We were able to spend another week at Mack's Inn and the Yellowstone area. Lucky us! "We" include myself and Ben, Miles, Emmy and Aidan (his first time to Idaho/Yellowstone, etc.), and Lucy and her best-friend Ruby. Miles had spent the week before in St. George and then headed to Midway on Saturday. He had a missionary coming home and so he went to his welcome-home on Sunday and then drove himself up to Mack's later that night. Emmy and Aidan headed out a day early and stayed in Midway. They left after church in Midway and we (Ben, myself, Lucy and Ruby) beat them - heading out from Montrose early Sunday morning.
Monday: The Hike. As in, the 20-mile hike that was actually 22.5 miles . . . The first 19.5 were okay, but man those last three were just rough. Physically and mentally ha! My feet - top and bottom - were so painful. Emmy was angry. Lucy was over it. Aidan was feeling it. Ben, Miles, and Ruby were okay. Ha. But those first many miles were nice . . . :) We hiked in about 10 miles to the Shonshone Geyser basin. Just a cool Yellowstone spot full of turquoise pools, bubbling mud pots, and geysers. And NO ONE else but us! Amazing! The geyser was called Minute-Man Geyser and was adorable and, yes, went off like every minute. :) We then made our way to the shore of Shoshone Lake. The second-largest lake in the park. We found a perfect lunch spot and enjoyed some good food. We had thought about hopping in the lake, but it was just too muddy at this spot. So after lunch we continued the hike . . . it went into the forest and actually became quite hilly - ups and downs. For no apparent reason because we weren't climbing or descending overall. So that was silly. The first 10-miles were practically flat and that's what we expected for the entire hike. So it was a bit surprising and tiring - the elevation gain, total, was about 2800. Which, for 20+ miles isn't a lot, but it was a lot more than we had thought! We made it back close to the shore and this time Ben and I (the only tough and brave ones) went into and heads-under the lake. It was refreshing and not as cold as one would think for a Yellowstone lake . . . Anyways, we came to our final junction and was disappointed to see 3 more miles to the trailhead (we hiked a horsehoe/U trail loop). We called this point The Point of Despair. But we made it and were quickly back to smiles! Dinner at the Gusher ended our day on a high and yummy note. We made it back late - like 9:30 or 10 to the cabin. Full day and quite the unforgettable adventure!
Sunday - a chill evening, swinging on hammocks at the cabin.
The hike started off at one of our favorite places - Lone Star Geyser trailhead. We missed it by probably 15 minutes, though, darn it! We came upon it sputtering and that was cool . . .
Pretty soon into the hike, we saw this guy right next to the trail. Emmy, while loving bison, is also scared of them. Rightfully so. So she really wasn't happy. But we made a wide path around him and all was well. (Right after this we were crossing a little stream. I yelled "snake" and Emmy yelled "Where?!" At that exact moment, the where was on her shoe. Haha. Emmy never did see it and didn't find it too funny at the moment. :) )
Cute hiker (he had already done about 50-miles of hiking the previous week in St. George!).
The first half was so beautiful - right along the river and meadows, etc. Gorgeous.
Part of the Shoshone Geyer Basin. It was way cooler in person ha!
A pretty spot in the basin area.
Minute-man geyser - what a cutie!
Our perfect lunch spot along the shore of Shoshone lake.
Ruby and Lucy hanging out on a log, while Ben and Miles filtered water for our bottles.
The teens all sunbathing and taking a good break.
Funny pictures, but we did it! :)
All clean and refreshed!
The Point of Despair. Zoom in on Emmy's face please if possible.
All done - already smiling again. :)
Tuesday was our chill-day: hang out at the cabin and relax. Much deserved! We basically just floated the river (lovely as ever, but not moose-sightings), hung out, and had Lucy's "birthday celebrations" that night. That meant a yummy dinner (carne asada tacos), avocado ice cream, and movie-of-choice (Michael). It was a nice day!
Lucy and Ruby were going to do the rope swing . . . but the rope just didn't really work and people would just plop into the river. So then someone started just climbing up the tree and jumping off. It was great and Lucy and Ruby both did it. Here's Lucy!
And our cute pencil-jumper Ruby!
Ruby and Lucy chopping up the carne asada . . .
Emmy and Aidan cooking up the meat and rice and fixings. YUM.
Wednesday we were back in the park - but mostly in our car and walking around the boardwalks. It was Aidan's first time and so we just wanted to do all the classic Yellowstone sites: mudpots, Grand Prismatic, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake Lodge, Hayden valley, etc. It was great and just forever the coolest. I didn't get a ton of pictures, but that's okay. It was all pretty exciting to Aidan and so that was fun! That night we went to the new Playmill (which is now located in Mack's) and watched Frozen. It was really fun! A classic and great day.
I can't decide which picture I like best, so you get both!
Cute pic of the couple.
Ruby and Lucy eating ice cream at the Yellowstone Lake visitor's center.
Emmy's new favorite pose with Aidan. :)
There were so many bison - yay! Great job Hayden valley.
The beautiful and impressive falls. We did go to the overlook as well. It's crazy and scary and all that.
Cool picture taken from Emmy's digital camera.
Man did these teens sleep! I don't think Aidan ever saw the entrance/exit section of the park because he was always asleep both ways, ha!
Thursday was another chill day . . . Aidan needed to leave by 2 or so to get to SLC because he had been called up for his apprenticeship training in Tooele. Which was exciting for him - and a bit of a bummer for Emmy because he couldn't stay the whole time. But we didn't do too much without him and so it worked out great. We rented a few e-bikes and they were delivered right to our door and so that was handy. Ben and I got in some nice runs in the morning. The kids played on the e-bikes, went to Big Springs, etc. Then we did s'mores before Aidan left because we hadn't done them yet ha. And then it started to rain and it basically poured for the next 4 or so hours! So we didn't really do much that night but just hung out in the cabin, watch a show or two, ate leftovers, etc.
Not a bad spot on my run! I love this area!
Emmy was happy to ride behind Aidan. :) Ben and Miles rode bikes with these two to Big Springs. Ruby and Lucy rode all around Mack's, etc. Too bad it started raining and cut-short our riding, but it was fun while it lasted!
Big Springs is always a lovely area.
Friday morning Miles left nice and early to head down to Idaho Falls for a wedding at 9 - it was one of his roommates and Miles had a nice day with all the wedding festivities. The rest of us just cleaned up, washed sheets, etc. We headed out by about 12:00 and went via Logan for the fun of it. We got to my parents' place later that evening and that was that of Idaho. Sadness.
On Saturday the kids and Ben all went shopping. The girls did their own thing and Ben and Miles did their own thing. They shopped forever . . . I went on an awesome 2-hour ride with my dad on his machine - me driving, he directing. He took me all over the Kamas, Oakley, Woodland, Francis, etc. It was so beautiful and fun to see these new areas. My dad shocked me at how he knew where to go - it was not just simply following one road either. It was crazy and delightful. We enjoyed delicious and requested Country Ribs for dinner, Aidan and Emmy met up for dinner on their own and said their goodbyes (Aidan in Denver then who knows where for his apprenticeship and Emmy going up to Logan), and that was Saturday. We headed home to Montrose after church on Sunday - on Lucy's 16th birthday!
Love us some Idaho!
