Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wind Caves Hike
Yesterday afternoon Rosie and I took Rebekah, Andrew and Rob's three youngest children -- Mary Kate, Scott and Kristin -- on a wonderful hike up Logan Canyon to a place called, The Wind Caves. Not surprisingly this is one of the most popular hikes in Northern Utah. One of the best things about this hike is that the trailhead it is only one mile down the road from our new cabin. The trail is 1.8 miles one way and ascends about 900 feet to a point that seems near the top of the canyon. Each step of the hike is beautiful. Here are a few pictures from this hike.Logan Canyon and the surrounding area is as green as you will ever find it this time of year as they have had record rainfall throughout the month of June.
Here is the crew on the well maintained and well built trail.
Here is the crew on the trail. In the background you can see what is called "The China Wall" that snakes across the canyon.
In the photo below we have ascended almost as high as the China Wall.
It was a hot afternoon with temperatures close to 90 degrees. The shade on the trail at numerous points made for a good place to rest.
Here are the girls inside the cave where temperatures were much cooler and the acoustics were great.
Kristin, Rebekah and Mary Kate had fun with the shadows inside the cave.
Scott and Andrew inside the cave.
Mary Kate and Rebekah are posing on the ledge of one of the arches.
Here is the group posing in one of the arches.
Finally, here we are on a truly spectacular setting above the caves. In the upper right you can see snow on Mount Logan and in the lower left framed in the arch you can see the canyon road. The China Wall is also visible across the valley.
Here is the crew on the trail. In the background you can see what is called "The China Wall" that snakes across the canyon.
In the photo below we have ascended almost as high as the China Wall.
It was a hot afternoon with temperatures close to 90 degrees. The shade on the trail at numerous points made for a good place to rest.
Here are the girls inside the cave where temperatures were much cooler and the acoustics were great.
Kristin, Rebekah and Mary Kate had fun with the shadows inside the cave.Scott and Andrew inside the cave.Mary Kate and Rebekah are posing on the ledge of one of the arches.
Here is the group posing in one of the arches.
Finally, here we are on a truly spectacular setting above the caves. In the upper right you can see snow on Mount Logan and in the lower left framed in the arch you can see the canyon road. The China Wall is also visible across the valley.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Father's Day!
Bonne fête des pères!
I have been thinking about you a lot. I think one of the best parts of going through these old videos is seeing and hearing you in them. There are many different discourses in families and one that runs in ours is that you were often gone because of work or because of church responsibilities. Watching these videos when we were young, I see that although you might have been in many places, one of the most important to you was always home.
I love the video of us playing 'bumbadia' and the other wrestling games on the bed. Cavorting with laughter and losing ourselves in the fun, these are the memories with you that should arise very first. Dying easter eggs, being cheered on by you at the park, giving each of us a little stage to perform on with an encouraging audience, and always documenting these important but small moments for us was a grand gift. It is beautiful to watch these videos and expand my perspective on you as a dad, not based on my literal and limited memory of things, but based on what was really there, because I have the fortune of seeing it play again in front of me.
I love you so much Dad. I admire you more and more as I get on and get to know what people are made of and what really counts.
Love, Emilie
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Happy Father's Day Dad!
Dad,
Happy Father's Day. I love you so much. Thank you so much for all you do for us (& mom), and for being a great example. Also, for teaching us about working hard and other life skills, supporting us. I hope you have a fun day and a wonderful father's day! I remember how when we were little you would play with us, teach us how to play differetn sports, and put on fun music. We are going to have so much fun, thanks for planning the trips we are taking as a family, and I am so excited to see everyone, happy we are family forever. I love you,
thanks again,
love
Mels
Happy Father's Day. I love you so much. Thank you so much for all you do for us (& mom), and for being a great example. Also, for teaching us about working hard and other life skills, supporting us. I hope you have a fun day and a wonderful father's day! I remember how when we were little you would play with us, teach us how to play differetn sports, and put on fun music. We are going to have so much fun, thanks for planning the trips we are taking as a family, and I am so excited to see everyone, happy we are family forever. I love you,
thanks again,
love
Mels
Friday, June 19, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Louisiana and the Farmers Market
In May, we drove down to Louisiana for a wedding. Joyce, John and I had a great time Cajun dancing. Such a great time in fact, that yesterday when Joyce heard some Cajun music come on, she asked to be picked up so she could dance. We met a bunch of people at the Saturday morning Zydeco Breakfast in Breaux Bridge. Joyce picked up some hot dance moves there. She saw a veteran Zydeco dancer shaking his finger in time to the music and Joyce stole his moves. I think she was the only dancing 15 month old in Cajun country.
