From the Sea to The Mountains

Jon took a couple weeks off at the end of August/beginning of September for one last big trip before settling into the grind of school and work. Originally we planned to spend that time down in Baja but had been having so much fun on the boat and in the mountains that we decided to spend that time in Catalina and Mammoth instead. Turned out to be the perfect use of our time minus the fact that Jon missed a once in a lifetime big wave swell that landed itself on southern California's doorstep a couple days after we arrived in Mammoth. Minor detail. That part was hard. BUT the night of the best and biggest day of surf while I was putting the kids to bed, Eden ran up to me, gave me a big hug and exuberantly exclaimed (out of the blue): "Life has never been better than this!" Yes Eden, I would have to agree...Life really has never been better than this.

It's funny how each trip takes on a life of its own. During our July Mammoth trip we got in a couple of really fun hikes..this time I had visions of more hikes - wanting to re-live some of those glorious moments, but we didn't go on a single hike this trip. This time it was all about climbing. Eden got new climbing shoes for her birthday which she had been breaking in at the climbing gym and she was amping to try them outside. For me it was like a dream. I am still pinching myself - hardly believing it was true. Hardly believing that my girl was truly as motivated as she was to climb.

Day One

Trifle Towers

Eden takes tying in very seriously. She very much wants to be able to do it all on her own.

Not a great pic but I love that it captures her contemplating the climb before her.

We found this little pocketed climb the first day. Too short really to be a top rope but it was a perfect intro to fun outside climbing for the kids.

Eden's first climbing casualty

While Eden Climbed, Zi was content to play with sticks.

He climbed a little too.

June Lake

Check out the difference in these two kids' surf styles - such a classic display of their personalities!

Klamath and his rocks...

These boys - they make me swoon.

Bike ride to town to end day one - because Zi was amping for the trolly and Eden had earned a root beer float!

Day Two

Clark Canyon

Somehow Zi got it in his head that he was taking his truck on the hike to Clark Canyon (about a 20 minute uphill hike to the crag/climbing area). We let it ride for a while until finally Jon told him the truck had come far enough. This however spurned on a thing of Zi bringing this truck on every climbing hike of the trip.

Below Jon and Eden are sizing up the climb she is about to do. It was a tall climb and Eden just kept going higher and higher, Later Jon told me how relieved he was to hear her say she was ready to come down at about 15 ft from the top. 

Zion's turn. He didn't make it quite as high this time.

Here Eden is pulling the rope. This kids fight over this task.

Below are some pics the kids took of me climbing.

The Tahiti surf contest was also going on the first few days we were there - so these three would watch it every chance they got. I love the look of pure shock and awe on Eden's face. 

Bike Ride to Horses and Town

Eden would not let me hold her horses rope. She said she was too big and that she needed to practice for her big horseback ride in Kauai.

A little bouldering on the ride to town - Zi made Jon stop so he could try it. 

The trolly ride is Zion's favorite part of the trip by far. I love this pic of him tasting the wind much like he does on the bow of the boat. 

Campfire antics. Zi was such a character on this particular night entertaining us all and loving every second of it.

Day Three

Tuolumne Meadows

There is that truck again

Jon and Eden searching for some clean lines

And there goes Zi with that truck. As if getting to the base of the rock is not hard enough.

The swing from the Mommy climb. This climb is called potluck (I think). I remember looking at it back in our climbing days and being too intimidated to even try it. So when we got on it this trip and I was actually able to do the climb clean I was super excited. The pics below are courtesy of Zi, and although the may not capture the magnitude of what I feel the climb is, they do capture the magnitude of my smile and joy in doing it. I am so stoked to have this memory. (:

These little books given to us by a friend on the kids' bday went everywhere with us and were invaluable - I intend to get at least 10 more!

Back at "log lake" the kids found the perfect log to construct a teeter-totter with.

I feel like these pictures capture the heart and soul of my beautiful Eden.

On a late afternoon explore the kids found this little nook. Something about these pics make me think about the vastness of the solar system and the fact that we are just tiny specs within it.

Back at Camp

And just in time for sunset. Also in time to find that our camping neighbors had been catching giant trout without us all day.

Where are all the fish?! Did we blow it guys?!

These pics (below) are for my friend Jen. This is one of our camping neighbors very big fish of the day. It was fun to pretend it was ours for a moment.

Day Four

Horseshoe Slab aka Robin Hood Rock

The kids have a rather recent obsession with Robin Hood. Sometime earlier in the summer I let them watch the old disney classic on Netflix (I think it might be the 1960s version?). Anyway it's the one where Robin is the fox and Little John is the big old bear. The kids love it and can not get enough of it. Now every time we go up to Mammoth they are on the search for Robin Hood. At this particular spot there were some branches arranged like a fort. The kids loved playing in those branches and imagining that Robin Hood and Little John would be sleeping in them later that night. At the end of the day Eden even left Robin some of her sea glass. We went back on the last day to see if it was still there. This area was also unique in that it had a dirt bike path that lead to it and hooked up with the paved bike trails that lead back to camp and town. It was the kids first experience really riding their bikes on dirt (for an extended period of time), and it was quite an adventure to ride our bikes to the climbing area as well. It was such a fun place that I can not wait to revisit!

Sea glass offering

Zion guarding the sea glass

A random chimney on the bike trail along the lake. 

Of course Zion goes in the chimney 

Day Five

June Lake

We met with a family from San Clemente at the lake. Eden immediately hit it off with their daughter and asked to play with her every chance she got for the rest of the trip. Unfortunately we weren't able to meet up again but are hoping that future trips will coincide with these beautiful people. 

Eden's friends dad was a hero and found the kids a snake. Ever since the trip in July when the Bishop boys were catching snakes that is all the kids want to do at the lake now. But all my attempts came up with nothing, so we were so stoked when this guy came through for us!

Can you see the snakes little red tongue?

Zi never wanted to let it go.

Back at Camp on the Lake

Because what are dead fish for if not for headbands and blindfolds...what do you do with your dead fish?

I guess they are also good for teasing poor old Klamath.

Our first catch of the trip!

There was something about the trout this trip...they seemed a bit bigger and more beautiful than the trout of the past trips.

Day Six

Early Morning Fishing at Camp

There are few things Eden takes more seriously than fishing.

There are few things Zi takes more seriously than loving on/torturing Klamath.

Fish on

See Zi's face in my glasses?

The Lion's Den

I have no words for this place. It is beautiful. It has clean lines and beautiful cracks. There are so many climbs I can't wait to do here. To get here you hike down a steep sandy slope into this and it is absolutely breathtaking. I can't believe Eden said she wanted to come back here. It is seriously a pain to hike out of with its thick steep sandy slope. Literally one step forward two steps back the entire way. I was dreading the hike back up with the kids but they were kind of rock stars and it went much more smoothly than I had imagined. 

Rock Creek & Pie in the Sky!

When we got there (at 12pm) they were sold out of our favorite pie.  Come to find out our friends from San Clemente (whom we told about this place during our July trip) were in there 15 minutes earlier and were telling everyone around them to get the said pie. I have not historically been the type of person who likes to keep places like this a secret but now - suddenly - I believe that I am.

I love these pics that seem to embody the simplicity and joy of childhood.

Zi floating down the river on his boogie.

Day Seven

Horseshoe Flats

Time to head home but not without one last bike ride to Robin Hood Rock and one last bike ride from there down into the village and the long trolly ride back up on labor day weekend. I have never seen the trolly so crowded - standing room only all the way to the top, and I have never been more grateful that we have been able to avoid the crowds all these years. Next year when Eden starts school it will be quite the shocker I am sure. 

Sunset on the way home.