somewhere north of stanley...

It's that time of year. The time Chris waits for all year long.

No...it's NOT back to school.

It's backpacking time.

Last week was his annual trip with his dad and siblings.
This year it was Chris, his dad, his brother Josh, his brother Jeremy, and brother-in-law Tim.
And for the first time ever, Carson and Carlie were included on this big boy trip.

It took some convincing for me to give my blessing to the idea of them going.
After all, they were returning to the same place as last year.

Of course, I was told that this time they actually knew the way in. So it would be much better (safer?).

I'll admit I was nervous about it. But we all know I'm a pushover.
Besides, who am I to stand in the way of this...



When they returned, I said, "So...how was it????"
Carlie looked straight into my eyes and in complete seriousness said, "Only insane people do this."

I would have to agree.

Especially since there was no trail on this trip. That's hard work, man!

But speaking of insanity...check this out!!




Insanely beautiful.
That's what it is.

Besides commenting on their mental status, Carlie also said her favorite part was the beauty.



Probably due to the whole no trail thing, they didn't see anyone else the week they were in there.
Carlie told me how someone had made the comment as they were hiking that it was pretty awesome to be stepping where perhaps no one had stepped before.

And, of course my precious boy piped up with, "and peeing where no one has peed before."


Speaking of Carson, he hiked so hard, his shoes literally fell apart on the way in.
They had to be taped together with athletic tape for the rest of the trip.
I'm sure it had nothing to do with me buying him the very cheapest pair of shoes that target had to offer.
I just wanted something to get him through the summer so I could buy him better shoes when school started.
I guess the shoes were so cheap they didn't come with actual glue to hold the soles on. Maybe I was supposed to buy that separately?

I love the next picture.
Carlie cracks me up with her mosquito net.
She is known around our house as a bit of a mosquito repellent nazi.
She does not want a mosquito bite at any cost.
So the fact that there were a lot of mosquitoes, very large ones I'm told, did not make her a happy camper.
So here she is fishing in her net.


They loved the fishing.
The lake they camped next to didn't have fish, but they day-hiked to two other lakes where they fished.
And Carson was very happy to report that during those two days, they caught over 100 fish.


They loved their campsite because the ground was so soft.


Carson loved this trip.
He told us the next day how it's funny how much you forget all the hard work and just remember how great it was.
I told him it's like childbirth.
He said, "huh?"

He told me more than once that his favorite part was spending time with the family.


And please allow just a moment for me to mention that I am very proud of my little girl.
She kept up just fine with all those men.
She's a tough little thing.
And rarely complains.
Here she is showing pride at climbing to the highest point that the kids have ever climbed before. This spot is at 9,400 feet.


Of course, they always find snow drifts.


The water feels good on dirty, tired feet!


It's kinda hard to write about someone else's trip.
But I know that everyone had a great time.
And felt a sense of accomplishment.
I'm grateful for the memories that were made (and that everyone took such good care of my kids).

I liked this picture of Chris and the kids, but I had to give him a hard time for sticking the stupid "flat maverik" in the middle of the picture and ruining it.
(The Maverik is his school mascot. All of the teachers got a flat maverik for the summer to take pictures with it and bring back at the beginning of the year. Just for fun...you know, the whole flat stanley idea...anyone? anyway...)

So I added my own message to it...



Much better, don't you think?


P.S. I was so glad to have my Austinator to hang with. He was a blast. And always good for a big bear hug when I needed it. Thanks, buddy!