Climbing-Repelling

What would a trip to the mountains be without a little fun scaling the rocks? Trevor and I had a great time teaching our cousins how to repel down and then climb back up the challenging Two O'Clock Creek rockface. Everyone enjoyed themselves and much to Aunty Sandra's relief, nobody died.

Sven (Steven), Megan, Colton, Brianne, Amanda, Rachel and Baby D enjoying the view of Uncle Monkey (Trevor) boldering on the rock beside.

Sven and his rippling muscles.

Colton, who despite his shoes, did make it to the top of the route.

Two O'Clock Creek Camping

-Mount Peskett (10,250 ft) as seen from Kootenay Plains at dusk.-

Destination: Two O'Clock Creek/Kootenay Plains

Time: August 10th-12th

Companions: The Magnus family, the Andrus family, Steven, Ryan and Amanda

Feats: Baby Dawson's first camping/tenting trip and our cousin's first rock-climbing and repelling experiences

Routes and Trails: Siffler Falls, Two O'Clock Creek Rock Face, Crescent Falls and David Thompson Resort (DTR)

-Trevor on top of the first falls in the Siffler Wilderness.-

-Abraham Lake as seen from the shore of DTR. Later that week we pulled a large truck out of this lake after the driver sunk his front tires into the beach.-

- Baby D and I, chillin'.-

-An arm of Abraham Lake looking towards Mount Sentinal (9,400 ft), Cline River and Mount Stelfox (8,619 ft).-

-That forestry degree comes in handy after all. I personally didn't know that pushing over trees was a course in University!-

Family

We bought a new fancy camera and we thought what a better way to break it in than to subject our family to an evening of picture snapping in the park (tourture...in Dave's opinion).

Here are a few of the shots that worked out nicely, especially when you consider that it was past baby Dawson's bedtime, it was raining and the sun was very quickly heading south over the horizon.

King of the Field

On our way home from Saskatchewan today we passed one of the most enduring symbols of the prairies. An old timeworn relic that lives to tell tales of the hard work and sweat that so many of our grandfathers put into making this a truly great nation.

Way Up High in the Sky

Today was our last day with the Olson families in Swift Current. So to leave a lasting impression we took the boys to DQ for some ice cream and returned them to their mother right before bed time high on life (also known as sugar). As we were walking up to Joline's door about to retire the boys to their mother's bedtime routines we remembered that one day there may be the possibility of pay-back so we stayed for a while to help run off their delicious evening treat.

After that it was a blur of red shirts and flying kids. I'm not entirely sure how Zane ended up high in the branches of the tree outside of Jo's house or, for that matter, why Raith had to jump for safety and run for his life from a huge giant we like to call Uncle Trevor.

We will miss Swift Current and our family. And it is odd to think that these little guys will be a lot bigger, brighter, and busier when we return in a year and a half.

Baby

Baby Kayla enjoying a peaceful afternoon in the shade of Grandma and Grandpa's garden.

Sask Landing (Day 2)

After yesterdays all girls post, we decided that we would dedicate this post to the boys.

Today we took off the the lake to see if Trevor's burnt knees could get a little more red. After a morning of family pictures, Raith and Zane were eager to see if Uncle Tony and Uncle Trevor would good for their word and would do some back flips off the boat. The boys were not disappointed and we even saw grandpa bail off the boat in style screaming, "Hunga-munga."

Despite our over-cooked white skin and a mild case of heatstroke, it was an exceptionally good day.