Soccer

Kiera going for the ball.

A close-up of the same shot. A cool pic, I thought.

The ball just hit her on the head.

Backpacking the Uintas

Monta took Karen & family, Kiera, and me hiking in the Uintas. It was for three days. We didn't go very far, so it was very easy. We all had a great time. It was Kiera's and my only backpacking this summer, so we were glad to use our "stuff." We day hiked a bunch this summer-but not backpacked.

Our mandatory beginning of the hike photo.

Stopping for a break.

A couple of lunch break pics

Pic of Island Lake

A cliff side at Island Lake

"Sleeping" on the cliff side.

Posing on the cliffs.

Soaking in some sun

Can't resist the water.

More posing

Our campsite

Heading out of Duck Lake on Thursday.

One last pic

Mt. Borah 8-7-09

Here we are getting ready to head up Mt. Borah
Kyle Jenks (a teacher I teach with), his brother in law-Tom, his Dad-Gary, Monta, me. & Steve

Mt. Borah is peeking out from behind the close mountain

A very cool tree and flower

Steve & Monta checking the GPS

Another beautiful mountain we passed

Mt. Borah-the highest mountain in Idaho

Part of the trail

Scrambling up part of Chicken Out Ridge. Monta and I couldn't believe people climb this. Turns out they don't. The trail is to the right, but very hard to tell where it is, because it is so rocky and the cairns aren't very big, so they just blend in. You definitely should not go this way. It is very scary and dangerous!!!

The snow field we had to cross. The other eight hikers of the day turned back because there was too much new hail and ice on this part. We didn't think we could cross here so we went up the side of it-scrambling over and around the rocks. another scary and dangerous part.

Here is Monta and Kyle going up the side of the snow field.

We crossed the snow field at the top of it. This was easy.

Looking down the snow field.

If you look close you can see the trail across the mountain. This is where we came.

Flowers growing in the snow-and on the rocks near the top.

A beautiful mountain lake.

I MADE IT!! This was no easy task. This was the hardest thing I have ever done.

Monta at the top.

Kyle & Gary Jenks and Monta & me. I literally could not have made it without these awesome hiking companions.

Monta and I with the banner I made just for the occasion.

It was very windy and foggy or cloudy at the top.

We could not imagine going down the snow field the way we came up, so Monta and Kyle stomped a path and Kyle dug holes in the snow/ice for our sticks. We each took a hiking stick, shoved it in the hole and then took a step. When our feet slipped and we started sliding down the snow field, we had the pole to hang on to to keep us from going all the way down-to land on the rocks at the bottom-to certain death! (No kidding.)

Part of the trail-where there is no real trail to see. You kind of just have to guess.

Heading down in the fog.

Yellowstone '09

Here we are entering Yellowstone

We have to get a photo at the Continental Divide

Cozy in bed-we took extra blankets because the nights were near or below freezing-in the end of July!!

Of course we had to have a fire-for roasting marshmallows

We saw lots of geysers and mud pots and pools. The colors were amazing!

We saw so many bison/buffalo

They walked right by the car

Another pool



Natural Bridge
The ranger said it was a beautiful and easy hike, but if you were from Utah you would not be impressed (from all the arches and bridges, I suppose.) We almost didn't go-but decided the hike would be fun. IT WAS AWESOME!!

You have to get a photo at Old Faithful

The Falls at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

This is on Fishing Bridge.
This is where we saw our first buffalo-just meandering down the road-stopping traffic.