Landslide lake

The kids surprised me and walked in the door shortly after eight last night! They weren't supposed to be home until today, but with the chilly evenings, I had a hunch they might come back a day early. They were so glad to be home and started shouting out their exciting stories at the same time. I got no less than a dozen hugs from Joe and a whisker smooch from Mr. Stannix after three days in the back country. 

The cooler weather made for perfect hiking temperatures. They assured me they weren't cold at night (which was my biggest worry for them) and they had the best time with their Dad and their grandparents. 

They hiked 15km the first day to the base with 17lb packs (for the kids) and 35-45lb (for the adults). This year they not only carried their own gear (clothes, sleeping bag, thermal rest, rain coat) but their food as well. 

Camilla was nick named "Dobby" because she made the perfect little tent elf, organizing everyone's things each night. 

They did a day hike up to landslide instead of lugging their gear and enjoyed fishing and exploring and rock climbing. Grampa caught some cut throat trout and Camilla was the only kid to catch something up at the lake. 

One night after Mike had retired to bed, the kids had a brilliant idea to make him a chair out of rocks so that he would have a nice place to rest his back and his feet. They joked that it was like his big yellow chair back home! In the morning, Camilla and Hyrum woke up early to get the fire roaring and show Daddy his new camping chair. 

The hike down was quick and they missed the rain! They stopped to fish on the way down and the kids caught a lot of fish that were swimming amongst the boulders. Then they finished walking the 15km back to the truck with packs slightly lighter. Joseph had a really hard time near the end and needed some extra encouragement. The thing I love most about experiences like this is the bonding that naturally occurs. Relationships were strengthened during this shared triumph and they came back closer and full of memories!