Botox Alice

Em and Rory made us go on the Alice-Toxaway Loop in the Sawtooths, with the little girlies. It was spectacular. Madeline walked the whole 20 mi with her pack. Lily walked most of it, and usually with her pack. June walked some of it, but mostly rode with Momma. We took four days to do it, so it was almost relaxing.

We met them at Pettit Lake campground on Monday, 12 Aug.

After sleeping the night there, we packed up and headed for the trail on Tuesday.

After a bit, June wanted to walk for a bit.

Lunchtime with Lily.

Both walking girls had nice little packs. Rory had a nice big one.

First camp at Farley Lake. We had to watch out for aggressive squirrels.

Jack with still pretty normal hair.

My hair was hopeless.

June's hair was awesome.

Jack, camouflaged in the wilderness.

On a couple of occasions, Lily needed a bit of a lift. But really she walked almost the entire way.

June, reaching out for the finger of Toots.

There, she got it.

Just a little messy.

After getting to Toxaway, on Wednesday, some of us decided to take a swim. Lily and Toots.

Rory, tanning his belly.

June, acquiring lots of extra water in the diaper.

Jann, trying to decide. 

Rock Island.

Madelyn decided to wash her black socks. 

Lily eating breakfast.

Thursday was our big climb over a saddle to the next valley.

Looking back towards Toxaway, which is around the corner from this shot. If you squint, you can see Jack, Rory, and Lily.

Em, with her elaborate and heavy pack, with June asleep for now.

Lily making it to the summit under her own power.

Looking down at Twin Lakes.

Down, down.

We found a huge hollow tree, so some of us climbed up in.

Madelyn enjoying the outlet to the lower twin.

June with Mom. Lily was getting attacked by mosquitoes, more than the rest of us. Too sweet?

After my bath. The shirt is a leaky bag of water. It took a while to dry out from this, but eventually..

More bathers.

We played wilderness bocce. 

Rory making his wife's place more comfortable.

Lily's first picture with a big camera.

June's bright blue eyes.

Reflections.

Friday, on our way out. Toots and Madelyn inspecting Alice Lake, on the way past.

The last day was our longest leg, at about 7.5 miles. We all jumped for joy to be at the cars again.

A little bit of a wash before heading home.

Supper Friday night in Ketchum. 

Thanks Em and Rory for making us go with you.

Floating

We were invited by the Hearsts to float the Snake from West Table to Sheep Gulch. They had a 15 man raft, and three inflatable kayaks. Jann had wrenched her knee biking two days before, and couldn't go, which is sad.

So we were Sam, Angie and Jack with me, and then Scott, Rachel and Eric and Emma.

I started out in the tandem, with Emma, and Jack and Sam each had a single. The rest went in the raft. After a while, we convinced Mark to try the kayak too, so he hopped in. Finally, Angela took a turn in the kayak with me.

When we got to the first big rapid, Lunch Counter, there were photographers, apparently. I got to thinking the next day that they might have a web site. So I googled. And there we were.

Jack was the first through, but he capsized pretty early on, so there were no pictures. Mark and I were next.

Then Sam came.

He hit one of the lateral waves, and was spun left. He tried for a second to get straight again...

...and then say what the hey...

...and went through the rest of Lunch Counter backwards.

The Hearsts and Angie coming last in the raft.

It was a complete scream in the kayaks. I hope they invite us again, when Jann's knee is better.

Then on Saturday, we took the Huishes down the Henrys Fork, from Warm River to the bridge before the reservoir. It was nowhere near as exciting, but very scenic.

We had three tandem kayaks, and two paddle boards.

Jack, getting rid of his paddle, so he could use both hands.

He said it was faster this way.

Mark had the other board.

Jann also gave it a try, and used the single-bladed paddle as a double-bladed. The handle was the other one. It worked sufficiently well.

I think we'll try this float again.