My whole body is exhausted, including my brain. I had forgotten how mentally challenging really long hikes are. Everyone else in the family is blogging away and I’m not sure that I’ll be able to find the words to express what today meant.
We started early and hiked about 2 miles from the town we are staying in, to Bryce. (Note: you don’t need to pay to enter if you go in this way!) We hiked a figure eight, up and down, over and over. I believe our total elevation gain (and loss, which is also hard!) was 2617 feet over 14 miles. This park has been one of my very favorites since I was a little kid, just Zoe’s age. The weathering process that created the hoodoos is phenomenal. Every glance up, to either side, is simply gorgeous, and impossible to explain. Perhaps the pictures will do a decent job.
One of my favorite parts of these hikes is getting to know each other as a family better. Zoe’s brain never stops, she was begging us for mental word and number puzzles along the trail. Ellie’s mood shifts as quickly as the chipmunks that were skittering around us, and she needs the verbal confidence from us to perform her best. Together they made up stories, play little games, and lead us up and down the trail. Ellie does best with a belly of meat sticks and Zoe prefers Twizzlers. When the wind blows the wrong way, they suddenly bicker and argue over stupid stuff for a few moments. Then they’ll walk in silence until one has a hilarious thought that must be shared with the sister. I think today was the hike that bonded them as hikers this year. It seemed special.
Here are the pictures from today. I apologize that some are sideways, weak wifi and tired Molly, leaves little patience for editing pictures.
We will be without any internet tomorrow. So mom, we’re safe and happy, don’t worry. 🙂