Sequoia National Park - by Isa

We went to Sequoia National Park.   Our campsite was huge.  In it was a huge rock that we could climb on.

We saw General Sherman – the tree.  It is the biggest living thing on the earth when measured by volume.  It is taller than the Statue of Liberty!  The bottom of the trunk is 36.5 feet in diameter and 107 feet in circumference.  It was gigantic, and had lots of fire scars.

Sequoia trees usually survive fires – but it leaves a scar.  This picture below is of us inside a fire scar on a different tree.  Look at the humongous pine cone that someone gave me.  

It is from a sugar pine tree.   Did you know that sequoia trees have smaller pine cones than even normal sized pine trees?  That was a surprise!  

We were able to walk through this fallen tree.  I liked that.

The next morning we climbed up Moro Rock.  My feet were tired!  But the view was awesome.

Then we walked to Tharp’s log.  A man had made a house in a log from a fallen Sequoia tree.  It was crazy.

On our way there we saw a bear in Log Meadow!  We also walked by Crescent Meadow.  Our last hike was to Tokopah Falls.  We saw a Yellow Bellied Marmot on the trail.  The falls were pretty.  They aren’t as big as Niagara Falls, but I still like them.  

My mom with two Sequoias that we saw on our hike.

When we got done that day, we were all really exhausted.  Then my mom and dad realized that we had hiked almost six miles that day.  Geez.

The best kind of tree hugging!

My dad tried to be as big as a Sequoia.

Viva Las Vegas - the canine perspective, with commentary.....

The 25^th of June was my birthday.  We woke up that morning in a place with a really deep hole in the ground.  My family seemed to be impressed by it.  I couldn’t go on many trails, so I was irked.  Fortunately, we soon left, but then we drove and drove and it got hot.  My family seemed excited and were making phone calls setting up some kind of plan.  I was still hot.  Soon we arrived in a place they called Las Vegas.  Hot, very hot.  Before I knew it, we were inside a nice cool store, and a lovely lady was rubbing my belly.  I overheard people saying this was PetSmart.  Luke said for my birthday they were getting me a spa treatment, complete with a mani/pedi.  Oh my.  What fun that sounds like.  My family went away and left me there.   When they returned, I was clean and brushed with a lovely little bow in my fur.  Happy Birthday Sophie.

The mom's perspective:  Las Vegas was an exciting stop for us because we were able to spend a few hours with Michael’s dad and stepmom and his two stepbrothers and their families.  What a joy it is to see people that we love!  We had such a fabulous time.  Sophie got dropped off at PetSmart for a bath so we wouldn’t have to leave her in a hot RV while we were in the restaurant.  Worked like a charm.  

Starry Night - by Luke

I saw many types of telescopes in Grand Canyon National Park during a Star Party activity. There was a 20 inch telescope! That telescope was so big you had to stand on a ladder to see through it. It also had a black tent like covering to help see the stars.  Another telescope was smaller; it wasn’t as powerful, so it couldn’t see things as far away.  A third telescope was also a 20 inch, but it didn’t have a covering over it.  The last telescope I saw was a bit stubby but you could see what the telescope was looking at on a computer screen.

                I saw many different things in space through the telescopes. I saw many star clusters. Two clusters I saw were M4 and M5. I also got to see Saturn. It was yellow and I was able to see the rings.  I got to see another galaxy called the sombrero galaxy.  It was orange and it looked like a sideways hat. I also saw a nebula with the beginning of a star in the center.  I could see the space dust around the edge.  I saw things over 25,000 light years away.  I couldn't take any pictures because it would interrupt the viewing with the light, but it was awe inspiring.

The Grand Canyon - North Rim

Okay, now everyone be honest.  When you read that I was nervous at Delicate Arch, and then I said we were on our way to the Grand Canyon, you giggled, right?  Well, if you didn't, go ahead and do that now.

My memories of the Grand Canyon are of standing at a small wall with a chain over the top of it and looking out over the massive canyon and being inspired.  Okay, that must be the South Rim Experience.  Yesterday the lovely lady at the campground check in showed me a little trail on the map that we could walk down to see the canyon – our campsite a mere three minutes away.  Wow was I excited.  So off we went.  Turns out we couldn’t take the dog on the little trail, so no problem,  Michael stayed with the dog and I took the kids down. 

I have decided that Michael makes me braver.  We started down the trail (which I lost in about 15 seconds and started taking my little kids right down a wash with loose rocks and everything.  Eagle Scout, I am not.)  We baby stepped down the wash and I looked  up and there was the stinking edge of the Grand Canyon eight feet in front of me.  No rope, no chain, no cute little wall or plaque,  just a drop off that instantly made me nauseated and made me grab my kids like a lunatic.  Scared the dickens out of all three of them – mommy must have had wild eyes, because Luke asks, “Mom are you alright?”  No, son, mommy is about to have a panic attack.  

