Rock Canyon

On our last full day in Utah, we decided to take everyone for a hike up Rock Canyon. It was a beautiful sunny day so we dressed pretty lightly and totally forgot that we would be in shadow most of the way! This had consequences. 

And the consequence was named Matthew. 

He was cold. He did not want to hike. He continued to be cold despite wearing Neil's ski jacket over his own parka. And he SCREAMED longer than I have ever heard a kid scream. When he sets his mind to something, man, he can absolutely outlast parental fortitude (as I type this I'm thinking about the yelling he did over dinner today and how I finally broke down after an hour and said fine whatever don't eat just stop the screaming). 

But it was a beautiful hike!! We went up to the overlook a couple miles up the canyon. 

You know who did NOT complain? The person who'd just had an ACL repair, that's who (go Ruth go!!). 

Eventually we made it up to the overlook which was sunny and beautiful and everyone immediately got hot and shed all their layers. 

One thing that's fun about hiking with Deckers is that the snacks are always really good. My dad had cranberry bread, Ruth had ginger cookies and some kind of cool jelly candy squeezy things, I had...something. Probably Clif bars. 

So gorgeous! Neil flew the amazing drone that Paxton gave him for his birthday around and around and we had a great time checking everything out (I think this is pretty close to the campground? Dad hikes up here all the time). 

On our way back all the kids climbed down into the cave...

Seriously so beautiful and magical. 

Abigail really really really loved this forced hug from Juliet...

(Also if you look closely in these pics you can spot almost every grandkid wearing an article of my dad's winter gear.) 

Then that stinker Matthew ran the whole way back down the trail. 

I never get tired of how beautiful Rock Canyon is!

There were a bunch of people setting up ropes right next to the kids but they just scrambled up. SAFETY FIRST GUYS. 

Such a fun hike and I'm excited to do it again this spring (but no whining, okay?!).