A hiking we will go!

Yippee!  Lake Powell season is here again!  We look forward to going in the spring because, even though we can only get away for a long weekend, we can really explore the canyons in the cooler weather.  In the middle of the summer, a long hike is out of the question as we are usually trying to stay cool in the water most of the time.  

Smith Fork Canyon

Ready to hike!  We grab a water bottle for everyone, slather ourselves with sunscreen, slide into our Reefs, grab the Lake Powell hiking guide and take off.  Emily is very fashionable in her matching "do-rag" and shorts!

Matthew entertains us as we hike up through the mossy mud.  His first order of business is to grab a hiking stick.  He never wears his shoes, but mom makes him take them just in case.  Dylan came up with the idea for him to put them on the end of his stick.  Perfect!  He will then tell us all of his tales of what life was like when he was an indian boy who grew up to be the chief.  

The first hike took us to the "cool grotto".  It was so cool!  And provided a cool break from the sun...so either way, it was a "cool grotto".  We spent some time there playing in the soft sand and sitting in the shade.

Of course, Dylan had to explore through rock climbing (and Matthew followed him).  At the end of the grotto, there was a pool of water and Dylan hiked around it.

On the same hike up Smith Fork Canyon, after the grotto, we hiked further up the canyon to some narrows.  Cody takes a break while waiting for me.  I am a little slower because I actually like to look around while we are hiking (I gather while Cody hunts...my mom would get that!)

Really cool pictures up these narrows.

Seven Mile Canyon

A short hike to a cool rock formation.  We LOVE the beautiful Navajo tapestries.

So, even though the water was a butt-freezing cold  59 degrees, Dylan and Matthew couldn't pass up the chance to get some wake-bording and knee boarding in.  They loved it!

Matt was so excited to be able to cross the wake this year.

We had so much fun.  This is the first time in a long time that we went without other family and friends.  Lake Powell has so much beauty and incredible places to explore that every time we go down there we find something new.  There is just no better way to explore nature and we thank our Heavenly Father for His beautiful creations.