My summer really kicked off in late May, when I started some of my first hikes into the Bitterroot Mountains, which I had been staring at ALL winter and couldn't wait to get into!
Kootenai Creek hike: May 17th. The creek was more like a raging river at this point, with all the snow we got this winter! The spring runoff was something I had never seen before and it was a sight to behold! We went about 5 or 6 miles round trip, and the trail wasn't too strenuous or remarkable, but the roaring creek was mesmerizing to watch! I was just happy to be in the mountains finally :)
Rattlesnake Wilderness hike: May 24th. Almost 17 miles round trip! My feet were certainly aching by the end. Claire, Ari, and I decided to do a girl's only hike. The trail was pretty flat for the entire thing, and we wanted to hike to the wilderness boundary which was 8 miles in. Even at a brisk walk, it still took us quite a while for the round trip! Probably because of the half hour it took us to attempt to make a fire during our lunch break! Hey, we tried to make a fire with damp wood so you can't blame us. At least we tried. The highlight of the hike for me were the old apple trees we came across that were in full and glorious bloom! Sure was a sight to see.
Blodgett Canyon hike, Memorial Day (May 26th). Even though this was two days after that crazy 17 mile long hike, I wasn't as sore as I expected I would be. The falls were a couple miles in and were fantastic! Blodgett Creek was in its full, roaring runoff and I couldn't help but stop and just stare at it several times during the hike. At some points it was so high that the trail was under some water, and I loved it. Nothing better than getting muddy on an awesome hike!
The weekend of June 7th I flew to AZ for a weekend! I was supposed to get in on Friday in time for Hannah's wedding but Allegiant SUCKS and they cancelled my flight :( so I missed her wedding! I was SO sad. But I still got to go home for about 1.5 days (haha!) and best of all, I made it in time to go through the Gilbert Temple and receive my own endowments! By far the most important and coolest day of my life thus far. The temple has been an even bigger blessing in my life ever since.
I love my family!
So after that short-lived trip, I was back in Montana (basically the love of my life). Summer really started to take hold in June. The days were warm, the mornings chilly, and I love every minute of it!
June 13th- Wes came into town to visit and drive my old Honda back to AZ after I bought my new car (my beloved Chevy Cruze, whom I call Tom). I took him for a short hike into the Rattlesnake, a drive up Pattee Canyon, a hike to Blodget Canyon overlook, Naps Grill (best burger you will ever have in your entire life) Skalkaho Canyon, and Sunday we went for an afternoon drive up to Flathead Lake. Basically I showed him some of the best places that southwestern Montana has to offer. I'm assuming he loved it :)
June 20th I drove down to Utah, ready and excited for an entire week with the family at Lake Powell!!! Our Utah cousins (somehow related to us=cousins) have a week on a houseboat every year, and this year we were invited, all of us! It was, by far, one of the best vacations I have had in a long time. I got (mostly) over my fear of deep water, but absolutely not over my fear of tubing (I scream bloody murder the entire time. yes i am 25 years old). We went for a hike up a slot canyon where I was begrudgingly forced to climb up these ridiculous cliffs and waterfalls. I scraped up my knees pretty good, and after tiring myself out on my first attempt to climb the cliff with a rope (hint: it did not go over well) I was physically lifted up the waterfall basically against my will! Okay so I'm still glad I did it (I think) but I was kind of in a bad mood, given that I was glad to just go back and hang out at the boat, haha! It was a pretty cool canyon though. The rest of the trip went by just wonderfully, and we even had moose steaks one night (thanks Lance!) that were to die for. Literally, that moose died for those steaks but it was worth it (sorry moose). After an amazing week, I was headed back by myself for the lonely drive, first to Bear Lake to spend the night at Shantelle's family's cabin, and then to finish the rest of my drive after church on Sunday. Then it was back to work!
I'll finish recapping the summer sometime in September, given that there is SO MUCH going on in August! There are still many more adventures in the making!
