Backpacking Adventure

The pictures are from the end to the beginning: 1. A cool tree that tipped over in a stream bed.
2. One of the many beautiful views 3. Glacier Cirque 4. Our campsite the first night - cool lake 5. Part of the steam Mill (I think) that was on the trail 6. Cole and I before we started out - see how fresh we looked...

We started our trip Friday afternoon after a couple backtracks to get items we forgot but we were finally on the trail at about 6. The terrain was steep (kicked my butt for sure) and I was slow, but the landscape was very pretty. We hihked through wildflowers and aspen groves. Finally two and a half hours later we made it to the lake. I set up the tarp with mats and sleeping bags while Cole cooked mexican rice (yum!). We had a pretty satisfying meal, considering our intense first leg.

The stars started coming out and man, was it beautiful! I love stars anyway, and the fact that they were out in such abundance with no moon and a very vibrant milky way just took my breath away.

The next day camp was collapsed by 10 and we were on the trail by 10:45. We hiked through the glacial cirque (see photos) which again, was some stunning landscape. Three hundred feet of fast verticle gain later was yet another gorgeous view. We pretty much wandered peak after peak with nearly no luck at finding a trail so we just went which way seemed right. After about 4 hours of hiking we came to a place the seemed familiar. We had done some kind of loop and had no idea how we ended up there. We had planned a two night stay on the Steam Mill/Steep Hollow Canyon trail but somehow ended up a day early back to the car.

So after washing off my dirty feet and legs in the cold, refreshing stream we took off to Bear Lake for raspberry shakes and then back to Logan for a night of nice clothes, dinner and a movie. What a way to end the backpacking trip ;)!

Week of Adventure!

My workweek last week seemed to go on F-O-R-E-V-E-R! But, after work the hours would fly by. I spent the evenings with Cole and we came up with some pretty great adventures. We jumped off the baby cliffs at first dam, hiked the Jardine Juniper trail, watched V for Vandetta, rode dirt bikes, ate at Beehive Grill, tie dyed and I went to the Reggae Festival in Park City. My summer weeks couldn't be any better, although you would think I would want to rest on the weekends, I'm more exhausted Monday mornings than I should be.

First dam is cold. I thought that I would be able to swim across it after I jumped off the rocks but all I could think of once I hit the water was to get out! Luckily the sun was shining bright and I warmed up quick enough to think that getting in again was a good idea. On Wednesday, after putting it off for two days, we hiked Jardine Juniper (see photos). The hike was about 9 miles round trip and it was beautiful because the wildflowers were in bloom and the view was worth it. It wasn't too hard of a hike and if you're around Logan with 4 or 5 hours to kill I would recommend it!

I have a few friends that work at the new restraunt called Beehive Grill and have been wanting me to try it so we gave it a whirl. I was pretty satisfied with my homebrewed rootbeer and blackened tilapia. I even went back last night to try something new! Later that night we had my favorite ice cream mixture of vanilla with raspberries and brownies. Cole says that I need to stop having a sweet tooth because it gives him one by default.

On Friday I got a brilliant idea to tie dye. It just popped into my head at work and I got so excited and couldn't stop thinking about it. So I got some input from Mariah and got to work. We tie dyed wife beaters and whitey tighties. The end result is priceless! I'm wearing one of the shirts right now. Cole told me today that he wants to dye sheets and more shirts and I definately want to try some socks and maybe some underwear. It was just so much fun!

The new ampitheatre in park city featured the RootsRock Reggae Festival this weekend and I went with my friend Kiera. We got there about 3 and enjoyed the music til the concert was over at about 10. The weather was decent although it got hot and cold like Utah does. We ended up in Midway for the night, but I really enjoyed the outdoor concert. It had been too long and I realized how much I miss concerts!

That is just a sneak peak into my weeks of summer! I'm sure there will be more fun to come!

*Fourth of July*

(From top to bottom: Cole and I dirt biking. Dad and Brad grilling for the BBQ. Sisters before the pool party. Boating with the Milne's.)

INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. Every year is a little different, but I always end up having so much fun. Unlike other highly anticipated holidays, the fourth always just creeps up on me and out of the blue is some of the most fun memories I have.

This year my celebration began on the 3rd in Logan. I got an early morning invite to go boating with Kyle's family at Hyrum Dam. I tubed, wakeboarded and napped on the beach - not getting too fried, but just sunburned enough to have a nice tan today. After boating I headed to Emma's house for her family BBQ. We feasted and had some really great food. We ended the night on the trampoline, watching the fireworks from the stadium. It was well worth staying in Logan for them. It took me 20 minutes to get the 3 miles from Emma's to my house because the fireworks are so popular.

I got up bright and early on Saturday morning so I could make it to Utah Valley in time for the annual 4th of July neighborhood breakfast. I was just in time for the second feast of the weekend. After breakfast, I headed home and took some time to rest from the drive. Family and friends started showing up at about 1 for the Hill Family BBQ. We had nearly 40 people over to swim, play games, conversate and eat. Brad grilled his delicious teryaki chicken, we had burgers, brats, potatoe salad, bean dip, chips, homemade rootbeer, homemade ice cream with fresh raspberries and pies.

After a nice swim and a great BBQ, I headed up to Oakley for the Rodeo. People who rodeo are a whole different breed, but so entertaining. I stayed at Cole's cabin about 15 miles above Oakley. We slept out on the deck and when the sun came up in the morning, it took my breath away. After breakfast we took the dirt bike out and farther up Weber Canyon. It was beautiful and relaxing. Then we romped around on NFS land. I love being up in the mountains - it was a great way to end my vacation.

This afternoon I drive Kalli and our cousin Kayleigh up to Logan for EFY. It should be an entertaining car ride.