East Face of Mt Whitney

The lake where we camped/ Brian below a glowing mount Whitney

Sunrise.

Hiking up the day before-- hot and sweaty!

Climbing shot. I look so tired. :)

Brian climbing-- over that hump was the first traverse and then another 800ft of climbing.

on the summit

Heading down the mountaineers route-- WAY steeper than it looks here. And loose! The Sierra are so gravely!

So the tallest peak in the lower 48 is conveniently located only 1hr north of Allison's (Brian's mom) house in California. I have been wanting to stand on it's summit for several years now, but we always seemed to visit Cali in the winter, which wouldn't work for the route we were hoping to do: the East Face. There is a walking trail up the entire mountain that Brian had hiked in the snow before we met the same month I was playing in Moab on Spring Summit. 

You probably know we're building a house in Moab, which means we need furniture for the house. Move in date is approaching and Allison had a sofa, beds and some other things for us to come pick up. We woke up on Friday morning and decided to make the 10 hour trip. Of course in Vegas we stop for some El Pollo Loco (best food ever) and immediately after gorging on hot mexican food, walk outside in the hot Vegas sunshine and get into our extremely hot SUV. After about 10 minutes of driving around sweating our brains out, we concluded that our AC had in fact broken and we were doomed to cross the mojave desert without it. 

Next day we got the furniture ready and put it in the trailer-- then drove up to get our permit for Whitney. Let me tell you, it was ridiculous. They really know how to create some hype. Every one standing around with their outdoor logos and nalgenes, palms sweaty worrying the person in front of them is going to steal their chance. In short, we got it.

The next day Brian and I hiked up with our packs full of climbing gear, our overnight gear and food. They were not light. 

And climbed up and up and up and up. We passed by the first alpine lake and headed up further to Upper Boyscout lake. A lame name for something so beautiful. The sierra mountains remind me of a drier Tetons. It was fun to hike with Brian. . . I felt like we laughed the whole time and it was good to have a night away from kids and responsibilities. We really don't do that enough. I actually think this was the first time we've spent the night away from the kids together. 

By the time we reached the lake, we were both ready to sit and relax on the rocks. Brian has told me several times that hanging out at an alpine lake above treeline is one of this favorite things. I have to agree. We made dinner, set up camp and crashed. 4am wake up and no other climbers were around. We were surprised and figured we were starting late. I kind of love scrambling over rock that early in the morning. My mind is turned off and I just hear breathing. I'm always a bit anxious anticipating what the climb will be like. I knew that the East Face involved 1,000ft of climbing and a few traverses. 

When we arrived at the base of the climb, I was kind of blown away. The range was bright pink/orange from the rising sun the the clouds to the south looked ominous, but thin. We decided to make a go for it after checking the weather (isn't that insane that we can do that?! this is the first time we've had a smart phone climbing). . . it said stormy weather wouldn't hit until 11am. 

So we started climbing. And climbing. The first traverse we got to- the Tower Traverse-- majorly freaked me out. The moves felt sloped and there was nothing but air below (but I was tied in and if I fell, the pendulum wouldn't be that bad). It made me more apprehensive for the Fresh Air traverse, but that ended up being no biggie-- great hands the whole time. I enjoyed the climbing and the last move we pulled brought us exactly to the summit marker at the highest point in the United States (excluding Alaska). 14,5something. 9:30am

We got back to the car at 3pm and drove back to our girls and grandma who had graciously watched them all day in the heat. 

Kevin & Jana's visit

Kevin and his family came to visit! It always feels like an honor when a sibling/family member come out of their way to visit. Kevin and Jana insisted they didn't come to see Moab, that they just wanted to see us-- but I really wanted them to have a great time and see the area. I loved watching our kids play together-- it's like they know they're family. They got along really well! I loved catching up with them on the details of their life; things that are hard to tell from emails, blogs and phone calls. Kevin & Jana recently moved from DC to San Antonio, TX. We are sort of in the same phase of life with toddlers, buying houses, jobs, church callings and trying to balance it all. 

