Happy 12th Colt!

Birthdays are a little different these days but we still had fun celebrating the big 12 with Colt. 

At first he wanted waffles but then at the last minute decided on donuts for breakfast.  We had Subway for lunch and French Toast Casserole for dinner (although we had to do his birthday dinner the night before).

We went up to our campground for his Camping Birthday party and he insisted on opening his presents that night.  

 

Pool Antics

 

 Darby was doing some cartwheels and other silly antics in the pool.  She insisted we get a video. 

 

 

 

 

 

This girl

                                              Darby was having fun taking selfies and videos. 

 

 

 

 

 

More Mt. Baker

Some more photos taken by other people in our group. 

 

Summit Day

Even though we tried to sleep neither one of us felt very rested when the midnight alarm went off.  We woke up, ate some food and got our gear on.  Surprisingly, it took us over an hour and a half to get ready.  It wasn't just us, it was all the people in our group.   

 

We start off with headlamps and climb our way up the mountain in the dark.  And while that might sound a little scary it is actually pretty awesome.  The stars are shining and all you hear is the sound of your own breathing with a few directions from your rope leader. 

Dan & Jen 

When the sun does start to rise it is pretty spectacular to see all the beauty and also to see how far we have climbed.  Part of me is thankful that we don't get to see what we have come up because some of it might have scared me. 

Above is a picture of me and our rope team.   I was behind Dan.  Cody & Arnie are behind me. 

Pictured above. My rope team.  

Below is Brad's rope team.  Brad is taking the picture.  Jen & Matt. 

Both of these pictures are from the Roman Wall.  It's the final part of climbing Mt. Baker and it is a GRIND.  1,000 feet of elevation gain in a very short time.   There is a lot of mental talk to get through it but when you have made it this far you know you are so close.

Arnie (Jen's dad) who coordinates all of it.  He didn't lead this time but he is certainly a leader when it
comes to making sure everyone is doing well.  

WE MADE IT!   (I am SO tired!)

                                                                            Dan & Jen

                                                            More pictures coming....sorry. 

 

Bucket List - Climb a Mountain

Sometime after college or maybe near the end of my college years I wrote down my "Bucket List". I remember writing these things down and even though I didn't save the paper I can remember everything on my list.   In no particular order....

Work at Disneyland 

Get Married

Swim with Dolphins

Live in Australia

Run a marathon

Complete a triathlon

Climb a Mountain

Build a House

Write a children's book 

 

This last weekend I checked another item off my list.  

A recap of our weekend. 

We had a last minute glitch in our childcare plans but thankfully with the help of my cousins Carissa, Cameo & Joe and also Brian and Angie we made it happen. 

We left friday morning and drove to the Ranger Station and then to the trail head.   

Trailhead = 3,360 feet

It took us about 3 hours to get to base camp.  

Dan during the hike.

Dan & Jen eating a snack when we got to base camp.

Part of our time up there is learning how to self arrest.  Arnie gives us some tips and then we practice on the slope.  Thankfully I didn't have to self arrest during this climb.

Jen practicing her self arrest. 

Our base camp.  I could stay up here for days.  It's amazing! 

Time for dinner! 

After dinner we got ready for bed even though the sun was still shining.  I was tired and I knew I needed to rest as much as possible because our wake up call was going to be at midnight.  

Brad and I laid in our tent and neither of us got much sleep.  I do know Brad did sleep a little because I heard him snoring.