Thursday, August 30, 2012

First Day of School

It's that time of year again to get the kids up early and off to school.  We of course were sad again to see summer end and school start.  I hate to see the kids start another year of school, because it means that they are all a year older!  The pictures are in the order that the kids leave the house for school each morning.  Poor Mallory has the earliest bus!

Mallory 8th Grade

Heidi 12th Grade

Jack 2nd Grade       Caleb 5th Grade







Brianna & her roommates at BYU starting her sophomore year

Monday, August 20, 2012

Grand Teton Summit

Today was the big day!  We woke up at 3:00 and after a quick breakfast were on the trail hiking in the dark with only light from our headlamps.  It was a steep climb up to the upper saddle.  As it was getting light it started to rain and our guides made the decision to climb the Owen Spalding route due to the weather.  The rain turned to snow and we were now climbing in our rain gear and trying to stay positive and just kept climbing.  The weather improved after about an hour and we reached the summit at about 7:45 in the morning.  It was so awesome and awe inspiring to be standing on the summit looking down on the other peaks in the teton range.  It was hard not to get emotional.  We only spent about 15 minutes at the top, enough to get some pictures and take in the view before we headed back down.  The thing with climbing 7000 feet is that you have to descend 7000 feet.  As we descended through the part we climbed in the dark it was amazing to realize what we climbed through. 

We had a private tent since Heidi was the only female staying on the lower saddle.  We didn't get much sleep though.

This is just below the summit with the middle teton in the background.

Finally at the top!!!  The weather cleared enough for us to enjoy the views.


With our awesome guide Chris Figenshau!

Now it's time to get down!


Heidi on the repel down to the upper saddle.




After a long hike down 7000 ft. we are finally at the trail head at about 3:15.  We were so glad to see the car.  Our feet were on fire.

Stopping to soak our feet in the cool river!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Grand Teton Climb to the Lower Saddle

Here is what Jon said about today in a text I got from him tonight.  They had to meet their guide at 9:45 this morning and they got to the lower saddle at 5:20 tonight.  It was a long day of climbing but  they made it safe and are relaxing after eating their dinner and going to head to bed pretty early. 
"We are at the lower saddle of the Grand Teton.  It is windy and cold.  Heidi is the only female up here.  We are looking up at the summit with some trepidation but are confident we will make it."
He said the climb today was hard.  The weather isn't looking the greatest for tomorrow.  Hopefully the rain, thunder and lighting will hold off long enough so they can summit.  

This at the lower saddle where they are spending the night tonight.  They said it is cold and they are glad they brought their winter puffy jackets.

On the trail with the middle teton in background.

At the lower saddle with the Grand in the background.


Almost to the lower saddle with the glacier in the background.  We passed a guy on the trail with skis strapped to his back who had been up skiing down the glacier.


The facilities at the lower saddle.  Definitely toilets with a view.



Saturday, August 18, 2012

Grand Teton Level 2 Climbing School

My dad and I participated in level 2 climbing school today.  It was a lot harder than yesterday, with a lot steeper pitches.  Most of the time we were climbing up an almost straight cliff and the repel was much longer.  It was a fun, but challenging day for both of us.  The two days of classes have taught us a lot about rock climbing and we are confident we can make it to the top.


Here I am on the first climb of the day.  The picture does not do justice to the steepness of this climb. 
Here Dad is belaying the next climber

The small, middle peak in the background is the Grand Teton.


The repel


 

Heidi arriving at the top of the last climb of the day!!!  Chris, in the foreground, was our instructor today and is also going to be our guide for the climb.  I was given the assignment of collecting all of the climbing gear on the way up because I was the last one.



 

Friday, August 17, 2012

Grand Teton Level 1 Climbing School

Heidi and I spent the day at level 1 climbing school in preparation for our attempt to summit the Grand Teton.  It was a busy day learning all of the basics of foot work, rope work, knots, belaying and repelling.  We had a lot of fun but were worn out at the end of the day.  Heidi did awesome and more than once got a compliment from the instructor. 

Getting ready to leave for the day at the Exum Office.

Taking a boat ride across Jenny Lake


We climbed 5 pitches, where you had to be belayed.  This is Heidi going up the last pitch.



It was a beautiful view!

Heidi learning to repel.

Hidden Falls


Me getting ready to repel with our guide Susan.

Here we are with our guide for the day Susan.  She was a great instructor and we learned a lot.  She was a fast climber!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Ultimate Challenge

We spent the weekend in Salt Lake and Park City for a bike ride that Jon was doing.  We went to Salt Lake on Friday and did some shopping and watched the pros finish in downtown for the Tour of Utah bike race.  Then we headed up to Park City and Jon did the Ultimate Challenge ride, which is from Park City to Snowbird.  It is a tough bike ride with lots of climbing and very brutal.  He came across the finish line looking pretty beat but he finished it and we are proud of him once again!  We stayed to watch the pros come thru again and then headed home.  It was a fun weekend of eating out, shopping and supporting Jon in his bike ride. 

Jack with Christian Vande Velde, one of the pros that rode in the 2012 Tour of Utah