We made it into Arches and hiked to Double Arch. We let the kids play in the shade. And Kevin of course needed some shirtless flexing shots on the red rock. . . ;)

We also took a trip down the daily section of the Colorado River. I love this section of river-- and especially that we got to take their family and kids down. There is something that is just fun about a river. . .changing scenery, splashy waves, sandy beaches and good lunches. When we got back, I had to shoot a wedding, but Kevin, Brian and Clay went back on the river again! I was a bit jealous, but glad they got to have fun. The next morning we went jogging through Negro Bill Canyon and had a sitter come over for the 1.5hrs then it was time to say goodbye (although I tried my best to convince them to stay another day). . .

The best part was honestly getting to interact with my nieces and nephew (Oliver's smile is to die for) and talking with Kevin and Jana. 

What a treat to have them visit! 

Spring Summit Reunion (has it been 10 years since college)?!

Biking the White Rim- went down Shafer switchback to Musselman arch and back up again; The photo from R: Jenny, Sven, Me, Jo and Mary. B-rad was taking the picture and driving the support rig for 1/2 the time.

Gooseneck overlook. I have been standing like that since I was three. 

Our group!

Jo and I at the Goosenecks

Everyone jumping on Musselman arch

Canyoneering U-turn canyon in Arches Nat'l Park

We went in the evening and it was stunning in the setting sun. I love the waxy look of the Entrada sandstone. It feels like I'm on another planet. 

Biking Slickrock bike trail. 

We left the guys in the dust. . . two flat tires and too much photo taking. ;) 

In high school, I always knew I wanted to be an outdoors woman. I would occasionally go into the Trail Shop on UNC campus and look at the gear and packs. I envied my friend Rachel who went on Outward Bound. I loved traveling out west and climbing in the Tetons and Wasatch range. When I went to BYU-Idaho, my mom took me to REI and outfitted me with outdoor gear for my first semester of school-- I had signed up for my classes at a Ranch at the base of the Tetons and would be spending time rafting, climbing, camping and biking. It felt like Christmas morning. And I LOVED teton valley. I loved being outside. I felt like myself and I felt at home. 

A few years later (10 years ago) I signed up for a program at BYU-Idaho called Spring Summit. A six week course in southern Utah right around Moab. We canyoneered in the Swell, biked the White Rim, rafted Cataract Canyon, backpacked the Needles, biked Porcupine Rim and Slickrock, had a solo on Cathedral Butte, learned desert survival in the swell and climbed the La Sals. It sort of laid the groundwork for my work with the Park Service working as a park guide at the Island in the Sky and later a river ranger. It seemed like just a way to have fun at that time, but I really think I was blessed to go and gain a skill set I would use in my career and family. 

But even better than that, I made a group of friends that I'll have for the rest of my life. I love these guys- -their happy-go-lucky attitude is contagious. I decided last year to host our 10 year reunion and I'm so glad I did. It felt good to get sweaty, to get outside and to have conversations without toddler interruptions. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of fun. 

San Juan River, Utah

Paddling through the canyon corridor -- that's our raft. There were three rafts-- all part of our party and river permit

Me paddling one of the class II rapids in the mini raft

The whole gang! 

Cath showin' us how it's done

Bighorn sighting!! There were TONS!

Spencer, Brian and Jacob all in the mini raft . . . this photo cracks me up

Mom & Hannah. 

Paddling around with Liesel. She was ALWAYS game for this little raft.

MUD! This child loves it. 

And so do we! All of us are laughing at Spencer who completely dunked in the mud (head under). 

Lots of lizzards

It was so great to have Catherine along! The kids loved having their auntie. Liesel even got to share her tent with her. I loved having her to talk to and play with!

Beach relaxing. Yes, Lindsey, I'm wearing your capris. sorry. 

Killer. :) This little one surprised me by loving river life as well! She was pretty darn go with the flow for missing naps and later bedtimes. 

Cath and Liesel setting up camp for the night.

Me jumping into a pothole

Cath and I painting the canyon one morning

Mudfest-- check out Allison! If you can find her. . . :)

Bottom of the boat and toddler legs. 

Hide and seek with Cath! 

