Equal Footing

This year Mat and I were able to grab 3 peaks on our trip. We've hiked to other summits in the past, but this year was our strongest effort I think. We make a pretty good team. We're both at the same skill level, and we both have a passion for peaks. We're not the fastest hikers out there, but we're not the slowest either. We both give each other some space to enjoy the solitude, but we also keep an eye out for each other and never let ourselves get too far away from the other. But most of all...both of us don't mind at all getting up at 4 am and hiking 10 miles up to a summit. For a lot of people out there getting up at 4 am on your vacation doesn't sound like fun, but we don't mind at all.

Elk Everywhere

One of the main attractions of RMNP are the elk. They're everywhere. Ben and Megan really got a kick out of them...especially being able to drive up close to them and see them from the car. They're always cool to see.

Cabin Fever

We had a nice, comfortable cabin. It was a 3 bedroom/2 bath, with views of the Lumpy Ridge to the north, and Teddy's Teeth to the east. The mountain right behind the cabin is Emerald Mountain, which we climbed on Thursday.

Photography from Ben - RMNP

Here's some of the pictures Ben took. He's becoming a pretty good photographer for such a little guy.

Sprague Lake...2.0

On Friday we took my parents back into the park for a quick visit. We stopped at Sprague Lake for a picnic lunch, and then took another quick hike around the lake. It's such a picturesque setting...I never get tired of it.

Grandma & Grandpa Come To Visit

Thursday night my parents came up for a visit. They stopped in Estes Park, on their way to visit my uncle in Denver. We all took the kids over to the YMCA playground, and then we went back to the cabin for some leftover cake and ice cream. From Estes Park they're on their way to Denver to visit my uncle, then to Albequerque to visit some friends of theirs, and then to El Paso to visit more friends.

Emerald Mountain

On Thursday morning we all did another hike in the YMCA. This time we did Emerald Mountain, which is about twice the length of Bible Point, and about twice as high. Still though...it's a hike the kids can do...and of course it's an even bigger accomplishment for them. All the kids made it to the top...and all of them did great. Ben got a little tired on the way up, but we took it slow and easy. I told him..."Daddy is not going to the top without you," so we just took it easy. At the top we got some pictures of the kids and ate some snacks. It was pretty windy up there so we didn't stay too long.

MILES RT - 1.5

Happy Birthday Megan!

Wednesday was of course Megan's 2 year birthday. Bo and Susan and Wyatt all drove over from Steamboat and joined us for the festivities. We all met at Bob & Tony's for a pizza party, where the kids all got to play video games and pool. After dinner we all went back to the cabin for cake and ice cream and for Megan's presents. She really enjoyed being the center of attention I think. Some of the presents she got were a pair of "crocs," a teddy bear, a Colorado hat, and a new "princess" dress. It was fun. Happy Birthday darling!