On one of my many work trips I traveled to Detroit, which I'm sure has many redeeming qualities, but lovely surroundings didn't appear to be one of them. Here, anywhere I look, there are these majestic, stunning mountains. They are massive and ever changing with the seasons: white and blue in the winter, doused in snow from November until April; rich green in the summer, as that snow feeds the trees; orange and red and blazing gold as fall rushes in, leaving the trees once again bare.
There's just something about the mountains. Each time we head up the canyon I wonder, "Why don't we do this more often?" It is peaceful, calm and cool and, combined with no cell reception, it is rejuvenating to get away and disconnect.
Twice last month we went up the canyon for dinner - once with my sister and her family, the other time serendipitously (and oh, so joyfully) running into them and joining them again. We all loved it, including Reed who sat right down in the snow run-off river and played until we made him get out to get warm.
Last weekend I met with five of my sisters to do an afternoon hike. I'll be the first to confess (and remind everyone! ;) that hiking is not my favorite activity, but it was great to be together, chatting as we climbed, stopping to enjoy the scenery, laughing, and connecting.
I'm not sure who deserves the award for the bravest hiker: Holly, who had a c section two months ago, or Mary, who shattered her elbow on a fluke fall a year ago and worries frequently about repeating it. It was good to be there together, working to help each other both up and down.
I am the tallest sister, and standing on this boulder sure accentuates it. :)
One of the funny moments on the hike came when Tiffany was generously trying to get a fleck out of Julie's teeth and was mercilessly teased for it. I love Holly's expressions in the background.
We were hustling down the mountain on our way back, at a point when the path was particularly narrow. Single file, and I was at the back of the bus, while Mary and Tiffany led. Rather suddently, both Mary and Tiffany jumped, turned around, and ran right into the next two sisters. "Rattlesnake!" They said it was about an inch and a half thick and had been crossing the path when it lifted up its rattle (which there's probably a far more technical term for). A little bit of chaos ensued as Mary and Tiffany tried to get BACK and AWAY from the snake, while Julie and Paige wanted to see it! Get a picture! And on a path only wide enough for one there was a bit of commotion.
Julie and Paige led the way forward, Paige curious to see the snake, and Julie with a branch handily broken off a nearby tree to "sweep it away" should it come back. Once the rest of us got the all clear, the six of us jogged along for about sixty seconds, single file, eyes wide open: I'm sure we were a sight to see, and though I don't have a picture, I hope I always remember that mental image.
How I wish all my sisters (and sister in laws) could have come that evening, to soak up the great outdoors. I'm so lucky to have such a great family and I feel extra grateful everyone lives close by.
And now I need to plan a reason to get up to the mountains again this week.
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