Hiking Lone Peak

For Labor Day Weekend we decided to stay at home and gets some projects done.  On Saturday we woke the kids up at 5:30 and strapped on their camel backs and a headlamp and pointed them up the mountain.  It was going to be a good long day.  11 miles, 11,000 feet of climbing up and down.  (the down turned out to be harder as we were all exhausted!) and we were hoping for 10 hours but we got lost... and took 13 hours!

Abby was a fantastic hiker.  She didn't even care to hike until the end.  We did hit a summer storm and she was freezing cold in there and we had ever extra piece of clothing on her to get her lips to return to their normal color  :(

We finally got to this point and could see the cirque of towers ahead of us.  That was a good thing.  just up and up and then up more and more and more.  

We never actually made it to the very very top.  We had several hikers stop us and tell us to not take three little kids up there.  to dangerous.  to steep, and to stormy.  So we made it to 1/4 mile to the finish and the girls turned around.  Darren and Tyler went a bit more. Just a few more hundred feet an they would have been there but the storm wasn't great and they were nervous.  

We lost the trail for about an hour on the way down.  The kids all lost it.  They were hungry and tired.  A prayer and a smart dad helped.  We found the trail, ate, rested and carried on.  Abby was our leader for a while.  

We made it to the bottom.  tired and ready for Leatherbys ice-cream.  but not just ice-cream.  real food.  the kids barely made it through dinner they were so tired.  Great adventure.  I have amazing kids.  They did awesome.

Jacobs Ladder Route:

         The Jacobs Ladder Trail is 5 1/2 miles to Lone Peak with an elevation gain of 5650-feet.   The route will take 5 to 6 hours to reach the summit.  From the trailhead, follow the three 4-wheel drive tracks on the north side of the road, which feed together in a short distance.  Continue to hike the 4-wheel drive track to the top of a steep hill (N40 29' 46", W111 48' 55") approximately 7 minutes from the trailhead.   At the top of the steep hill the road forks, with one road leading down into a deep gully and than climbing to the Movie Rocks where Devil's Brigade was filmed.  The route that leads to Jacobs Ladder turns right (east) on top of the steep hill and follows the spur ridge.  Hike up the spur ridge trail, other trails and a 4-wheel drive track will feed into the trail, as long as you are heading up, you are traveling in the correct direction.  Continue to Lone Rock (N40 29' 53", W111 47' 22"), an outcropping with a big drop to the east and south.  The trail drops slightly to the north and than climbs steeply for 1 1-2 hours until the trail leads to an open grassy ridge and a junction with the Draper Ridge Trail (N40 30' 46", W111 47' 19").

         From the junction of Draper Ridge trail and Jacobs Ladder trail (N40 30' 46", W111 47' 19") to the summit is an easier hike with excellent scenery.  From the junction follow the trail east a short distance to a rise where a meadow and the summit of Lone Peak is visible.  Many people get lost just past the meadow so pay attention to your route from this vantage point.  Your route is to follow the trail down and cross the meadow, cross the stream, and to climb the saddle to the east of the meadow.  In the meadow, there is a very good trail and junction (N40 30' 55", W111 46' 43").   The fork to the north (left) leads to the Outlaw Cabin.  DO NOT follow this trail unless you wish to visit the Outlaw Cabin.  The fork east (straight ahead) leads to the small saddle. From the saddle (N40 30' 59", W111 46' 27"), there is no trail but your route is clearly visible.  Enter the cirque and follow the drainage north.   Pay attention to where you entered the cirque since you must find this exit point when you return.  Head for the obvious saddle to the north.  From the saddle, follow the ridge east to the summit.  The summit is the triangular peak farthest left along the top of the shear wall.  The last 1/4 mile to the summit is very exposed and requires scrambling.  Please use caution and know your abilities.  The summit is a small flat toped rock.

Spotlight on Ella

Here are a few fun photos of Ella Lynn.  She is defiantly a girl.  Loves hair, make up, dancing, dressing up and chasing boys.  I hope I can keep up with her.  One night we had a s'more cook out.  She ran inside and got the iPhone and sang us all the Frozen song, Let it Go.  She is always turning on music and singing.  She loves the Pandora Disney station.  

She loves to sit and look at books.  She hasn't quite discovered the love of reading... its still too much work for her. But this year, first grade... I am confident she will learn to love it.  I found her sitting in the library one days.  Browsing a pile of barbie and princess books.

Ella is also a bit silly.  She and Abby usually have a good time together laughing and playing.  Ella will be a great baby sitter and Mom one day.  