We are looking at the boat stuck on the rock. The cooler sitting in the eddy we had just fished out of the current along with a bunch of other gear.

B cooking breakfast and Catherine winning over Liesel through a sugar high . . . who doesn't love M&Ms in the morning?

Hannah doesn't mess around. 

So if I could pick my most favorite vacation ever, this just might be it. I loved EVERYTHING about the San Juan River. Sometimes as a parent, I ache for that carefree feeling-- where nothing feels heavy or overly complicated-- where nothing feels adult. 

And I especially love the feeling in love with my children. Where I don't need to tell we are almost there, or beg them to hush for a flight, or feel frustrated and overwhelmed because traveling is stressful and vacations are supposed to be fun and I'm just tired. On the river, kids can be kids. There is no rushing. There are no phones, computers or excess noise. There's the rush of water, the squish of mud and a quick dip to make the heat disappear. I came home feeling so on cloud 9 that it was almost bizarre to return to normal life. I am completely convinced that rafting is the best way for our family to recreate/vacation. Everyone is happy. There are dozens of rivers/stretches of river to explore and navigate within a days drive of Moab. Everyone feels fulfilled. Everyone returns refreshed. 

Now all we need is a raft. ;)

Some of my favorite moments:

Catherine and I decided to take the mini Army survival raft right after launching since the first rapid was right around the corner. We had no idea what we were in for (ok, so some idea-- we knew it was a class II and how hard can that be?) and although Cath took some convincing, it was a total blast to ride the waves with only our shoulders and heads above water. That rapid turned out to have the biggest waves of any the whole time. The San Juan is an awesome river because it is swift enough and with enough fun little rapids and riffles to keep adults interested, but shallow and mellow enough for even the babies. 

I loved paddling around with Liesel all to myself. I loved hearing her say the cutest things and watching her try to paddle us in the mini raft all by herself. It was one of those times when I felt like my heart could explode because I loved her so much. It was amazing to watch her soak up the outdoors and love it as much as we do. 

Date night with Brian. There was a pothole that required a few climbing moves to get up on a cliff and then back down to the pothole. No one else felt comfortable trying it (or really, B didnt feel comfortable with anyone else trying it so it was just us). It was filled with water and very deep. It was so fun to jump off over and over. 

Waking up to Hannah's face every morning. She was in the tent with Brian and I and Liesel was in with Catherine. The joy of the raft is that you don't have to pack light, but can still be completely surrounded by wilderness. . .like backpacking. So we brought Hannah's pack-n-play. Both girls slept through the night every night we were out. Hannah would pop her little face over the side of her crib and start, "mama! mama! dada! dada!" until we rescued her. 

The giant mud puddle. The photos are pretty self explanatory, but it was awesome. And I took particular pride in the fact that my girls were less afraid (by far) of getting dirty than any of the other three toddlers (all boys). And Allison earned some pretty cool grandma points by covering herself head to toe. ;)

Watercoloring plein air. . . feels neat to get a "snapshot" just like John Wesley Powell used to. 

The food! It was delicious dutch oven fare. Food always tastes better in the backcountry.

Hiking with Catherine at night up a canyon. 

All the bighorn sheep!

On the last day, you start to enter part of the canyon with really steep walls. The river is much wider and more shallow at this point. After lunch, Catherine and I decided to biathlon it and run/swim for a few miles through the canyon ahead of the boats. I LOVED sprinting through ankle deep water and then swimming as it got deeper, then jumping out and running again across the mudflats. . .repeat. And so much better to share is with Cath than alone. We were surrounded by stunning scenery and it just felt good to play. This moment is probably a list topper. 

Getting the boat unstuck! In the only class III rapid on the river, one of our friends managed to get his boat stuck. It took 2.5hrs and a lot of rigging to get it off the rock. We were jumping in downstream to rescue gear and trying to keep the littles happy. There was a bit of tension for a while, but a few prayers and Brian's expertise (I'm biased ;) ) and we were on our way. 

Hanging out on the beach playing morning and night followed by relaxing and swimming in the river during the day. Nothing beats it.