cottonwood Canyon one Saturday. (We were amazed that neither of us had been up there...but then again, not being skiers, that kind of explains it!) We were a little worried our little car wouldn't make it, but we took it nice and slow and enjoyed the amazing scenery as we drove past different ski resorts. Recently we heard of several people doing a hike to Silver Lake. Ben and some friends had just done it and said it was a little strenuous. However, when Tyler was looking up possible hikes to do, Silver Lake kept coming up, but with the description "easy" and "wheelchair accessible." Hmmm. Either someone was lying or there were 2 different Silver Lakes!
Turns out there ARE 2 quite different hikes to places called Silver Lake! We chose to do the easier one starting at Brighton Ski Resort and then to keep hiking to 2 nearby lakes.

We did feel a little silly starting the "hike" on a boardwalk- but Jordy didn't seem to mind! :)

This is Silver Lake (or at least one of them in Utah!)

Then from Silver Lake we started the "real" hike to Solitude Lake. It was a nice little hike through the woods and amazing views of the surrounding mountains with this nice little lake at the end!

Tyler was taking a picture of another couple that we passed and Jordy was helping make sure he took a good picture!

We decided to keep on going to the third lake. However, the little map we had looked at did not prepare us for the elevation climb that would come! But this picture was taken before we made that discovery - so we were still smiling! (We had walked around the lake and made just a little climb so that is Solitude Lake behind us) 

Happy Hikers surrounded by BEAUTIFUL mountains! *I kept feeling like we should be singing "the hills are alive with the sound of music!" 

WE MADE IT! I think we were literally hiking up a ski run- it was pretty steep, but we took it nice and slow! (My first and probably only time to be on a ski run! It's amazing to think at some times of year there is enough snow to cover all that!)

We didn't pass anyone on this stretch of the hike, so we had to trust going up would eventually lead us there! Luckily there were some good rocks along the side that made for a good "self-timer" picture! :)

Twin Peaks Lake

After that hard work, we found a nice little semi-shaded spot to have a little picnic lunch! Jordy was happy to be out of his pack! (And Tyler didn't mind that either!)

In front of Twin Peaks Lake

On our way back down to Silver Lake 

(Once again we found a great self-timer rock- that's what they're there for, right?!) I could have stared at this view forever! It was an AWESOME hike!

Walking around Silver Lake on our way back 

Somebody was ready for a nap after all that! (We all were, actually!)