Dog Lake, Wasatch Range, UT

Goin’ to the Dogs!
Contributor: Nancy Henry

Location: Dog Lake can be reached from either Mill Creek Canyon via the BigWater Trail (end of Mill Creek Canyon Road) or from Mill D North Fork Trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon (Trailhead is 8.6 miles up Big Cottonwood, on the left, across
from Spruces Campground).

Cost: Free






What to expect: Beauty!! The wildflowers peaked late this summer, so we picked the perfect weekend to take in their splendor. It also made for some spectacular photo ops. We have also done this hike in the fall and it was incredible – lots of golden aspens.

We have only done the Big Cottonwood option, so what I say from here on out pertains to that one. There is plenty to see on the trail for kids. The beginning has some big rocks for climbing, and there’s a place to stop next to the stream about ½ way up. After the long hike, the lake is definitely the reward. We kept enticing our 4-year-old with the lake and the dogs; otherwise I’m not quite sure he would have made it. The whining immediately turned to glee when he rounded the corner and saw a dog bounding into the water after a ball. “Mom, I want to do what that dog
is doing!” – and he took off running. “Wait, no! You can’t do what the dog is doing!” Thankfully, he wanted to throw the ball to the dog, not dive in the water after the ball.

The lake is set in a wooded area, unlike most of the mountain lakes in Big Cottonwood. The reflection of the trees in the lake adds to the scenery. It’s a great place to kick off your shoes, throw some rocks in the lake, and see your share of different dog breeds. Oh, and have lunch if you happened to be smart enough to bring it.


Important stuff to know before you go:
- Dogs are allowed at the lake (hence the name), but only via the Mill Creek Canyon trail. You cannot bring dogs into Big Cottonwood Canyon because it is a watershed area, but the lake itself has no surface outlet, so dogs are allowed there. For kids, no matter which way you hike, the lake is the reward – all kinds of dogs, big and small, chasing all kinds of stuff into the water! What more could a kid ask for!
- Hike is 5 miles round trip from either trail, and approximately 1400 feet elevation gain. I would typically not recommend this for 4 –year-olds, but we remembered it as shorter and brought ours (having last done it about 3 years ago when he was riding in a backpack.) It is generally not too steep and has quite a few flat sections, however, the end is very steep.
- Mountain Bikers galore! But only on even days – well, we didn’t know this before our hike, which we did on August 6th – enough said. Constant jumping to the side of the trail. On the upside, all bikers were very polite. Also, the kids enjoyed watching them pass by.
- Bug spray is needed! We had just camped in Big Cottonwood Canyon two weekends before so we did know this – we just forgot. If not for meeting some friends on the trail who saw us slapping and scratching and were generous with their bug spray, we would have surrendered to the army of biting flies and headed back.
- Guidebooks say expect 1.5 hours up to the lake, but with one set of little legs and one kid in a backpack it took us just over 2. Since we set out at 10:00, we should have brought our lunch up with us, rather than leaving it in the trunk of the car – lesson learned.

The Bug Band - As good as it claims!

Contributor:  Christine Kieft
It sounds like a gimmick right?  Some stupid rubber bracelet that you strap on your kid and when you get home he's covered in bug bites.  I was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness and scent of this product.  At one point the mosquitoes were swarming around my son's head like he'd been dropped in a pool full of piranhas, as soon as I put the bug band on they disappeared. We camped for 2 days and 2 nights and my son didn't get a single bite, while the rest using DEET and DEET Free bug spray weren't as lucky.  


The band is good for 120 hours of use. If you only use it for a few, put it back in it's case and save it for next time.  Because my son likes to put everything imaginable in his mouth I would either put it on his ankle, strap it to the back of his bib during meals, or hook it on the Beco Butterfly II (http://thekidproject.blogspot.com/2011/07/beco-ii-butterfly-must-have.html) while hiking.  We got ours at Baby's R Us for less than $3.

