White Pines Slide Area - Family Recreation!

A few miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon there is a place called "White Pines Slide Area." It's a natural avalanche channel, so you can't stop there in winter, but the summer time is a different story entirely! A few months after we had moved into our house below the mouth of this canyon, we took a family ride and found this amazing play ground. A HUGE boulder field to climb on and enjoy. Some of these rocks are bigger than our house, and it's just a natural place to explore. It's not without danger though - that summer Zack slipped and cut his knee open badly on one of the sharp edges and we had to take him to the ER for a bunch of stitches - but that has never slowed him down.

Just a little part of the boulder field

This is part of Zack's an my summer. Andrew is always off and doing his thing, Linz is living her life, and Zack is still at home. We make it a point to go up the canyon together several times every summer to explore White Pines and beyond. Of course, in a place like this, your imagination simply goes wild. We have so much fun here. There is one GIANT rock in particular we call "Titanic" It looks like the prow of a ship and it truly is TITANIC! But, being that this place is so magical, it brings out the beast in you at times!

What is that thing lurking in the trees?

This day was so awesome. We just went to hang out in the rocks and afterwards to scout the river for a good piece of drift wood. A few years back Zack and I discovered this awesome weathered plank. It had been in the water for ages and was all rounded and smooth. We brought it home to Chris, and after it finally dried out, I drilled holes in it to mount Chris's antique door-knobs on it. The intent was to make a coat hanger, but we liked it so much that we put it in our bedroom and Chris's collection of antique beaded purses hangs on her collection of antique door-knobs! Anyway, to the point, Zack and I make it a habit to scour the river for another perfect plank. On this trip, we found an awesome one that we'll actually make into a coat hanger for our living room (unless Chris has other decorative ideas!).

If Zack looks happy, it's because we were!

This is one of our favorite rocks up there. We've taken many pictures of the kids in this exact spot. It is perfect for taking a nap, or taking pictures. It does give you an idea of how big some of these rocks are!

Resting on the ledge

Once we've exhausted ourselves on the rocks, we cross the road and roam the river bottoms. There are many natural dams there and many timber falls that make for a lot of fun. Some of the wood in those falls has been there for ages. A lot of mining and quarying used to take place up this canyon, so there are a lot of heavy timbers and boards imbedded in the falls. There are deep pools with small fish in them, and the sound is deafening in the spring.

Goofin' off in the river bottom

Half the fun of playing along the river is trying to find your way across it or into parts you've never been in. We've found some amazing things in this area. We came across a place where the water has been coming off a rock in one place for so long that it's carved a natural rock wash basin below it. It's awesome. The rocks in the bottom of the river have been tumbled so many times that they're very smooth. Whenever I go anywhere in the world, I bring back rocks to remind me of the trip. Well, Zack always makes it a point to select one from each trip we take to White Pines together. They have a special place of honor on my shelf... right next to the one from the top of Mt. Kilamanjaro and the ones from the bottom of Loch Ness.

Looking for a way across

As the years have passed and I've progressed with this disease, I've slowed down and can't climb like I used to. But the awesome thing is, Zack slows down, helps me over the rough spots, and always looks out for me. I love my times up the canyon with Zack. I wouldn't trade them for the world. We laugh, talk and tease the entire time. It's so much fun. The nice fresh air makes us both tired, and we come home from these day trips happy, fatigued, and looking forward to the next trip up the canyon. I wish every father had this much fun with their kids.

The look of a happy and content son

Zack and I are planning our excursions for this summer. We haven't been up yet this year, but we'll be going soon. Last year we discovered that there was a lake clear up at the top of this canyon - and this year we've vowed to eachother that we'll find it. And we will - of this I'm certain. These times with Zack are some of my fondest and most cherished memories. I hope he never out grows the desire to hang out with his old man.

This is me... take it or leave it.