When Michelle asked what I wanted to Father's Day, I told her I wanted to go do a canyon. I also decided it was time to introduce Addison to canyoneering, and Baptist Draw, the canyon I did last year with Bri, Mason, Ryan, and Kaylyn would the perfect - a series of three rappels, each getting a little longer; some problem-solving but nothing outrageous; a gorgeous slot that will leave him wanting more. Michelle was supportive of both, and the only remaining problem was how to get to the trailhead since it's down a long dirt road in the Swell. I recruited a father-son duo in our neighborhood, since we're friends and they have a pickup, I borrowed a couple extra harnesses from our local Scout troop, and it was on. We got up early Saturday, June 18, and drove the four hours down to the trail, and then spent most of the day in the canyon. It was bone-dry this time, which made for a hot hike out, but it went nearly flawlessly. Nearly, because on the first rappel, Kade accidental...

Whew! We made it through the holidays, which leaves me hopelessly behind on the blog. So what will follow on the next several posts will probably be photo-heavy and light on the text. Here we go! Nate has made a tradition out of summiting mountains on his birthday. This past September he decided to let us all join him. He strategically picked a peak that our family could handle and that would add to our summer adventure miles. Bald Mountain, in the Uintahs, elevation 11,943 feet. Due to the elevation, we spent most of the hike winded and also got totally fried, despite our liberal sunscreen application. We were mostly troopers, though, and played lots of rainbow I-Spy and I Went to the Kings Feast to power ourselves through. The birthday boy himself. A tuna sandwich picnic at the top. A crazy-huge cairn. We lost count of the number of lakes we spotted.

It was a preposterously long time ago, but better late, right? In April we took our second Canyon Country trip. The first was back in 2013 , when me, Addison, and Dad took a trip around southern Utah and northern Arizona, and we've been meaning to do another one ever since. We finally set a date in April and tacked a four-day, three-night trip onto the end of our family vacation to Capitol Reef . Besides the original three participants, we added Bryn and Dayson to the mix, and we had a great time. The first evening we headed up Boulder Mountain, checked out the lookout down into Capitol Reef and the Circle Cliffs and the Burr Trail, where we would be the next day. We stayed in a great little house in Boulder for the first two nights. It was in the same yard as a family house, with toys and a little playground in the yard. The next morning (Friday), we headed down the Burr Trail. Spirits were high. The road heads through Long Canyon first, and we...