Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Mother's Day Flowers, etc.



Scott, Laura and Ben


Headed up the trail, what's left of it (there is a raging torrent where the trail used to be.)

Is there anything cuter than a little boy in overalls?

Maybe a big sister, in white tights and cutoff shorts.

Imitation of the 'spaghetti trees', the junipers that have died and look like spaghetti, according to these smallish people.

Went for a fabulous mountain bike ride after hiking with my family. I had to go through the corrals where the gov'ment mules are usually kept to get to some two-track.


Where I shoved my bike under and climbed over, I'm terrible with gates.


Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Bag the peaks, run the rivers


Do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am. A reluctant enthusiast and part-time crusader. A half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the West. It is even more important to enjoy it while you can, while it’s still there. So get out there, hunt, fish, mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, encounter the Griz, climb a mountain, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and elusive air. Sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness of the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves. Keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive. And I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound people with their hearts in safe deposit boxes and their eyes hypnotized by their desk calculators. I promise you this: you will outlive the bastards. –EDWARD ABBEY, US environmental advocate, 1927—89

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Road Closed: Cycling in the Tetons

Once they plow the roads and before the roads open to vehicles, you can walk, cycle, roller blade, run, or scooter through Grand Teton National Park. We even saw a guy on a unicycle about five miles in!

Laura was a great sport and rode her little kids' bike about eight miles the first day. About a week later she got her birthday present - a big girl's bike - a black cruiser with pink flames.