Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Hiking Wild Horse Canyon


Summer has begun for reals! Even though the college kids have been out of school for 6 weeks, Anne just finished her Junior year Friday before Memorial Day. We weren't able to go anywhere that weekend, but the first of June we took a rather spontaneous trip to hike Wild Horse Canyon before Seth and Julie leave for their internship in New York. Seth had hiked it with friends about 6 years ago, and wanted to share it with the rest of us. It is located just about five miles outside Goblin Valley, which we saved for another trip! We weren't able to reserve a campsight, so we didn't go down and camp the night before as we originally intended. Instead, we got up and left home at 5 a.m., did the hike, and returned all in the same day! It was so fun and so worth it! 


The hike is shaped like a wishbone.  From the parking lot you hike up a dry wash for half a mile, then it branches into two slot canyons.  Bell Canyon is on the left, Wild Horse Canyon on the right.  We took the right fork into Wild Horse Canyon and followed it until it came out onto an ATV trail which we followed a couple of miles until it joined up with Bell Canyon which we followed back to the start.  All together we hiked about 8 miles.


Marissa and Walter are happy because they got to sleep the whole 3 hour drive down!



Julie, Walter and Seth, super hikers!  They were all troopers, Walter was so good and seemed to enjoy the hike, Julie and Seth took turns packing him, and even though they had to climb up and over or down and under obstacles, they managed just fine!



Stephen and Marissa pose by this tough old tree in the first half mile in the wash.



The slot canyon was full of interesting twists and turns, and even though it was quite narrow for the first couple of miles, it wasn't claustrophbic because you almost always could see the sun, and it opened up frequently, or else one side sloped up at an angle.



We did have to clamber up over some boulders pretty regularly.



Melanee came prepared with her camelback and hat.  We drank lots of water and avoided getting sunburned.



We all enjoyed taking a break to have a snack, even Walter!



Hiking was a team effort!



Stephen and Seth just had to take a few daredevil risks!




We stopped for lunch under an overhang to be out of the sun!




Leaving Wild Horse Canyon, and entering Bell Canyon! Nice to know we are on the right track!



Stephen carried Walter out of the pack for a couple of miles in the middle, giving Seth and Julie a nice break!


Seth and Julie hold hands hiking the ATV trail in between the Canyons.



Almost back to the start!



All six of us enjoyed this hike very much, and would recommend it as a fun, scenic hike to anyone who has a free day and sense of adventure!



Thursday, July 14, 2011

summer lovin



We are loving summer! We are always so behind on this blog, but thought we'd post some pictures of Stephen's homecoming. So fun! We are glad he his home!



Talia and Aerom made Welcome signs for him. They were so excited!




The gang who met Stephen at the Airport!

Monday, June 13, 2011

playing catch up!

Hello there family! don't worry, we havent forgotten about this blog! Life has been crazy! stephen comes home in just two short days! Its been a mad dash for the finish line what with painting the kitchen, getting new furniture for the family room, basically rearranging the entire house, planting the garden, getting the flower beds in, maintaining the yard, and getting a new trampoline! Phew! But its all really fun and exciting and so worth it!
UPDATE TIME!!!
dads business trip this year was to boston, so we took marissa and anne along with us! Such a fun trip, and so cool to go back east and check out all Boston had to offer!


baby Mckay turned 1! He is such a hunk of cuteness! We love him very much!


Matt Graduated from UVU!

Julie Graduated as well!

As did chase!! 3 college graduates this year! So exciting!




Well, that's just a taste of the craziness that's been going on, more details to come later.
Loving life!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Thanksgiving Gardens on Two-buck Tuesday!

A few weeks ago,we went to Thanksgiving Point as a family and took some photos:
Stanford and I sitting in a romantic corner of Thanksgiving Gardens

Marissa and Anne join Mom & Dad in celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary on Aug. 6th!
Matt & Jaime and their beautiful family! The girls are natural posers. Aerom had to be bribed......
Seth and Julie still on their honeymoon!
Rachel, the prettiest flower in the bunch!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

We survived the Trek!! Stephen and Treven helped us out with pizza in Green River.


Well, I am learning how to do this blog thing. Baby steps out the door...baby steps into the elevator...haha. J/k, this is Seth contributing to the blog/teaching mom how it works!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

empty

so this blog thing really worked out I guess. that is cool and all but whatever....