Camping

 Last weekend my brother and I took our older daughters on a backpacking trip into the Uintas. We had wanted to do this since last year, but we never could find a good weekend. We finally settled on a date and gathered up the girls and headed into the mountains. I was a little worried that our daughter would be a bit apprehensive about hiking. It turns out she was fine and did a great job. 

We were planning on going up to Three Divide Lakes and started out at the Crystal Lake trailhead. The parking lot is huge and was pretty full although there were not a lot of people around when we got there. There were menacing clouds around and on our way up, we went through a heavy rain storm, but this did not deter us. 

We left the trailhead around 4 pm and started hiking enjoying the scenery and the girls enjoying each other's company. We were stopping more than I would have liked, but I knew this would probably happen so I was fine and we weren't in an danger of this causing problems. 

Eventually after about 40 minutes we passed a guy who asked us where we were going, and I told him Three Divide Lakes. He had a puzzled look on his face and said he thought we were going the wrong way. I stopped and looked at my GPS and sure enough we had missed the turnoff. The great thing about the Uintas is that there are lakes all over the place. So we looked a the map and found we were pretty close to Long Lake and decided to just go there. 

This turned out to be a happy mistake in the end because we really like Long Lake. We headed down over the saddle to the lake and began looking for a place to camp. The east side turned out to be sloped and not a great place to camp. John and his oldest daughter walked to the west side of the lake to see what it looked like and found a great, wide-open spot that was flat and right next to some cliffs. 

We set up camp and did some exploring and fishing. I caught a brook trout and John caught nothing. I released it and did not catch anything else that evening. 

The next day we had some sun and the girls went out exploring and "rock climbing" around the lake. I walked around the lake and came back for lunch. After lunch the sun was out so we decided to so some swimming and cliff jumping. The water was cold, but it was not the cold that makes you hurt so it was fine to spend some time in. We also heard the sonic boom from a meteor that went over head and was widely reported in the local news. 

Soon the sun went away and it started to rain, it rained off and on until we went to bed. We fished some more and I caught another fish that I let go. After dinner we played card games for an hour and then it started to rain. We all went to bed and it rained for about 9 hours straight in a pretty steady down pour. I was concerned about the three girls in one tent, but I never heard them so I thought they were fine. I started to get a little water in my tent by the morning time, when it stopped. 

The three girls finally got out of their tent and they were wet and freezing. They were so packed into that tent that the rainfly did not work so well and the tent leaked pretty heavily and most of their stuff was soaked.  

Luckily it stopped raining and we were able to have breakfast and pack up without rain. The girls were in a hiking mood and flew out of there in record time. It was probably more to warm up, but they covered the same mileage in an hour that had taken us and hour and 48 minutes to cover on the way up.  

We will have to do it again. Fun. 

Summer 

Well, since COVID hit I have had it twice and neglected this blog. My mom asked me about it the other day and I thought maybe it was lost forever, but to Google's credit, it was right where I left it. 

We have had a great summer exploring places and things. After our kids where able to pull things together for the last few weeks of school, they all did pretty well and the school year ended with a lot of relief. 

 The oldest got his learner's permit and is driving some around town. He has made some good choices with his friend group, I think, and although it has been hard for him making that transition I hope and pray he will keep his good friends and find new good friends. I still wish some of the exiting friends the best, but some of those kids were not making the best choices. 

The oldest daughter has given us a couple of eventful years and things have improved, but I pray for the days and years ahead. She finished school well (except for math we shall not speak of that) and has been off playing and having a fun summer. 

The youngest daughter is wanting to be just like her older sister--to the consternation of the older sister--and basically trying to do everything her older sister does. What do they say? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? Well, that is the case here. She is pretty happy and doing well is school, but does try my patience now and again.  

The youngest son is a force of energy and plays with friends whenever he can. He has been staying up late and making messes--that will have to stop long before school starts, but it has been a fun and eventful summer for him and all of us. 

The wife and I have been very busy this summer with projects, trips and guests at our house all the time. It has been a wild ride. 

Murph this year was quicker than normal because I did not wear a tactical vest, but I had played bball for an hour or so right before. Finished in 35:23. Leg cramps galore.

Took this picture up Johnson canyon. Used iphone 13 with 30 second exposure. The moon was full so it looks almost like day time. You can see part of the Milkyway to the top left.

Youngest snagged a tiger trout.

Fun at the pond swimming.

Games at the cabin.

Hike looking out at the Grand Staircase.

Mom and her youngest.

Cousins literally hanging out.

Off to hike a slot canyon. Best part is it is very remote so no other people around.

Saw two rattle snakes this year.

One pond.

Another rattle snake. The tease in me had to get a stick and "scare it away" because the dogs and kids were around. I did not hurt it. Just bother it until it left the area.

California Dreaming

Cousins at the old ball game. 

Royals at Giants. Giants won 4 -2. 

Down on Fisherman's Warf.

Now this guy has a chain.

On our way to Alcatraz.

Recreation Courtyard at Alcatraz. It was windy and cold.

This is Cellblock D in Alcatraz. The audio tour is really cool because it is narrated by past inmates and guards. It was very interesting, but super depressing.

Solitary confinement.

Morris and the Anglin brothers made fake heads and escaped Alcatraz. It was presumed they died while trying to swim across the bay.

The three escaped by using metal utensils to enlarge air vents in their cells. Then escaping into the maintenance tunnel behind the cells. This is that tunnel. 

Quality cousin time.

Santa Cruz Pier.

Put the phones down boys.

Family reunion and enjoying the weather and view.

Waiting for a ride on the Boardwalk.

Someone really wanted to win a Boba stuffed toy.

Some of the family.

Nieces and nephews.

Rebuilt these babies from scratch. 

Dunked on by the cat--and our fifth child.

Our farmer cleaning out the bird box.

Fourth of July.

Went to a neighbor's house and were amazed by the amount and variety of fireworks.

Boating with friends.  Oldest is getting better.

Napping at Lava Hot Springs pool. 

Floating the Portneuf river.

I entrusted my phone with friends--that was mistake.

Friends getting out of the heat at Lava Hot Springs

Fun times.