Bald Mountain- Dominated.

We have a giant mountain to conquer today. 

Better start off with a mountain man breakfast.

 That means bacon and lots of it.

Today's challenge: Bald Mountain

Elevation: 11,942 feet

Pops and I first crested this mountain together the summer after we got married. We hiked it in the evening at sunset with our good friends Myke and Julie. It was incredible. For years we have dreamed of coming back. We finally have a crew of hikers big and strong enough for the mission. And as fate would have it, Myke, Julie and their kids hiked this very peak for the first time since our original hike just days before us. She offered me one pro tip. Gummy Bears. Nothing like gummy bears to encourage young hikers to the next boulder.

 I hiked with Jaws. He was most impressive.

 We had a little fun along the way...

 The wild flowers were gorgeous.

The vistas were spectacular!

Aunt Jenny took some panoramic shots for us!

This was the leading crowd.

Victory snacks!

The clouds were ominous. 

We watched them race towards us dumping water and flashing lightening. 

The forward crowd retreated!

Jaws and I retreated too, we reached the false peak (probably 1/4 mile from the top). Pops and Little Chief pressed on. They made the top, howled out a victory cry and then retreated before the approaching storm engulfed them.

 Pops didn't have his camera with him at the peak so we snapped a trail head victory pic!

 We rewarded ourselves with a lazy afternoon by the Provo river.

 Also, we soaked our tired dogs.

 And we played tons of games together.

Camping is the best!

Good Old Fashioned Uintah Camping

I'm just going to leave this here so in the future we know exactly where to come back to so we can do this all over again.

We are so happy that Aunt Jenny and Uncle Brian and company could come camping with us.

This is the place where the Garside family came for years for their annual campout. We came back to give the next generation a fill of the same family fun!

Aunt Jenny taught us the amazing game Molke!

 

For years Pops and I have drempt of camping on the banks of the Provo and playing in this babbling brook.

We also enjoyed singing camp songs while Aunt Jenny played the guitar and Izzypop played the ukulele.

And we played tons of games!

We found a soft place in the meadow for our tent. We expected to sleep like babies.

Aunt Melissa and Uncle Brian and cousins Britain and Mikey came for our weeny roast and they brought their puppy too!

We roasted some dogs.

And brats!

Don't forget the Pineapple upside down cake!

And those MALLOWS.

This is epic.