At the wedding we sat near the back during the ceremony. Joyce was a little more into the snacks we brought then the vows exchanged.
She got bored too:
When we got back from Louisiana, we were suprised by how much bigger the Farmers Market was. Yesterday we took a walk in the humid mid-morning sun to go visit the Market. Bloomington is small enough that we inevitably see a bunch of people we know. And yesterday for the first time, Joyce joined some other kids in playing in the water fountain.
We had to stop her from bending down and lapping the water up like a little puppy. But she still managed to lick her hand.
At the wedding we sat near the back during the ceremony. Joyce was a little more into the snacks we brought then the vows exchanged.
She got bored too:
When we got back from Louisiana, we were suprised by how much bigger the Farmers Market was. Yesterday we took a walk in the humid mid-morning sun to go visit the Market. Bloomington is small enough that we inevitably see a bunch of people we know. And yesterday for the first time, Joyce joined some other kids in playing in the water fountain.
We had to stop her from bending down and lapping the water up like a little puppy. But she still managed to lick her hand.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
PINBALL MASTER
On our trip last weekend we a really great time hiking and seeing the natural world, but these wonders were nothing compared to what we witnessed underneath the ground in the basement arcade of the Best Western where we stayed. Each night we bowled a game in which Marc and I were both soundly whipped by Dad. The second night, after we returned our two-toned leather shoes, I saw dad kind of drift over to the pinball machine. I had some quarters and what we witnessed was astounding. Dad is a pinball champion, capable of racking up literally millions of points. Before our very eyes, he morphed into an adolescent, exclaiming phrases like "LAME!" "WHAT A SAVE!" and "STUPID!" and deftly schooled us in the art of pinball warfare-be physical with the console-but not so pushy that you get a tilt, never push both buttons at once, watch for the extra ball light, and on and on. Check it out:
(also note the gun toting 4 year old and the striped shirt boy's expression at the end of the video.)
(also note the gun toting 4 year old and the striped shirt boy's expression at the end of the video.)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
1985 Song
So, I am moving back in time just a bit. I found a DVD I skipped somehow from 1985 and there is some good stuff on it. For example, Stephen singing the frog song...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike -- June 6, 2009
It is impossible to fully describe with words the vastness and beauty of the Grand Canyon. Pictures can't do it justice either. It is a true marvel.
For many years I have dreamed of hiking from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River at the bottom and then back to the rim in one day. This is one of the truly iconic hikes in the world and I have been looking for a way to do it with some of my children (Rosie has cooled on my long "forced marches" for the time being). Months ago Steve, Marc and I decided that the first weekend in June would work perfectly for us (almost every day works perfectly for me in my new phase of retired life so the key was getting it to fit in their schedules). So last Friday, we all flew to Phoenix, rented a car and drove to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
The classic rim to rim hike usually goes from the North rim to the South rim or vice versa. To get back to your beginning point you have to take a shuttle that takes some six hours as there is no easy way to drive around the canyon. We were on a very tight schedule and did not have time for that so we decided to go down to the river on the South Kaibab tral and back up on the Bright Angel trail. The hike down the canyon was over seven miles descending 4,500 feet and it took about three hours. The hike back up was over nine miles.
Friday evening we went to the Park Visitor's Center to firm up our plans. At every turn we found warning signs explaining the perilous danger one would find if he tried to hike to the river and back in one day. Check these out.
If you click on this one you can get a close up of a drawing of someone who is about to "pay the ultimate price".
While these signs may have had the desired effect on some potenital hikers we found them entertaining. In fact, we were anxious to hit the "Danger Zone" where temperatures reach 120 degrees and is only three miles down the canyon and where "occasionally a hiker pays the ultimate price -- death".