I was totally freaked out this far from the edge

This picture is taken in that moment.

Five feet from a deadly precipice.  I am getting the shivers just writing about it.

We then scrambled back up just as quickly as our legs could carry us.

We then took another hike to explore the forest, and then went to a great Ranger Program about the Ancient Puebloan people that were once here.  The ranger was so dynamic – we love the Ranger talks, they really make the vacation come alive.  After the talk the Ranger had a whole bucket of clay for the kids to try their hand at making pots.  They had a blast getting ridiculously messy.

Today we woke up early and took a trail to Bright Angel Point and got a fabulous view of the canyon  - the kids were totally in awe.  This time there was a railing.  Funny how a piece of fence and a couple tubes of metal can make me feel secure mere inches from the edge.

Tomorrow we drive to Las Vegas!

Arches National Park

Our family does not do well in the heat.  That is a given.  So planning a trip to Arches National Park on the first day of summer probably wasn’t my best vacation starter plan ever.  I can admit that.  Lucky for us we had a fabulous cloud cover for the whole drive there, and it continued through the evening  of the first day.  

Broken Arch

Sand Dune Arch

On our first evening we hiked to Broken Arch and Sand Dune Arch.  We then took a lovely hike back on the campground loop through some of the sandstone fins – which was when we discovered our kids are really pretty good hikers.  

We nicknamed Isa Baby Mountain Goat and Luke is Baby Big Horn.  

Gabi didn’t want to be called anything unless it was related to an Appaloosa.  I tried baby Mustang, but she wasn’t having it.  Oh well.

Squished in between fins

On the trail back to the campground.  The sun was setting.

Taking a break

I think I can, I think I can.....

Because they did so well the first day we decided to brave it and took them on the Delicate Arch trail this morning.  We started around 8 and the clouds were still around, so it was cool.  We found the trail, then lost the trail, then found the trail again.  Even with the odd way up, we still made it – and then we stood there trying to decide if we should walk around the bowl to stand under the arch.

On the trail to Delicate Arch

We sat down and had a snack and finally we just went.  Wasn’t at all as hard as it looked – except for the fact that I am afraid of heights, so it was an act of love that got me over there without showing any fear to my kids.   And that was before I realized that there is nothing behind that arch but a sheer mountain cliff.   

We stayed long enough to take a picture then hiked back, stopping at the Petroglyphs to take a peek.  We then went back to the campsite and collapsed for a few hours – trying to stay out of the heat.  Eventually we emerged and took the chance to go see the Windows and Double Arch and then to Skyline Arch.  What a beautiful place this is!

The bowl around Delicate Arch.  Looks intimidating!!

Here we are under Delicate Arch.  

And there is the back of the Arch.  Umm, that's really high.

Double Arch - that's Michael and the kids on the rock in front - see the little red, white, and blue dots?

Because I know everyone wants to see what they are doing on that rock under double arch!

Isa relaxing on her favorite spot in the campground.

Off we go to the Grand Canyon!  

Rocky Mountain National Park

As we reviewed our adventures from last year, it occurred to us that we have seen lots of beautiful places. Some of those places are a very long drive from our home in Colorado.  And yet there are many gorgeous places right here in our own amazing state that we had yet to visit.  We decided to work on rectifying that situation - so the week after school let out we traveled north to Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was everything that we could have hoped for - and more! (Including a delightful three hour rainstorm where we all got to lounge around in the RV and read books - vacation at its finest!)

Hiking is good for the soul!

We attended a Ranger talk about Bighorn sheep and couldn't believe how big those horns are!

It was time for the kids to get back into hiking mode in preparation for this year's National Park vacation, so we took the opportunity to take some short hikes so they could try out their new hydration backpacks.  One of the hikes ended up being a non hike - it was about 250 feet to this pretty mountain lake, and that wouldn't have been notable at all, except in the end of May when we were there the path was covered in at least two feet of iced over snow.  This was the lovely picture we took at the lake - 

And this is Luke walking on the slick snow pack in his sandals.  He was pretending to slip and slide, until this picture when things got real.  Unprepared hikers - yep, that was us that morning.  Whoops!  Does it count that we brought water and winter coats?  

 How could we have neglected this National Park for so long?  We don't know either - but that will change.  The kids are already demanding that we go up for Elk bugling season and to watch the Bighorn sheep fight in November. The amateur photographer in me has a lot of ideas.....