Backpacking with Mom

Really I should be saying Backpacking with the Boys.

Kaleb and I have been talking about backpacking from Tony's Grove to Green Canyon since winter. I have just been wanting to get back into a place where there isn't much action going on. Really, I would love to hike deep into the mountain and then just sit for a day, listening to the birds and the breeze rustling through leaves.

Instead.....I kept up with the fast pace of the boys, hiking through the wilderness.

I have to chuckle at myself. I always walked fast when the kids were really little. They would be practically running their skinny little legs just to keep up. I told them that it's good exercise to walk fast. Well....now all of them are fast walkers, hikers, and now I am having to work harder just to keep up with them.

This is proof that I am a part of this adventure.

 We set off at 5pm on a Friday night after the boys got home from work and showered. 

It was a straight up incline to Naomi Point. These little kids and their Dad passed me up. But then again we had 35 pound packs on our backs.

 This looked like Whoville. 

I guess you could call these flowers. They actually looked like little old men with crazy hair. 

 I was taking pictures with my cell phone so they aren't super clear.

I didn't want to lug around the big camera. I've done that before and it is cumbersome.

 It felt so good to be outside at sundown.

My favorite time of day.

What do you want to do....

I don't know....

What do you want to do....

We could go to that rock......

 We ended up hiking in the dark down to High Creek Lake.

I was a little nervous because my night vision isn't as good as it used to be.

I had asked the boys if they were nervous that it was dark and when they responded with a look like

"what?" I knew that I didn't have to worry. If they aren't worried, I'm not worried.

They are way more experienced that me.

It was weird that me, their mother, was relying on my sons, ages 17 and 21 for security.

I trusted them and they never failed.

My sons are awesome!

 We woke up in this little valley with snow and the start of Spring in July.

Every square foot had wildflowers just about to bloom.

 Of course I was up earlier than the boys. The tents were drenched with dew.

It was crisp, damp, clean and absolutely beautiful.

 This guy is a well experienced coffee maker. Wish I drank coffee.

 We kept passing these Cairons. I think this one looks like a horse.

 The boys were so patient with me.

I was so excited about all the wildflowers. 

It was like being in a blooming wonderland.

 These purple stalks were sooo tall!

They came up to Jared's shoulder and he is 6ft 2in.

 I think a little mouse family lives in that hole.

It could be Tinkerbell.

 We were so tired. We had hiked 7 miles the first night, and then 8 miles the second day. 

I discovered my hiking boots aren't as good as I thought.

But Pizza for dinner with homemade dough was awesome!

 Kaleb made the meal plan and told me what to buy.

We had hamburger and veges the first night, scrambled egg (yes, we packed 6 eggs) burritos for breakfast, tuna for lunch, pizza for dinner and cinnamon rolls for Sunday morning breakfast.

 We even managed to get the top browned.

 As I was watching the boys pack up to head out I happened to notice that my Jared had all blue gear....his favorite color.

And Kaleb had all his gear in green....his favorite color.

It reminded me of when they were little and I would have color coded cups, toothbrushes, clothes etc...in their favorite colors. I guess some things you don't grow out of.

 Something went horribly wrong with our cinnamon rolls.

 We ended up making a big biscuit with cinnamon on top. It was good though.

 Something that we need to try again, maybe in the backyard though.

We hiked a total of 20 miles from Friday night to Saturday morning.

Kirk and the girls picked us up walking along side the road. 

I am so happy that I could spend time with my boys....really, I spent the weekend with men.

These guys can really know their stuff. Never once did they complain that I was too slow, or complain when I told them hold on a second, I need to rest a minute, or complain when I had to sit down and take off my shoes and socks to apply about 7 bandaids to three of my toes which I am sure that I will be losing my nails in the next month or so.

I enjoyed listening to their conversations and what their interests are in life...plans for the future.

It was a window into their young lives that I admire and love.

These guys are pretty amazing.

I trusted them when I had absolutely no idea where we were.

They even found me a couple heart rocks to add to my huge collection.

Spending three days, backpacking with a 35 pound pack, three bruised and blistered toes, hiking through wildflowers with my two sons was priceless.