We hit the trail at 5:30 AM as we wanted to beat the heat in the bottom of the canyon. It was a perfect day for this hike as temperatures were moderate for this time of year -- we wore coats and hats as we began our hike.
Every step on the South Kaibab Trail descending to the river is gorgeous. As we watched the sun come up on the walls of the canyon we were amazed at the geology lesson each view gives the visitor. In these pictures you can see the sun hitting the canyon walls in the distance and the color changes in the layers of the walls.
The river looks small and very far away at the beginning of the hike. As we got closer we had a new appreciation for how large and powerful it is. In the middle of the picture below you can see the black bridge.
Marc determined he needed to go swimming so we found a sandy, secluded beach and he stripped down to his boxers for a quick dip. He was stunned and shocked at how cold the river was and made a very quick exit.
Here you see the river and the two bridges.
The trails were extremely well planned and maintained. There are countless switchbacks that ensure the grade is never prohibitively steep.
Here are a couple of shots of us on our way up and out of the canyon and the dreaded "Danger Zone".
As we made the final steps out of the canyon we encountered one more warning sign. Is Steve close to paying the "ultimate price -- death" for having gone to the river and back in one day?
It was an incredible hike and a day all three of us will long remember with great fondness. I'm grateful for children who are great companions and will join me on my crazy adventures.
For many years I have dreamed of hiking from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River at the bottom and then back to the rim in one day. This is one of the truly iconic hikes in the world and I have been looking for a way to do it with some of my children (Rosie has cooled on my long "forced marches" for the time being). Months ago Steve, Marc and I decided that the first weekend in June would work perfectly for us (almost every day works perfectly for me in my new phase of retired life so the key was getting it to fit in their schedules). So last Friday, we all flew to Phoenix, rented a car and drove to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.The classic rim to rim hike usually goes from the North rim to the South rim or vice versa. To get back to your beginning point you have to take a shuttle that takes some six hours as there is no easy way to drive around the canyon. We were on a very tight schedule and did not have time for that so we decided to go down to the river on the South Kaibab tral and back up on the Bright Angel trail. The hike down the canyon was over seven miles descending 4,500 feet and it took about three hours. The hike back up was over nine miles.
Friday evening we went to the Park Visitor's Center to firm up our plans. At every turn we found warning signs explaining the perilous danger one would find if he tried to hike to the river and back in one day. Check these out.
If you click on this one you can get a close up of a drawing of someone who is about to "pay the ultimate price".
While these signs may have had the desired effect on some potenital hikers we found them entertaining. In fact, we were anxious to hit the "Danger Zone" where temperatures reach 120 degrees and is only three miles down the canyon and where "occasionally a hiker pays the ultimate price -- death".We hit the trail at 5:30 AM as we wanted to beat the heat in the bottom of the canyon. It was a perfect day for this hike as temperatures were moderate for this time of year -- we wore coats and hats as we began our hike.
Every step on the South Kaibab Trail descending to the river is gorgeous. As we watched the sun come up on the walls of the canyon we were amazed at the geology lesson each view gives the visitor. In these pictures you can see the sun hitting the canyon walls in the distance and the color changes in the layers of the walls.
The river looks small and very far away at the beginning of the hike. As we got closer we had a new appreciation for how large and powerful it is. In the middle of the picture below you can see the black bridge.
Marc determined he needed to go swimming so we found a sandy, secluded beach and he stripped down to his boxers for a quick dip. He was stunned and shocked at how cold the river was and made a very quick exit.
Here you see the river and the two bridges.
The trails were extremely well planned and maintained. There are countless switchbacks that ensure the grade is never prohibitively steep.
Here are a couple of shots of us on our way up and out of the canyon and the dreaded "Danger Zone".
As we made the final steps out of the canyon we encountered one more warning sign. Is Steve close to paying the "ultimate price -- death" for having gone to the river and back in one day?
It was an incredible hike and a day all three of us will long remember with great fondness. I'm grateful for children who are great companions and will join me on my crazy adventures.
GRAND CANYON
Dad took Marc and me to Grand Canyon this weekend. We had a lot of fun bowling, discovering Dad is a pinball champion (video to come), and seeing a lot of really big rocks and places where rocks used to be. Here are some pictures from our trip.
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