Backpacking trip

Once again, Keyan, Mara, and I headed up into the mountains near the Collegiate Peaks for a 3 day backpacking trip.  Mara is ready to go!

We took the Brown's Creek Trail with the goal of making it up to Brown's Lake and a day hike up to one of the peaks (not a 14,0000 ft.).

I love stream crossings!

It's just like walking on a balance beam!

So, Keyan decided we should take the more direct route to the top of the mountain...Mara and I were not thrilled at first, but we made small goals and played word games to help us get to the top!

We did a lot of rock climbing.

Keyan and his tuft-earred squirrel (Mara)!

On top of the world....and it's beautiful!

Mara found her patch of snow.

Victory!

People we met on the trail kept asking us if we were going to the waterfalls...what waterfalls?  We had no idea that there were any on the trail and unbeknownst to us, we ended up camping just below them!

Keyan tried his hand at fishing in the creek. 

He didn't have much luck, but it was a beautiful spot to sit and wait for him.

    Doesn't he look like a true backpacker?

We encountered a lot of rain on this trip.  We had to hike down about an hour and half in the pouring rain to get back to our tent.  We were soaking wet and cold when we got there and a dry tent never looked so good!

Beef Stroganoff for dinner is our favorite!

We survived!

We really enjoy our backpacking trips and especially now that Mara comes along.  It is a great time to just talk to her and to enjoy her fun personality.   We hope this time with her will help as we weather the upcoming teenage years!