Inspiration Point 4-Wheeler Ride

It seems like all we have done this summer is prepare for the Trek so the day after the Trek we took a little 4-wheeler ride. We started in Mantua and rode to the top of the mountain looking down over Huntsville and Eden. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful ride.

We stopped for a little lunch break on top of one of the mountains.

This is a picture looking off the top of Inspiration Point toward Willard Bay. I didn't realize that Willard Bay was so large.

This is a picture looking off Inspiration Point toward Ogden. It was a pretty view but Mom was the most inspirational thing that I saw all day.

Inspiration Point was well marked and a nice place for a snack before heading home.

The Trek

Last October we were called to be the leaders of our Stake Trek that took place July 14 through the 17th. It has pretty well been a full time calling ever since then. Someone suggested it was like serving a nine month mission. We trekked through Martin's Cove and had the privilege of trekking the sacred grounds of our pioneer ancestors.

There were 328 participants in the Trek. It is a little hard to see but they are strung out over about 1/2 mile when they were all moving together. It was an awesome sight and a great blessing to be a part of it.

We had the opportunity to reenact the crossing of the Sweetwater River. It was a lot of fun for us but pretty humbling to think that there were chunks of ice floating down the river with subzero temperatures, gail force winds, and a foot of snow on the ground when the Martin Company had to cross the river to get to the Cove. There was no place to get dry or warm once they crossed.

Our tent city was packed in pretty tight at Sage Campground. We had over 100 tents to house the trekkers. It made for a great party but after everyone went to bed there were plenty of snoring sounds throughout the camp.

This was the last day of trekking as we began the ascent over Rocky Ridge. Rocky Ridge is the highest point of the pioneer trail. We ended the day after trekking 16.2 miles into Rock Creek Hollow. Ilene's boots aren't pretty but they just kept on walking. We clocked over 30 miles on the Trek. It was an amazing experience and we are very blessed to have had the opportunity to participate. We learned a lot from our preparation and our participation. We survived our 9 month mission with no more wear than a few mosquito bites, sunburned lips, and not quite enough sleep.

Moab Trails

Ashlee has been encouraging us to start a blog. I am not convinced that we have anything to put on a blog but she started one so I guess we will try. I am sure that our favorite pictures are of the grandchildren.

We recently had the opportunity of vacationing with the family in Moab. It was great to be with the Burnetts and most of our family, we missed Clint, Ainslee, and Andy. We will have to catch them on the next go around. We had a wonderful time, we had so much fun with everyone.

We got to Moab and set up camp and it was still 98 degrees at 6:00 pm in the evening. The kids loved the sand and the camping but the sleeping part didn't go as well as it could have. Bryce, Tanner, and Grandpa left at 6:30 pm to ride the 10.5 mile Slick Rock Bike trail. We were so eager to get on the trail that we didn't even take any pictures of our bike ride. That is probably the best anyway. Bryce and Tanner seemed to think that I looked a little bit out of place in my full length levis but we headed out anyway. It was still 98 degrees when we left. The ride was a workout but it was awesome. It took us 4 hours and it was still 88 degrees when we got back.

Cohen and Shay were having a great time playing in the tent. I think that they were trying to figure out how to jump on the bed.

A gal just can't get enough sand. It feels soooooo good!

Cohen was fired up and ready to roll. Where are the keys, mom?

Laynee felt the same was as Cohen did. She was wondering why everyone was taking so long to get loaded and ready to move out.

Bryce and Laynee giving the cowgirl rodeo wave. It was working well for Laynee but I think that Bryce needs a cute helmet like Laynee's before his wave will be very effective.

It didn't take long for Cohen to doze off. It's a good thing that he has mom for a chauffeur and grandma Burnett as a back rest.

Biker babes! Cute helmets, cute hats girls. Just had to take a short rest in the shade.

We had to take a short rest at Gemini Bridges. We all enjoyed stretching our legs.

Our three little paleontologists had to stop and take a closer look at this dinosaur track. They must all be working on the same team, notice the matching T-shirts.

In between rides we watched movies, swam in the Burnett's pool, and blew bubbles. Tanner and Shay posed for a quick photo shoot.

Grandma and Laynee were pumping out bubbles right and left. Laynee loved the automatic bubble blower.

Biker grandma just eating up the trails. She can even ride one handed, or maybe that might even be with no hands.

Cute pigtails Ash, you are a professional when it comes to 4-wheeling.

Ashlee and Bryce working out a technical spot on the trail while Leanna catches it all on film.

Kevin and Bryce ran cleanup crew and picked up any dead ones along the trail.

Mount Whitney Hike

I recently had the opportunity to hike to the top of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. My friend Chad invited me to go and we had an awesome time. Mount Whitney is located in California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains just outside of Lone Pine. It took us 13 hours of travel to get there. Here are a few pictures:

We stopped at Death Valley on our way to the mountain. It was 116 degrees and there was a 10 to 15 mph wind. It felt like there was a hair dryer blowing in your face. Dirt, rocks, sand, and alkali was about all there was to see there.

This is a picture of the crew hiking up the trail. The picture is taken looking back the way we have come. We are at about 11,000 feet, just above the tree line.

We hiked in 6.5 miles the first day with full backpacks and set up base camp at 12,070 feet elevation. We had to carry in bear cans to store all of our food in to protect it from bears and the marmits. There were lots of marmit that looked like a huge rock chuck. They were always snooping around camp to see if there was anything to eat.

The next day we waited until 6:30 am for the ice to soften on the rocks and then we headed out. This picture is taken at the top of 99 switch backs that trail up the face of the mountain to Trail Crest which is at 13,600 feet elevation. It is hard to see but our base camp is to the right of the small lake on the center right of the picture.

This picture is taken from Trail Crest looking over the California side of the mountains. Only another 900 feet of elevation to climb.

A picture of my friend Chad as he came across one of the snow fields along the trail.

Just a short victory dance at the summit with the American Flag. There was quite a view from the summit. It was 37 degrees with about a 30 mph wind blowing on top. It was too cold to stay very long.

I had to throw in this picture to prove that we were really on the summit. We also left our names in the register. Before leaving the summit I gathered some rocks to take back to Laynee, Shay, and Cohen (Laynee calls it her very special rock). We hiked back to base camp, loaded up and hiked out the same day, 18 miles of hiking, I was feeling it by the time we made it back to the vehicles. Overall, it was an awesome hike. I would love to do it with the men of the family someday.