Down, Set, Hike!

This is not a football post, although I really need to do one of those.


My friend, Suz and I have decided hiking is our new passion.

And that means our 11 sons, 1 daughter, 2 husbands and 1 dog have a new passion too.

They're thrilled!


Our first hike this year was Little Wild Horse Canyon a beautiful Utah slot canyon.



Wait, is compartmentalizing a good or bad thing??


Next there was Calf Creek falls.



I think a good camera and longer bangs that will stay put is a priority for this hiking thing. Our trail companions sure are cute!



Then we hiked up to the Alpine Sliding rock, not much of a hike but, the destination was great.



Now so far none of these hikes was really demanding or challenging, then Suz got a Hiking book so we bumped it up in a BIG way.

Grove Creek to Battle Creek 9+ miles with an elevation increase of 2,300 feet. Ack! Way off in the distance... Way down there... That is the valley floor.


It was a tough hike; but, I gotta say, this was the most amazingly beautiful hike this year. The leaves had all turned to glorious shades of yellow, red and brown, the grasses were waist high, the weather was perfect. We even drank from a spring and no one got Mad Deer Disease. Buwaahaha, ha, errr...hmmm.



The weekend before Halloween we hiked Stewart Falls.

We found a Leprechaun hiding beside the trail.


Turns out the Leprechaun was just #6 really excited to be the Notre Dame mascot for Halloween. Darn! I could have really used that pot of gold.


There's always a moment on these crazy adventures of ours where the kids are far enough behind or in front that we can take a moment to quietly talk arm in arm. It's as renewing and beautiful as the scenery and the exercise.


So, if you haven't got a thing better to do next summer...

Down!

Set!

HIKE!