After a bit of driving around and stopping to ask a few questions, we finally found the park where the trail began. I was curious to see how Payden would do since she was little when we climbed the Y mountain and got carried most of the way. After snapping a few pictures at the base of the mountain, we headed up.
We'd been told to take the trail straight up and not the one going left. Tom started up with the girls while I had to stop and readjust Declan in the sling. I sat there looking up and wondering how in the world I was going to do that with a baby slung around me. The hill looked really intimidating. I kept looking to the trail on the left, the one we'd been told that we shouldn't take, and wondered if we'd been told wrong because it look like it would take us in the right direction.
I really didn't want to go up the really steep hill for fear that I'd lose my balance with Declan slung on me, so I finally decided to go left and see where that path would take me. Shelby and Taylor were very nervous about the climb they'd already begun and decided to slide down the hill to join me.
Meanwhile, Tom and Payden kept on going. It was such a steeeeeeep hill.
By the time Tom and Payden got to the top of the hill, I was far enough down my trail to see that it would take us to the G. Tom decided to cut across the hill and join us on our trail since it was a WAY nicer trail.
I had to laugh at Taylor and Shelby's little bums.
Finally Tom and Payden made their way over to us. Tom got a call from the former owner of the practice he bought, so he decided he needed to take it. I thought he looked so funny hiking a mountain with a little pink backpack while talking on his cell phone.
Since it was the late afternoon, the air started heating up, but fortunately being in Utah it was bearable. Everything around us was still and quiet.
We got to a level part of the trail with a really good view, so Tom stopped and took a bunch of pictures that he would later merge into one panoramic view, using Photoshop. It really is amazing to be able to step away from the world for a little bit. I love being by the mountains. I love the views. I love the peace and quiet.
As we got closer to the G, we came across these forests of bare trees. They were kind of wicked looking.
The trail starts pretty far away from the G, and you take a long, fairly easy, and not very steep hike across the mountains to get to the G. After climbing for a bit, we were finally able to see that the G was really close and that we'd make it there soon.
Somehow I was able to hike it all with Declan strapped to my hip the whole time. He tried to get down here and there, but eventually realized he was there to stay. He did enjoy going through the trees because he would try to grab the branches as we walked by.
I was really shocked when we finally got to our destination. Down below, the G looks great. Up close, it looked old and rundown.
We stopped to rest for a bit and to enjoy the view yet again.
Like always, the girls really did a pretty good job and didn't complain much. Taylor was a bit moody and insisted on being the first, so there were a few squabbles about being the first in line here and there, but not many. Payden did an awesome job, especially since this was her first time to climb a mountain.
The hike down was a bit scarier for the girls, as always. They get really nervous because you gravity is forcing you into a run and you are constantly having to work at keeping your speed under control. As usual, on the way down, they held death grips on my and Tom's hand, but soon enough, and with very little slips, we were back to the beginning.
We had to get a shot of the mountain as we drove home.
Once the snow melts and the weather is good again, we'll have to find another mountain to climb together. I just feel blessed to be surrounded by such beauty and to be able to enjoy nature so easily and fairly comfortably .
