Today, we bit the bullet and took the kids hiking. I'd really been avoiding it because I thought it was going to be a disaster but Danny found our nice carrier backpack (actually meant for hiking) that we've basically NEVER used and we decided to venture out to Usery Mountain.
We left around 8:30 this morning and were on the trail by 9:20 (you know everything takes twice as long when you have kids :)
Tracy and a friend of hers decided to take the hike, too, so we have lots of great photos of all 4 of us!
We took the trail just halfway up, to Wind Cave. Evan hiked all by himself only needing a hand a couple of times. He actually stopped several times to "help" Mom and Aunt Tracy.
Everyone we passed mentioned what a big boy he was and how good he was doing.
We climbed 1.5 miles up, to 2,800 ft elevation (only an 800 foot gain)... it's very pretty up there.
At the trailhead...
On top of the world!
Climbing, climbing, climbing...
At Wind Cave...
Danny and Caitie coming down
Caitlin seemed to really enjoy the hike. Our typically noisy girl didn't make a peep all the way up and fell asleep on the way down!
We toyed with trying for the summit but it's a good thing we decided to let well enough alone because Evan was VERY tired and fell apart on the way back down. He's a TROOPER! We came across the park ranger and when he heard Evan climbed all the way to the cave he gave him a Jr. Park Ranger badge!
