Meeting Up and Skipping Town

Last Saturday night Mike and I got together for dinner with this bunch. Good friends from high school days. Out of all the people in this photo, only 4 did not go to school with us. I sure love these guys. We laughed until we cried.

Mike had a weekend get away - just the two of us - to Bryce Canyon planned for my birthday. It's been a challenging week here at our house - and we almost didn't end up going. So glad we did. We stopped on our way south and spent time in the Payson Temple, getting some peace and clarity. Bryce was stunning this time of year with the melting snow, contrasting with the orange hoodoos. We enjoyed a couple of days with time to talk, be together and soak up the beauty all around  - it was so perfect. Thanks Mike!

Also, this trip was a big milestone for our family; the first time we have left our children overnight on their own (sort of - I had my sisters check in on them). The kids did an amazing job! Not only was the house still standing, but they had done their jobs, taken care of the animals, and managed to get along...all without Mom and Dad there to prod them along! We have great kids.

Bryce and Grand Back to Back

We decided when the kids had some time off from school this Fall we wanted to visit Bryce Canyon. I also really wanted to take them to the Grand Canyon, but we weren't sure that we'd be able to fit both. Luckily, it all worked out. It was awesome. 

The first evening there we took a short hike to the Queen Victoria's Garden via the Sunrise Point trail. 

Thor's Hammer on the trail to Queen's Garden.

The evening light was so beautiful.

After our hike we decided to go to dinner at the highly recommended Bryce Canyon Pines. We know we have a big family, but we were reminded in a big way of how unconventional that is. We ended up having to wait an hour an a half for an 8-person table, and then the entire time we ate, all the European tourists seated around us stared continuously. I had to smile.

The kids were extraordinarily well behaved considering we didn't get to eat until 9:00 PM.

We stayed that night at the Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, a sister hotel to Ruby's Inn at the park entrance. We'll stay there again.

One of our favorite hikes in Bryce was the short double trail called Moss Cave. One spur of the trail heads off to a really cool window formation. The kids would have spent all day playing there if we'd let them.

We left Bryce late in the afternoon after seeing more of the park. We headed south to St. George along THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STRETCH OF HIGHWAY I HAVE EVER TRAVELED. The part of highway 89 that runs down through Hatch along the Sevier River, then cutting west on highway 14 to Duck Creek and past Cedar Breaks. Heaven must look like that.

We spent that night at Mike's parents' house in Washington. The next morning we struck out for the North Rim with Mike's dad coming along for the adventure.

I don't think I have ever been on that road before. It was eerie driving through Springdale and Colorado City. Those places are just unsettling.

We stopped in at Jacob Lake before we entered the park and Grandpa bought one of their famous cookies for each of us. If you go to the North Rim, I definitely recommend a cookie from the Jacob Lake Gift Shop.

 The Grand Canyon in the fall is extra spectacular. The scope of it boggles the mind.

 Mike strategically sent me away so he could  take this picture. I almost break out in a sweat still just looking at it. I was so jittery with the kids all day whenever a ledge was in sight - even with a hand rail and chain link. I don't handle cliffs very well.

On the way out of the park we had to stop to let a large herd of buffalo cross the road.

We drove back to St. George that night thoroughly awed by the wonders of nature and God's power.

 We spent the next day kicking around St. George. We visited Judd's Store, an old mercantile store that now serves soups, sandwiches, ice cream and a wonderful array of sodas.

Sipping my Leninade

On Sunday we went to church with Mike's mom and dad and then got back on the road for home. We got back late -- but fully refreshed.

So glad to have been able to spend a week away from it all, enjoying the people I love most and unwinding in nature.

Hiking with Friends

Albion Basin Saturday. I love this shot of Grace in the meadow.