This was the first week of Kindergarten.  And the second paper is the end of Kindergarten.  She does really well at school.  She is eager to learn.  

Ella is also a great athlete.  Tyler told me the other day in shock that Ella could do the money bars fast and easy and he couldn't do it at all.  He said he better start lifting weights.  She can bike, hike and ski like the rest of them.  One day we went on a hike that was about 4 miles and 2 of those miles were extremely steep!  super steep!  She just kept on going.  No complaints.  Abby pretty much adores her and puts on "Ella's shirt" "Ellas shoes".... If Ella take off the camel back then Abby wants it on.  Ella has even started piano, she is so excited to be "good like Tyler."  

Ella has taken of academically since school started.  She does well with reading and math. She does super on her spelling tests.  She comes home every day and gets her things done.  Checking off her to do list and making other lists to help her remember things.  Her teacher said--- Ella is delightful student who is always doing her best work.  She is a great example to classmates to be able to stay on task and follow classroom rules.

Ella is so sweet and writes loves notes all the time. She has started to even make herself lists of things she needs to do and doesn't want to forget... (thats from me... ) and she is funny and silly too!

First Day of School

Time for school to start.  I enjoyed summer and it could have kept going, but I think I was running out of steam.  We did a lot of fun things this summer.  Lots of playing and traveling and going.  I think my kids were ready for some routine too.  Darren gets to drive them to school every day.  This is great so I only have to drive 25-30 minutes roundtrip once a day to pick them up.  

Tylers in 3rd grade.  So excited about Spanish.  He speaks beautifully.  I was worried about Ella.  But she seems to be enjoying 1st grade.  Its kind of hard to just jump into half day of Spanish.  But all the kids are doing it so I guess that helps.  She comes home counting in Spanish and knowing a few more colors every day.  Darren and the kids joke that they will be telling secrets before to long in spanish since I dont know it.  (I know a little and I WILL learn more!)

Icecream after school.  Abby had a little fan club of mini mommies who loved taking care of her!

Abby and I stay home.  I am so glad I get to stay home.  Our first few days were rough.  We have been harvesting the garden and canning.  Abby just missed Tyler and Ella and the excitement they bring.  She would walk around the house saying Ella... Tyler.... It was nice to have a good weekend for her to spend some time with them.  She likes friends and wants to play. 

5 days with the Allen Cousin

My sister Jenny took off on a cruise to Alaska.  It would be super fun Im sure.  But I got to do some fun stuff too.  I had her three kids.  They are extra good kids so it wasn't too bad. My Aunt Linda had a birthday so we all went to Sweet tomatoes restaurant.  Lots of kids at a nice buffet is fun and exciting!

Miles never wanted to take a nap.  He's wants to play with the "boys" or "wheres the girls"... I found him in the hall way like this one of the days.  Fast asleep with the Buzz Lightyear and his blanket close by.  He loved to dress up, undress, redress, put on 5 outfits a day and wear his pjs and swimsuits backwards.  

Well... the girls changed 5 times a day too but with each others clothes.  wow.  Laundry and sorting clothes was fun that week.  But the boys did great together.  They needed Legos and some occasionally screen time ... and oh ... food!  They were happy.

They last night was kind of sad for me.  My kids were off at back to school night with Darren.  so those three good kids played in the backyard together while I cleaned up the kitchen.  running up and down the slide, swinging.  It was a great way to end our fun 5 days of 6 kids.... now my kids are ready to start school. 

Spotlight on Darren

I think being a good parents takes a lot of work and effort.  As does being a good spouse.  I really appreciate all the work Darren puts in to his life.  

His kids love him, especially Abby, who runs to him every day when he comes home yelling DADDY!!!  For his birthday we did 37 love notes on the window.  Each love note had a job we had down around the house that day.  (some were very small and simple things)  So when he came home he had a shiny clean house to enjoy.  Thats what he enjoys.  I even mopped the floor which I DONT do.  and he took a picture of it because it never happens.  

He enjoys time with Abby in church.  He took this picture to show that Abby can indeed sit for 3 minutes on a chair.  (good luck to those folks in church who run the nursery, Abby is coming in 3 weeks!)

But I love that he can relax a little... sometimes... Like having a bowl of cereal or ice-cream and watching the Tour de France, or the Tour of Utah.  He doesn't get to be as involved with these things as he used to because kids, wife, and house take all his extra times.  But he works hard at home and work.  (even up at 5:30 to smooth out dirt so we can plant grass).  I know he would rather be riding but he spends so much of that time with us.  

Thanks Babe!