Happy New Year!
We have really been enjoying being in Mesa with family for the past week and a half, but we are itching to get to our new home. In the meantime, I have taken full advantage of the Arizona sunshine. I just love to hike, and when I have been driving across country for two weeks, all this girl wants to do is get out and breathe the fresh mountain air and move her legs!
Our first hike was up to Banff, Alberta, Canada on Saturday December 20th, which I talked about on my last post. We loved hiking in the Rockies.
Then on Tuesday December 23rd we took my adorable niece and nephew on a 3 mile hike on the #33 Hole trail in the Lake Mead Rec Area. I really loved hiking with the two kids because they found excitement in the simple things on the trail. Sea shells, birds, coyotes, rocks. It was great.
Here we show our muscles!
The day after we arrived in Mesa we hiked about 5 miles round trip to the massacre grounds in the Superstition wilderness. This was the first day with my family after being apart for nearly 2 years, but it was as though we had never been apart. I love families for that reason. I also got a little sun-kissed from this hike :).
As usual, Marshall ran up to every big rock or mountain along the trail. You can see him below on the mountain top. Look really closely because he is very tiny. He impresses me every day.
During our lunch break at the pinnacle of our hike, we took pictures. I really can't get enough of this girl:
One week later, on January 3rd, my dad, husband, and I took a hike on the Peralta trail to the Fremont Saddle, overlooking Weaver's Needle. I was really having an emotional day, so I took the lead and really set a fast pace up hill. Funny how that helped me feel better. The boys kept up just fine, but dad was breathing pretty hard by the time we reached the lookout.
The lookout to Weaver's Needle was spectacular. It was a pretty popular hike that day, but given the warm sun, cool breeze, and spectacular views, I guess I know why.
We did not return the way we hiked up, but chose to take the Cave trail back to the parking lot. This was a trail less traveled, which appealed to us more than the busy Peralta Trail. It was also fun to have to find our way down the mountain by using the Cairns, or stacked rocks, as guides. Again, we set a pretty fast pace, and I enjoyed climbing down the rock faces and jumping from rock to rock.
Halfway down we took a break at Geronimo's Cave. And took pictures I now adore.
Each hike we took over these past two weeks have been different, but I enjoyed being outdoors with the people I love for each one.
There really is something special about being in the sunshine enjoying the beautiful creations of God.
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