The last time we did this hike, it landed itself a place on our very best hikes list (the bighorn sheep pretty much solidified it!).
Sadly, this time we had very different weather (absolutely INSANE wind) and all of the bighorn sheep were sensibly sheltering down in a nice little cup of valley where we could see them but not see them well. Smart sheep, because it was pretty crazy up on the ridge.
Just a reminder that the first mile of this hike is very steep and I promise it's the worst! Once you get out of the treeline, it's fine (well until you get to the summit area, and I guess there's some um mild mountains and maybe another mountain that you summit, but it's all good).
As always in Rocky--the views are incredible.
Dad and Neil with the Never Summer Mountains in the background.
Matthew was pretty grumpy for a chunk of this hike--he was cold and his little leggies did not feel like walking.
But he perked up! (Of note: Juliet did this thing ALL SUMMER where she thought it was hilarious to not smile in pictures. So you're going to see a lot of that and I promise she is actually having fun. Abigail told her yesterday at dinner that in a couple years she's going to look back and be annoyed at herself for doing it.)
Coolest grandpa, seriously. I am super grateful that our kids have my dad along for things like this--it means so much to me that they are building those multi-generational relationships. (And with my mom too, she just doesn't like camping.)
And Dad always has everything that everyone needs, like this windbreaker that he belted onto Matty with some paracord. I'm also wearing one of his fleeces under my coat, someone else is wearing his gloves, someone else has his ear warmers...you get the idea.
Before we hit the talus field we had a break, drank tons of water, ate some snacks, took a decent rest, and I popped some Midol because I remember this climb.
And then apparently I didn't take any photos until the summit, when I took yet another picture of Jules trying to sleep (I think at this point she was just trying to be funny about it).
Those views are unbeatable. (And you can see my dad stretching out to rest, which may give you an idea of where Jules learned it...)
Luke, Master of All He Sees!
I am perfectly exquisitely happy in this photo.
Then back down the talus slopes, very snowy this time and lots of postholing and going up to our hips again...
I was way back with Matty and Neil here and snapped this photo of everyone up ahead. The scope and space of this hike are just breathtaking.
And the flowers, as always, are exquisite.
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