Zion's Vacation

Here are pictures of our vacation to Zions National Park over the UEA weekend. They are in no certain order. The weather was great. Cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoon. It was so relaxing. Although my body is asking me why I torture it so with all this extreme hiking! Bob and Christina at the mouth of Echo Canyon on the way up to Observation Point.Christina in Echo Canyon.

Bob and Sandra climbing the trail to Hidden Canyon.

A waterfall by the Emarld Pools.

Christina making the traditional stack of rocks on the upper trail to the Third Emarld Pools. She felt kind of lonely without her brothers building a rock tower with her!

Looking under the falls at the bottom Emarld Pool.

Hiking our favorite trail in Zions. Angels Landing.

Christina sitting on a rock on the top of Angels Landing.

Another view of Angles Landing.

Watlers Wiggles on our way to the top of Angels Landing.

Christina in one of the holes on the way to Angels Landing.

At the end of the River Walk trail standing in the Virgin River at the Narrows.

Bob, Sandra, Christina sitting at our camp spot in Watchman Campground in Zions Park. This is a fun rock that was north of our campground. You can see a face on it right now. But, depending on the light you could or couldn't see it.

Family Camping Trip

We went camping up Franklin Basin Road from Wednessday to Saturday. It was fun getting the whole family together. Thursday evening Anthony was able to take us on a private tour of Minnitonka Cave in St. Charles Canyon. He couldn't get the generator to work, so we toured the cave with flash lights! That was really fun. Then Friday we went to the North shore of Bear Lake and had a fun time swimming, playing frisbee, eating lunch, and of course Anthony and Trudy built a sand castle. Friday evening Anthony and Trudy were walking through the sage brush and willows to get to the river when Anthony was attacked by wasps. Bees just seem to always find him. He is allergic to them and always swells up. (See last picture) Trudy took him down to Logan to the Insta Care. He received Benadryl and Steroids to help the swelling go down. Tom and Elise brought their dogs. Trudy braided our hair. We didn't even plan the blue shirts, but it's fun that we matched!

Christina watching Olivia with their dog Isis. Steven and Anarie with Olivia. Elise and Christina waiting for breakfast. Bob cooking. Savannah helping Grandma do dishes.

Testing out the water at Bear Lake. Tom and Elise and Savannah and Olivia. Isn't Olivia cute!!!

Playing frisbee. Top Anarie throwing to Christina. Anthony and Trudy getting ready to go snorkling. Middle Bob cathing the frisbee. Bottom Sandra, Tom, Steven and Bob. Anarie trying to keep warm. Christina trying to get a little sun. Anthony, Trudy and Steven building a dike so the waves won't wash away their castle.

A heart Christina built in the dike.

Master piece done. Bob, Christina, Trudy, Anthony, Savannah. Below Sandra with Steven and Anarie on the beach.This is how Anthony looked about a half an hour after the bee stings. His right eye is swelling up. There is a rash on his left shoulder with litlle rashes all over his body. This is after he washed off the mud to help take the sting out.

Pioneer Trek

Bob and I were Ma and Pa on our Handcart Trek re-enactment. The youth are our children and the adults our aunt and uncles.

Christina on top of Independance Rock, Wyoming.

Christina, Bob, and Sandra

Walking down from Independance Rock. As you can see, it is very windy today.

Our family with our handcart ready to go.

Bob standing watch over the handcart. We were asked to pack our limit of 17 pounds in buckets to make it easier to load and unload.

Trying to keep up with the fast pace going up the trail. Lots of wind, heat, and sand! We had 378 people in our trek.

Our family getting ready to trek back into Martins Cove. We are at our camp site which is 3 miles away.

Monuments in the Cove erected to remember the pioneers and rescuers.

Baby Robert resting in the handcart.

The youth choir singing during a devotional in the Dan Jones Cove. Christina is in the front row in braides.

Standing in view of Devils Gate. We did walk down to the Sweet Water River to play in it for awhile. It was so nice. By the time we walked back to camp, we had probably walked over 13 miles! My feet and back are so sore!

Standing in front of the monument "Remember" in the Rocky Ridge Hollow.

At the end of the devotional at the Hollow, the youth choir sang the song "Come, Come Ye Saints". As they sang people slowly got up and quietly left through out the song. I was one of them asked to represent those who died along the trail. It was such s touching, emotional time!

Monument for the common grave of the 13 people +2 who died crossing the Rocky Ridge in the Willie handcart company. A marker with the names of those who died.