Hiking Hell's Hole

 Kolby got really excited when I told him I thought the kids were ready for a real backpacking trip.  Secretly, I was thinking, I'm probably the one who was going to be crawling through the canyon begging for death, but I put on a brave face.  We got the kids their own backpacks and we did a few practice runs around the neighborhood.

 Confidence grew when the girls climbed the dirt mound at the construction site up the street.

Klive and I stayed on the road and sang the Rocky theme song for them.

 We met up with the rest of the Johnsons/Botts and enjoyed a quick bite of pickle pie before heading out into the wilderness for 2 days.

 Hell's Hole is a canyon a few miles from Grandpa Fred and Grandma Jan's house in Torrey.  Uncle Cole tied a rope to a tree and we all repelled one by one down into the canyon.  The kids made it down like little monkeys and the grown-ups didn't fall to our deaths.

 I can't believe how tough the kids were.  The girls packed all their own stuff - clothes, bedding, food and water on their backs and never once complained.  Klive carried his own snacks and water.  Plus several weapons made from rocks and sticks he found along the way.

 This bunch is in hog heaven no matter where they go, as long as they are together.  They had a big game of cops and robbers going on in the nooks and crannies of this rocky playground.

 We explored around for an okay place to set up our tents.  It was a pretty vertical setting, but we found a few flat spots.  We had to do a bit of digging to fit our tent for 5, but we fell asleep to the sounds of a nearby creek after enjoying a delicious freeze-dried stroganoff dinner and campfire snacks.

You're looking at some hiking and camping experts here.  Grandpa Babe wins the prize for keeping things exciting, and Cole and Misty win the prize for bringing the best snacks!

This must have been the first day.  Their sweatshirts and faces are still too clean.

 

 Kolby wins the prize for Macgyver ingenuity.  Look at him purifying creek water for us to drink!

 We had so much fun.  Until we had to climb the rope back up to the top of the canyon.  As usual, the kids scaled it like pros, but I was so winded and shaky by the time I could see the top, I was afraid my backpack was going pull me over backwards and I'd take out anyone down-rope from me.  I had to dig deep!

 A well-deserved after-hike nap in the dirt.

 The Babe can literally fall asleep on a rock.  Just another skill he possesses.