Cerro Grande Hike

Today we went on a hike to the top of the Cerro Grande Peak.  The elevation at the top is 10, 199 ft and we had to climb 1,200 feet to get to the top.  It was two miles to the top and then two miles back.

We went on this same hike three years ago when Jack was one and Kate was three and they both spent most of the hike being carried in baby backpacks.  Today, however, Kate and Jack walked the whole way.  They did so great!  And with very little complaining, which was impressive because the hike was very steep and there was a lot of uphill.  And then on the way back there was a lot of slipping and sliding going downhill, but at least it was faster. 

The weather was beautiful today.  The sky was beautiful and blue with no clouds.  There was a cool, fall breeze too. 

Here is Kate far ahead of us.  She amazed me and was far ahead of us quite a bit of the time, even on the really steep parts.

Looking down the steep trail at the boys.

At the top!

At the top of every steep mountain hike there should be a big pile of rocks to add a rock to.

Dad and Ty made it too.  Ty slept most of the way to the top.

We let Kate take some pictures with our camera.  Here is photography by Kate:

When we got to the top, we had a picnic lunch.  Then Jack, Dave and Ty got busy digging in the dirt.  Dave and Jack dug up lots of big rocks.  Then Ty had fun playing in the loose dirt.  Jack and Ty got a little dirty.

Ty loves to sit on steps.  This hole that Jack made was a perfect step for Ty's little legs.

We didn't take as many pictures of Kate, since she was the phography some of the time. 

While we were hiking back to the van, we were talking about how our legs had gotten a lot of exercise and were a little wobbly from hiking downhill so much.  Jack said, "My legs are freaking out."