Pfiefferhorn

Although Derek may have run off to have fun with James, I have done a pretty good job keeping myself occupied and entertained.  Girl's night.  Bike ride with dad.  Babysitting my awesome nieces.  Hiking the Pfiefferhorn...that was awesome.

I have lived in the Salt Lake Valley my entire life, yet there are so many places I have not yet been.  The Pfiefferhorn being one of them.  So, on Saturday, Lisa, Dad, and I conquered it.  And much props must go to my dad because he is TERRIFIED of heights.  He did the boulder field, trekked across the snow field, climbed up and all over the spine (rocks with cliffs), and up the steep face (not as bad as it looks) to the top.  (my uncle didn't think he'd do it).  But he did it!

Dad coming across the spine

Lisa, Dad, and I at the top!

It is such a beautiful trail and actually hardly a trail at all for a good chunk of it.  We just picked our way up and intermittently followed the trail after Lower Red Pine Lake.  The top is unreal.  You can see everywhere.  The back side of Timp is still COVERED with snow.  I don't think it will ever melt.  You look face to face (possibly slightly down) on Lone Peak.  It is crazy cool.

The Spine from above

Side view of Lone Peak

The final ascent

No justice done to the wildflowers

I spent the remainder of the afternoon chillin' with dad and his friend Dave in Dave's pool.  Had Indian food with Lisa and then possibly got into some prank-like mischief.....but that cannot be proven.

1 down. 8 more to go.

Derek finished his very first semester of Physical Therapy School this week.  He managed to squeeze by with 4 A's and 1 A-.  I KNOW!  Holy Toledo.  He won't brag, so I must.  I am very proud of him.  He loves Loves LOVES what he is doing and is so excited to keep learning.  At night he'll ask to show me what he is learning.  Needless to say I've had toes, feet, fingers, hands, hips, legs, arms, neck, back, and my tmj played with, manipulated, or painfully massaged.  Someday, in 2 & 2/3 years he will be an AWESOME physical therapist.  Until then, he is an amazing student.

Props to Derek.

He is celebrating in southern Utah with friends having a wild adventure.  I'll write an update for that if he ever comes home.

Baby Josephine

Yup.  This is my new baby, Josephine.  She is a brand spankin' new (2009 but never ridden until me last night) GIANT.  400 bones.  She is a great addition to our family.

Oh, and I just inherited an elliptical machine from Derek's mama.  We are slowly building our home gym.

Lake Blanche and Sundial Peak

Yesterday was an adventure day.

We spend the day hiking up to Lake Blanche and on to Sundial Peak once we were there.  (And back down of course).  It was awesome.

Us at Lake Blanche with destination #2 (Sundial Peak) in the background

This picture is for my dad.  He always makes me take pictures in the wildflowers on Timp.  

There isn't really a trail up Sundial so we did a lot of bushwhacking and climbing.  It was fun.

Summit of Sundial Peak.

On the top

View from the top.

Oh yeah, Derek was there...He was also the one with the camera the entire time.

Climbing back down the cliffs.  Not as bad as the boulder/rock fields.

You can see by the huge red dent in my leg why I don't particularly like coming down boulder fields...but at least it smashed my leg and not Derek's head, because my leg stopped it.  I am glad it just dented me instead of gashing me open.  What a thoughtful rock.

One last look at Lake Blanche and Sundial Peak.  Both fun hikes.  Both beautiful.  Gotta love Utah.

That evening we went to a good friend's wedding reception and then to a free Real Salt Lake game courtesy of my work.  RSL won.  3-0.  Technically 4-0.  They scored a goal during the last few seconds but it wasn't counted, I don't know why.