Wind Rivers!

In August, we went on a backpacking trip to the Wind Rivers. It was awesome! I have been promising to take Sue backpacking for years now, and Jamie has always wanted to go to the Wind Rivers. Finally we all had an available weekend, so we made it happen.

Here's Jamie at the trailhead...23 weeks along! She was a trooper. The high belt strap is definitely a good look. 

 Mason did pretty well in the pack, unless he got hungry or saw someone hiking with a dog. Then he tried to stand up and climb out. Here he is taking a nap on the way to Big Sandy Lake.

 Here is our camp. Mason had a great time climbing this rock and sliding down. Notice all the dirt on his face.

He loved this rock too. He got pretty good at climbing up, down, and traversing across the rock.

And here he is enjoying the dirt and playing around the bear box.

 Sue and Matt reading at their reading rock in camp.

 Mom, enjoying the view from her thinking rock. There were a lot of rocks!

 Just in case you thought Mason was pleasant the whole time...here's a photo for you. He was probably mad that I took him away from the bear box, or that I took him away from his rock, or maybe I wouldn't take him down to the water. He got mad about any number of things.

 Here we are walking down to the lake. This was the week he switched from primarily crawling to primarily walking, but he wasn't stable enough to walk on the uneven ground alone.

 He was EXTREMELY happy to splash in the lake. Well, until we stripped him naked to wash him off. He wasn't a big fan of that.

 Mason and Grandma at Big Sandy Lake.

Mom and Jamie enjoying the evening down by the lake.

Family photo! We had a fun time getting out together.

Here are Sue and Matt at dinner the first night. Roasting bread over the Reactor stove since we couldn't have a fire. I never know what Sue is going to have in her pack!

The second night she busted out s'mores. This is why we are friends.

Here we are on day two, hiking to the Cirque of the Towers. Yes, that is me carrying only a pair of binoculars while Matt is hauling around a sleeping Mason. Thanks Matt!

Here we are with a view of the Cirque in the background. It was beautiful! We stopped here for lunch.

View back down towards Big Sandy Lake. I actually carried Mason on the way back. Not sure I would have made it the whole way without Matt, though. It was a steep, rocky hike!

Here we are having dinner. Mason had a cup of refried beans that kept him endlessly entertained! They got everywhere! But hey, we ate 100 feet from camp for a reason right?

Sue setting up our "campfire" and airing out her gnarly raspberry. 

Grandma walking around camp with Mason. They walked, and walked, and walked until bedtime.

View of camp before leaving the morning of day three.

Here's our group! A pregnant girl, a baby, mom with her recent neck surgery, and a very fit Sue and Matt.

Sunrise across the lake as we headed out.

Morning faces!

Damen, Mason, and me on the trail headed out.

It was an absolutely beautiful morning!

Only a half mile left! We had a great time. The weather was perfect, the mosquitos were gone, the biting flies were only a mild annoyance, and the company was spectacular!