The Deuter Kid Comfort III Baby Carrier

Contributor: Sam and Hilary Lowe
For those serious hikers out there who love to bring their kiddos along, this backpack is perfect for you. There are a lot of backpacks out there to choose from and it can be overwhelming trying to find one that works best. We tried going cheap and used hand-me-down packs that squeaked with every step and sent us sore and achy to the chiropractor. The packs were not only uncomfortable for me, but our little ones complained as well. It became a battle just getting
them into the pack.
Then one spring, we met the Deuter! We went on a hike with some friends who had the Deuter and we didn’t. My husband’s back was killing him and our 2 year old only weighed 20 lbs. at the time. From that day on, we knew the Deuter was the pack for us. Wow, what a difference. No more achy back, no more complaining, and no more squeaking along the trail.
We purchased this back when our 3rd child was on the way and have spent many a hike out and about toting her around. The pack features plenty of storage space (1,200 cubic inches) for water, snacks, sunscreen, and whatever else you may need to bring along. We stuff our Beco (http://thekidproject.blogspot.com/2011/07/beco-ii-butterfly-must-have.html) in too so we have an option just in case our toddler needs a brief ride as well.

In addition, here is a quick list of more great features:

1. Incredibly adjustable. My husband is 6’2” and I am 5’5”. This pack adjusts in minutes
for easy transfer on the trail. The harness also adjusts to sit smaller children up higher.
2. There is a removable plush pillow for comfy napping in the pack.
3. This pack can carry a 40 lb. kid.
4. And a high back headrest with a zip-out sun roof/rain cover which works great shading
our baby and keeping her dry during a rain storm.
5. The buckle system is color coded for ease of use and safety.
6. Well worth the price tag ($298)!

As with most things, some cons exist:

1. The high back headrest is a bit tall and hits tree branches and limits maneuverability
through tight spots. This con just takes getting used to.
2. The pack itself starts out a bit heavy (6 lbs. 13 oz.) and is bulky when packing it in the
car.
3. We have the 2010 version and the zippers on the pockets are difficult to open and close.
The 2011 version has a different zipper design that works better.
4. It’s expensive.

Happy hiking!

Awesome/Easy Breakfast Burritoes

Easy Camping Breakfast for the Whole Family

Contributed by Hilary Lowe :

All you need is a frying pan for these scrumptious easy burritos:

½ cup cooked cherrizo or sausage

1/2 cup torn spinach

6 eggs

¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

5-7 flour tortillas

1 frying pan

Heat the pan on your camping stove and add the meat and cook until warmed.  Add the spinach.  Crack the 6 eggs into the pan and add the cheese.  Stir to combine.  When the eggs have cooked completely, scoop an eye-balled ¼ cup of the mixture onto a flour tortilla and enjoy.  You don’t even need a plate or a fork.  These burritos taste great with a cup of hot cocoa or your favorite coffee.

Strawberry Yogurt Pops

Here is a recipe my friend Anna Letvin, mother of two, adapted from "Turtle" magazine, a preschool magazine her son, David, gets.  She loves cooking and is pretty great at it! For more great recipes visit her blog, "Good Gifts" at http://dal-babyboy.blogspot.com/ . This recipe is sure to keep them cool in the outdoors! Strawberry Yogurt Pops What you need: Blender or food processor 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries 1 cup whole fat plain yogurt 1-2 Tablespoons honey (depending how sweet you like it) 1/4 cup apple or orange juice Frozen pop molds OR Paper cups, foil and popsicle sticks OR Ice cube trays Method: Place strawberries in blender and puree until smooth.  Add yogurt, honey and juice and blend all together.  Fill molds and place on tops. Freeze for 4 hours or until firm.  Enjoy! Alternates:  Fill paper cups 3/4 full and place a piece of foil over each.  Make a slit in the foil and poke a popsicle stick through.  Freeze in ice cube trays and serve in a bowl with a spoon.