Have backpacks, will hike

Bryan has decided we need to be a family of hikers.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Bryan changes hobbies frequently. Or, rather than change really...maybe I say he adds to his list of interests and hobbies frequently. Or maybe we could describe it as going through phases? Because although the interest remains, eventually it does fade a bit. Remember when he was into magic and balloon tying? Or when he would spend hours building wooden blocks and puzzles with his newly bought power tools? How about when he decided he wanted to learn everything there was to know about music theory? Or the late nights he spent perfecting his juggling routines? The summer nights we would spend at the park slack-lining? He is still interested in all of these things....but the amount of time spent on them has diminished. Mostly to make room for new interests. Right now he has been working on learning to re-load used gun ammo....a complicated and time consuming process, but something he has been enjoying immensely. And, as I mentioned earlier..hiking.




















I think the hiking bug may have come from association with our friends Hade and Frederick. They live up in the foothills of Bountiful with multiple hiking trails practically at their front door. I've been hiking with them once. Bryan has gone a few times. And since then, hiking has become his outdoor activity of choice. We haven't been able to go as much as we'd like...mostly because in order to find a time when the whole family is home and available seems to take something just short of a miracle. Stars aligning and all of that. **

But we are ready for when those moments come because now Bryan has even invested in some hiking backpacks. Smaller ones for day hikes that have a water bladder in them as well as room for a few other odds and ends. Also some bigger ones if we wanted to go on an overnighter and carry food and shelter with us. (Also doubles nicely for emergency preparedness, yes?)

Luckily for us, we live in a state with an abundance of hiking trails and gorgeous scenery. A few weeks ago after church we decided to check out a trail right up the canyon from where we live. It was a harder hike than we had expected but the colorful leaves and the waterfall at the end made it very worth it.

Bucket List item....Bryan wants to hike in New Zealand. Scenery from Lord of the Rings fame. Can you just imagine???

**The stars did not align on this specific hike....Rebekah couldn't join us because she was scheduled to work.