Trail West #3

OK, so another exhausting yet amazing day!! Today started off slow. Well, at least for the kids. I woke them up at 8:15 to get dressed for breakfast at 8:30. They were slow and a wee bit grouchy!! It didn't help that Daddy wasn't here when they got up. Mike started off the day with a fly fishing class at 6:15. And, being military, he was early and the instructor was late. Just rubbed him wrong (apparently it was a bit chilly). He had fun and caught two fish (one by the tail which I believe is cheating in the fishing world)!!

Sarah on the way up!!

Sarah on the way down!!

Caleb's chariot!! Must be nice!!

The trail to the top!! I despise switchbacks!!

Mike going down!! I did offer several times to take one!!

He met us at the end of breakfast (which have I mentioned the excellent food?!). We then headed to the Cottonwood Pass for a nice hike. Ok, so nice is realitive at 12,000 feet with 4 kids under the age of 7. But, it was beautiful!! What I expected from the kids, well, it only partly happened. We put Sarah in the backpack which Mike carried. I expected to need help with Caleb and Grace. I figured they would have a hard time and cry and complain. Well, Caleb didn't cry, but he did want to be carried. Fortunately, two of the great teen volunteers here at Trail West helped us out. They carried him all the way up. It was a blessing!! Drew just trudged along. He did need water, but no complaints. Well, that leaves Grace. Can you just say that she blew my preconceived notions righ out of the water. She took off and left us in her dirt. She didn't stop, didn't complain and came back to meet us!!! I was truly shocked in a wonderful way!! It was her cup of tea!!

Grace leaving us all in her dirt!! She's in the middle in the lime green sweatshirt.

At the top of Cottonwood Pass!!

When we got to the top, which was easily 13,000 feet and the air there is thin, we took some pictures. It was a lot of fun!! We really enjoyed it!! I hadn't seen the Taylor resevoir in several years. I was so glad to see it had water and was up from the last time I saw it. We "rested" in the thin air and then headed down. Of course, Grace took off and left us in her dirt again!! Then, Caleb decided to be carried!! So, Mike carried both Caleb and Sarah back down. It was much quicker. Drew and I hung together. We walked and ran a little. We enjoyed it. Once down, Trail West had hot cider, apples and oranges for us all (did I tell you how awesome this place is?!). Then, we headed down to the camp. We had lunch and Caleb slept (for 3 hours).

After lunch, the oldest two swam, Caleb slept, Sarah wanted to play, Mike did "I don't know" and I did laundry. Then, Mike and I got to do a trail ride. It was OK. I can now tell you why my parents were so against us doing it every time we went to Gunnison. The older you get, the harder it is on your body (BUTT)!!! But, we survived. We came back from that for baths, dinner and evening get together. Oh, dinner, they took the kids and fed them so we could have a couples dinner. Yes, dinner with no crying, whining, spilling and it contained adult conversation!! It was great!!

I will post a picture of Mike riding his horse, Tigs!!

So, what could possible be left for tomorrow, well, you will just have to check back. I don't know what they have in store for the morning, but Drew, Mike and I do the ropes course after lunch and the kids all go pony riding. I think we have a BBQ and square dance tomorrow night.

Good night and peaceful sleeping!!