August 2017

What a fun month.  We were invited up to Eden with some work friends.  They had a lovely cabin there with an awesome pond.  I love a good rope swing and kayaks.  The view was wonderful and a lovely roaring fire was dreamy.  

Abby is starting school soon and is eager to start reading.  I love the moments I see her and Ella soaking in the new library book we just go.  We also had a wonderful end of summer party at the Larkins.  Brit always knows how to make it amazing.  

School started.  Union Middle school - 6th grade Tyler

Ella - 4th grade, Silver Mesa Elementary

The weekend after school started we got to go to a work conference at the Cliff Lodge with D's work.  We had a wonderful time swimming and hot tubbing.  Then we came home and went to Rockport with the Allens.  School may start but summers not over.

Eclipse 2017

The Eclipse was pretty neat.  We left the path of totality in Driggs Idaho and headed back to Logan.  We saw streams of cars headed the way we were coming from.  Grateful to avoid the traffic and be with our kids.  Even though it would have been neat to see totality.  

We pulled in to Logan to see everyone looking up at the sun.  Kind of funny... kind of neat.  

You cant capture a picture of the sun by taking a picture of the sun but it looked neat in the glasses.  In Jackson Hole it was blacked out dark.  Everyone said it was amazing.  We had a good time too

Grand Teton Day 2

We slept maybe... At least I did.  The wind howled all night.  I had ear plugs.  Most everyone else laid awake wondering if our tents would blow away.  I wondered if we would really try to summit in such freezing windy conditions.  But we did.  The rock was freezing.  Ice in the cracks.  The first up hill after the saddle was brutal.  So steep.  Then we started the rock climbing.  

Just at the last moment before we summited we got in the sun shine.  Owen Spalding route did not beat us!  even if Darren and I had black garbage sacks on to keep us warm.  

Coming down was so fast.  There were several places to rappel and that was that.  We were chilled!

Feet were tired... great to soak them in the river back where it was warm!

And as we drove away- INCREDIBLE!  We were on top of that Grand Teton!

Climbing the Grand Teton- Day 1

It was pretty spur of the moment decision but we did it!  We headed to Driggs Idaho to climb the Grand Teton.  We had a great group of friends to summit with. Dalls and I couldn't have done it without them and their expertise.

  

The kids were sad to be left in Logan and sad to miss the upcoming Eclipse but we couldn't do both... see the Eclipse and summit the Grand  Teton.  We slept at Angs parents house and headed out the next day.  We got our permits from the Ranger Station/Visitor Center and up we went.  Like up up and more up.  I thought the first half was steep enough with packs on but they reassured me this wasn't bad yet.  

We made it to the pass and found a very cozy place to set up three tents.  It was unbelievably windy.  But the sun was out so we didn't freeze.  We had some dinner, filled our water up, and went to the bathroom.  Talk about a room with a view! You have to haul EVERYTHING out that you carry in.  

Here is a site that has almost too much beta, but don't let it overwhelm you. I think they just wanted to name every rock. 

http://wyomingwhiskey.blogspot.com/p/the-grand-tetons-owen-spalding-route.html

This video shows the climbing sections, I think that they are all on mini micro tractions of some sort and have a bunch of people on one rope, which makes me wonder if we should do the same. Thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rq7C1lH2ts&feature=youtu.be

Bike photos from Darren

Biking in Draper- Up over the Alpine side to see Mnt Timp

Biking up the Canyon at Snowbird

By Twin Lakes Pass right between Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon- A cool old mine

Snowbird Ski resort

Top of Corner Canyon

Corner Canyon

Park City Ski Resort