Our friends, the Wheeler's, recently moved back up from southern California. We met them up the canyon yesterday AM for a hike. There was a bigger crowd than I have ever seen up there to see the wild flowers this weekend, but we avoided most of the crowd by just hiking up from Alta instead - an extra mile and a half. We saw the best wild flowers in the lower meadows anyway. The flowers weren't as prolific this year because of the drought, and Cecret Lake was really low - but all was still lovely.  It was a beautiful day. Great company. 

Mike, the story teller, weaving another tale under the ski lift.

While we didn't see as many wild flowers as at other times, we did see our share of wild life. Three moose, a deer and this sweet, pudgy marmot on the rocks.

Monte Cristo

Back in June when Mike's bro's were in town we went hiking at Monte Cristo Peak. The peak itself is sort of scramble terrain and we had the kids, so we just went to the saddle below the peak with views of Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons - and had lunch. It was a beautiful, clear day, a little bit chilly. 

Yesterday I was looking through my pictures, and found these. That outing must have fallen between the blogging cracks, but the pictures were cool ...so here they are. 

We need to get out for some more of this soon. Especially because it is SO HOT down in the valley.

Goblin Valley calling

(I really apologize in advance for how long this post is and the number of pictures. But I'm telling you this was one of the best trips EVER.)

We've been wanting to get out of town for some solitude. Originally, I was trying to plan a trip later in the spring. But as we looked at the calendar we decided sooner was better - so we threw caution to the wind, pulled the kids out of school for the last couple of days of the quarter and ran as fast as we could to Goblin Valley. (Literally. Mike got a speeding ticket on the way there.)

When I looked at reservations I discovered that Goblin Valley has a couple of new yurts. We pounced on that. And we will definitely do that again. As Mike put it - "the best $60 hotel he's ever stayed in". Totally comfortable. The heater (more like a mini fireplace) was wonderful with the nights still chilly.

The weather was PERFECTION. 70 degrees. Sun. Unbeatable hiking weather.

Which was great,

because we went for a new record with the kids. The full 8-mile Bell / Little Wild Horse Canyon loop.

Not only was this the longest hike with the kids to date - but also the most technical. There were plenty of boulder falls, and cracks to scale. There was a lot of hoisting one another up or down the tricky parts, taking the baby packer off and passing it carefully, and keeping a tight grip on Sully. I admit I got a little nervous a few times. But I have to say that Mike and I were speechless watching our kids rise to the challenge. 5 1/2 hours of pretty difficult hiking/climbing & they not only managed the tough parts, but looked forward to them.

Noble was our unofficial route scout. He went ahead and found the easiest way around or through. Jessie was so helpful with the little boys, and made sure everyone made it. Grace and Tillman were an unstoppable team. I just couldn't believe how they got along and worked together. No one got discouraged by the length of the trail. Never bummed to find yet ANOTHER giant boulder or drop-off blocking the route. Other than some saddle soreness from riding on Mike's shoulders and trail fatigue, Sully was a trooper. And Abner! Holy smokes, that kid was amazing. He didn't fuss the entire time. He sat in his packer, making cute sounds, playing with my hair or sleeping. He finally started to cry a little about 200 yards from the car as we came off the trail.

I think this will live as one of those watershed family experiences when everyone felt bonded. Even if the next day the kids couldn't stand to breathe the same air in the car - we could always remember those 5 1/2 hours of blissful togetherness. 

Go family!

In the narrows...

We were totally beat after our epic trek. So to come back to a yurt instead of a tent that night was heaven.

Kickin' it in the Adirondack chairs at the yurt. 

The next day we spent among the hoodoos in the Valley of the Goblins - one of our favorite places in the world.

 

 

My brother, Casey, and his family happened to be coming to Goblin Valley with friends the day we were leaving. So we had lunch with them before heading home. About 10 miles up the road we came across one of Casey's old friends (Steve Wilson - my sibs will recognize the name) and his family broke down. Long story short: after a lot of back and forth, a quick visit to Hanksville and extending Noble's G - Valley vacation by a day - problem solved.

I'd go back tomorrow.