Escalante, Utah ~ Family Vacation June 2010

The first week after school got out we headed down south. Tom really wanted to take the rest of the family down to the spot that he and Weston went the year before with the school. We loaded the truck and were on our way. I was super excited but nervous at the same time. I knew there would be lots of walking, hiking and climbing but I also knew Tom would not take me somewhere that I couldn't handle. The ride there was LONG; the truck doesn't have AC. But we made it and set up camp. We tented it and it was a riot. I really don't mind tent camping (there were flushing tiolets and showers Ü)

This is our new tent ~ we didn't take the time to set up the screen room. The tent was great. Tom did a fantastic job picking this one out. He spent countless hours researching the brand and reading many reviews.

This was Colton and Logan's tent

This was Garett and Kegan's tent but they only lasted one night and then the slept with their mommny and daddys ~ no worries our tents were plenty big.

Weston and Sterling chose to sleep in the back of the truck ~ they said a tent would be too hot. I believe they were just lazy and didn't want to set up their tent. But it all worked and they survived the back of the truck.
Day 1: Lower Calf Creek Falls
We left camp about 8:00 AM and drove for about 30 minutes to the trail head. We began hiking right about 8:45 AM. The hike in was nice. Right away the younger kids spot lizards and great picture opportunities.



The hike was fairly easy EXCEPT the part when you are walking forever in soft sand. But we all made it and the falls are AMAZING. The water was cold and refreshing. We stayed at the falls for about 1 1/2 hours. Colton and Garett loved it. They swam the entire time not being effected by the super cold water. We called them the Polar Bears.





We asked a gentleman to snap a picture of our entire group ~ he tried to get the falls and us so look closely we are all there.

We picked up and headed back up the trail head. Boy was it HOT. The hike just took TOO long. Colton and Logan literally ran the entire way back. I am amazed and confused at how they did that. The heat was getting to me. Tom told me to drink lots of water and I thought I had, I thought wrong. Heat exhaustion was beginning to come on and come on fast. I was embarrassed but I was trying not to panic. I literally kept thinking, "I am going to die here on this sand, this horrible horrible sand. I HATE sand." But with lots of stops and many kind words from the group we made it out. Logan and Colton had asked several groups of people if they had seen us on the trail they were told we were moving just slowly. Tom was super great and kept telling me that I could do it. I felt so blessed to be with him and the boys. They NEVER once let me feel bad. Thanks family.
Day 2: Slot Canyons ***Peek-A-BOO**** and ****SPOOKY****
The drive to the trail head was forever long, remember we don't have AC in the truck. We were on a dirt road for miles and the road was horrible. Tom did his best to avoid the extra large holes but it was like driving on a huge washboard. When we came to the spot where the road turned into this super fine chalk like powder Weston jumped out to take a few photos. We don't have any photos of Dale cuz he drove very cautiously.



Once we arrived at the trail head we began our hike to the canyons. The hike down was fun but you guessed it more SAND. But this time I was ready. I conquered the sand! We arrived at the opening my heart sank. To get in you must climb UP ---- no stairs, no railings just foot holes. NO WAY. The younger boys bounded up without hesitation and made it all look too easy. My turn. HOLY COW. My first words were, "I can't" Weston took my hand and Sterling braced my foot for extra leverage. Tom is offering words of encouragement from behind. Weston looks me straight in the eyes and says, "You can do this I have you" WOW powerful words from my son. Sterling kept telling me, "Mind over Matter, you can do it"



Well I did it and so did everyone else. The canyon was AMAZING. Lots of crawling under, climbing over and thinking thin. I said countless prayers to Heavenly Father that I would not get wedged and left for the bugs. The boys had a great time ~ they are all spider monkeys. It truly was an experience of a lifetime.





This last picture of the canyons sums it all up for me. This is Dale reaching for Tom to give him a hand. You have to have friends and family to give you that extra hand every now and then. Not just in the slot canyons but in life. And I am 100% thankful for all of my family and friends who without hestiation offer their hand.

The rest of the group headed into Spooky, Tom and I were too "girthy" to make it thru. Darn it. We had better start eating our Wheat THINS. Ü
Day 3: Find some cooler activities
Dale and Eileen drove into the vistors center to explore and ask questions. When they returned they said the heard of a great place for the boys to get wet. We packed the coolers with lunch and drinks and headed out to find water. It was quite the drive. We climbed in elevation and the air instantly cooled. Once at the reservoir we quickly discovered not a great place to swim. Darn it. But we stayed there for most of the afternoon, had some lunch and just hung out it the shade to chit chat. Weston and Sterling worked on their "sun tats"




The boys found that working on boon doggle during the hottest part of the day made it all tolerable. Thank you Eileen for bringing the supplies and thank you Logan for being one fantastic teacher.



On the way back down the canyon to camp, we discovered some indian ruins. You can't see them all that well but look closely. We asked the camp host about them and he said they are from the Fremont Indians. They don't mark them because they don't want people to climb the rocks and destroy them. We were excited that we found them on our own. I find it so fasinating how they lived back then. Tom and I really enjoyed looking at them thru the binoculars. But you could also see one home with the naked eye.



Every night the boys had a visitor. A toad would come visit our camp and hang out in the water next to the spicket. They would capture him in a cup and if he jumped they would all scream like girls. It was too funny.


The trip was a fantactic success and we are planning on heading down again in a couple of years but we are thinking of doing it about a month earlier. Ü Great times!!!!!!!!