Tony Grove Lake

We picked up Kirk last night and decided that the girls and I wanted to go to Tony Grove Lake to see the wildflowers after church. Kirk was pretty tired but he always goes along with what we want to do. He doesn't want to miss out on anything, especially after being gone for three weeks.

 It was a perfect day. Not all the wildflowers had bloomed so we will have to plan a trip back. There is just something about spending time outside. I don't even like my windows shut for long.

Kirk claimed that we needed it documented that I actually do exist. I am always the one taking the pictures. This wasn't posed by the way. I always stand with my hands on my hips. It is a habit of mine.

Daphne, with her camera in hand, is always in the back taking her time soaking up the sights. It always amazes me how bright green the lichen is here with the grey right next to it. It is so healthy. A good sign for good air quality. Sounds good to me.

Crimson Trail

I think my favorite thing about where we live is the hiking opportunities that are literally 5 minutes from our house. Okay, well maybe 10 min. I might be exaggerating. And it might be the seasons....it's so hard to decide. I'm not an indecisive person, there is just so many things to choose from, I can't decide. Each season brings something new.

 My other very favorite thing in the whole world is hiking next to water. I miss living next to the ocean so being able to be near moving water is so appealing and replenishing to me. Just the sound alone takes me out of stress and puts me in a place where I can handle just about anything. Well, some things. Whining really gets under my skin.

I am always so amazed at how healthy the lichen and mosses are here. And the variety of wild flowers is just amazing.  I have observed a pretty standard method of hiking with the kids. First of all, Kirk was already working in Texas so he wasn't with us. But it is almost the same each time. The boys in the front with the dogs....Sammy kept high tailing it down the side of the mountain after who knows what. So he was on the leash. Victoria running up ahead with the boys then resting until Daphne and I catch up with her. Then she would run up ahead once again. Her method is completly ineffective for preserving energy but she likes it that way. She's young, so she can climb up hill and chatter and not be out of breath like me if I were to do that. I am usually way behind with Daphne who has an incredible lack of depth perception. She just plugs away at it taking it at her pace which can drive me nuts at time. Alot of times, we hold hands to give her more secure footing and to quicken her pace...just a little. Plus it gives me time to take in the beautiful scenery and take pictures which I love to do. I would like to take better ones.....some day.The boys are patient with us, thankfully. Though I will ask them if they say this...or that...and NO, they hadn't seen a bit of it. I will stop them and make them come back to me to show them something that God has created in all his awesomeness. They say, Oh yeah, and then walk on. Someday I think they will appreciate the beauty in nature. They love being outside and the freedom of the trail as opposed to observing the details along the way.

 I tease Daphne about being last. She doesn't care, she is enjoying every step. She likes it in the back where it is quiet. Since the time she was just a little girl, she has always walked just behind me so she can follow and know where I am. I think now it is habit and easier for her to visually keep an eye on the family.

My boys, up ahead, with a tight rein on the doggies. Hmmm. I wonder why. Sometimes I think that the dogs...don't think. One would be crazy enough to fall off the edge and the other one would be dumb enough to follow. But we still love them with all our hearts!

 Not all of the wildflowers in early June had bloomed. I loved to see the stages that they were all in.

If you aren't familiar with the Crimson Trail it is high. The climb is steep with switch backs and then you hike along the China Wall in Logan Canyon. Victoria was claiming to say that she was scared. It was high, but the trail was wide. I had a hard time believing that she was scared as she is swinging this sunflower around and singing a made up song. Hmm. I didn't buy it but loved on her and encouraged her to calm her fears.She had enough and ran up ahead along this trail that she supposedly was scared on until she reached the boys and then cut in front of them so she was first on the trail.  As we were coming down, which I really think was harder than going up, some college girls were catching their breath under an enormous tree. The boys had already passed them, we could hear Henry whining like a girlie dog wanting to meet and greet them. They asked me if it got easier and was it worth it. I turned toward Victoria who is only 8 years old and looked back at them. Yes, it is worth it, and you can make it. It is beautiful up there. Just enjoy the journey.