Death Canyon Trailhead Hike to Phelps Lake in Teton National Park

OK.  Cool day.  Big hike for the small people and they did great.  The book Christian read said this was a great hike for "families", but may I say I didn't see any other little kids.  Easy 0.9 mile hike up to a beautiful observation point.  We didn't linger here for long as we knew we were headed down to the lake for a picnic lunch.  1.1 miles down to Phelps Lake at the bottom of Prospector's Mountain.  As we headed down it was steep and steady enough that I told Christian it was going to be a tough uphill (esp. after they had already hiked 2 miles!!).  We had a wonderful picnic lunch by the lake and the kids loved playing in the water.  It was COLD, but the longer you stayed in (should I say stood in...we did not bring suits!) the better it felt.  The hike back up was tough.  Jane is usually the rock and she folded.  Christian had to shoulder her up the last 25 feet or so (not too shabby!) and Tullis was our rock.. Didn't complain once!  We lingered at the observation point this time so everyone could regroup a little then hiked back down the 0.9 mile to the car.  We got some great photos (I am sure I am posting too many so scroll quickly!) and a video.  I couldn't resist the video as the sound of the "waves" on the beach was so peaceful.  Pictures don't do it justice, but here you are...

 The following are on the way up top the observation point.

 At the observation point...Phelps Lake below.

 Continuing down the trail to Phelps Lake.

Above is a cool spot on the trail where there was clearly some sort of slide awhile back.  There were 3 "zags" on the trail that you went through this terrain...all rock.   For the sailing crowd you kind of "tacked" down the mountain and 3 legs were rock.

An Aspen grove.  I hear recently that a grouping of Aspen trees is actually one organism..  They are so beautiful!

 Phelps Lake!  When you stepped off the trail the air was cool and the water peaceful as it lapped the shore.

 After lunch...up we go!

 Back at the top!  The lake and backdrop were so striking!  Above is the last picture of Jane before complete meltdown as we headed up.

 My photography is pathetic, but the trees below made this very cool star and they were all trees that fell and caught each other.

And the video.  If you got this far I am impressed!