Sunday, August 21, 2011

Our trip to the big trees

We just got back last night from a really great vacation.  We stayed in the southern Sierras, in a cabin in the middle of the Giant Sequoia National Monument.  To be honest, I left Salt Lake last week with a few worries.  How would the kids do for the 13 hour road trip?  Would our accommodations be too cozy with all the family gathered in one place?  Could we really grocery shop just once for the week and then live out of our cooler?  Did I pack enough clothes for both warm and cold weather?  Well, we had a great time!  The drive was super smooth, the cabin had enough space to spread out, we had food left over at the end of the week and everyone stayed warm.  The only bummer....the 7 loads of laundry that we need to do before heading back to the grind tomorrow.
Miles in front of the cabin
Very exciting for a 4 year old!
Me peeking out of the Amos Alonso Stagg tree.  Its the 5th largest tree in the world.  Pictures don't do justice to these amazing trees.  You just can't get the scale or the beauty unless you stand at the bottom and look straight up. 
Miles in one of the trees along the Trail of 100 Giants.
Iris in one of the giants.
Jeff and Miles on Dome Rock.

Iris and the trail map.
Miles and his cousin CeCe playing in the creek that runs next to the cabin.
Miles, Don, Jeff and Iris
Iris with Grandpa in one of the trees.
The whole gang!  From left: David, Will, Jen, CeCe, me, Jeff with Miles, Deanne, Martha, Don, Eric and Dave.

And last but not least, Alder Slabs.  We hiked into this amazing little spot where the creek has carved a perfect water slide into the rock.  Good thing we were hot from hiking because it was freezing!
Here is a video of Miles and I on our first run.

Miles wasn't fond of the plunge into the icy pool at the end of the big slide, so we found this one downstream more his speed.