August 31, 2024

I love me a morning hike. The way the light hits the rocks is so cool. Also cool - having friends that like to do longer hikes with you. Claire and Spencer joined Darren and I for 7.5 miles from Grand Wash to Cassidy Arch, along the Frying Pan trail, through Cohab Canyon, and back to the campground. It was a great CR hike and we enjoyed some pie at the top. The kids and Kings came to join in the camping fun. We had a good little hike up Sulfur Creek (when we noticed an E Coli warning after we finished - we kept reminding Kenz you can’t get E Coli from having your feet in the water). We had a great evening at Panorama Point. Kids were laughing and dancing and it was outdoor togetherness at its finest. 

August 30, 2024

Labor Day weekend is starting in Capitol Reef. Wahoo! Some chili Fritos and a small sunset hike (Cohab Canyon) and the fun begins. Of course the deer greeted us at our campsite. 

August 28, 2024

I’ve been on a Celine Dion kick. Listening to her music makes me smile as I always remember when Darren brought home a new Celine Dion CD for me for no reason. We hadn’t been married very long and it made me so happy.  Good times in the mid 90s. 

August 25, 2024

Happy birthday to the National Park Service! It’s been a great NPS year. I visited 19 parks in the past 12 months. As always there were lots of Utah parks visits but we also crossed off 2 new parks (Sequoia and Kings) and returned to 2 favorites (Grand Teton and Glacier). 

“The care of the earth and of our natural environment is a sacred responsibility entrusted to us by God, which should fill us with a deep sense of duty and humility.” - Bishop Gerald Causse

Bryce, Capitol Reef, Zion, Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Zion, Capitol Reef, Bryce, Grand Teton, Glacier, Yosemite, Kings, Sequoia, Death Valley, Grand Teton

August 23, 2024

What a fun hike today. We went up Little Cottonwood to hike to Catherine Pass. Lorien and I went ahead and bit and continued our hike to Sunset Peak. Such a great hike with a big payoff for only 4.2 miles round trip. Flowers were gone but the lakes from above were beautiful. We had some misty clouds surrounding the mountain but didn’t get rained on. 

August 18, 2024

Some specific things that made me smile this week:

Senior Sadie. Topper Tuesday. Trail talk. Croquet (crochet). Dr Mario. Our park. Big horn sheep. Girls making fruit pizza. Olive Garden D and me talking with Cam and Sade. Epic game of Bang. Kids laughing while playing Mario Kart. Remembering how it was a 14 moose summer. Alma 48 with so many awesome phrases - preparing the minds of the people to be faithful until the Lord their God - band of Christians (who wants to join the band?!?) - no less serviceable - firm in the faith of Christ. 

August 17, 2024

Back to school party! Games (Bang, croquet, and Mario Kart) and pizza (fruit and Dominos).  Good times having us all together. “Why are all your kids here?” “Back to school party.” :)