H is for HIKING!

Gee, it seems like it's been forever since I've been on a real hike. (Yeah, back in the end of May we hiked around Mesa Falls, but that was far from strenuous. Although it was very, very lovely.)

Anyhoo, a few weekends ago, Janell came up from St. George for a visit. -Okay, mostly she came up to meet her new little niece, Lexi, but she also came up to hike in Teton NP with the gang on Saturday. It. Was. Awesome.

We got up much too early; I forget that 4 o'clock has a morning shift until I'm forced to remember when we go on these long hikes. (Not complaining too loudly; it's part of the...experience.) So yeah, I got up at 4:20, after less than 5 hours of sleep. (It's also "tradition," somehow, to stay up later than you intend the night before a long hike.) Got up at 4:20, and met at Janell's family's house just after 4:45...

AM, mind you.

There were 10 of us hiking that day. We started a bit later than planned (also a tradition, it seems...)

We went through Cascade Canyon on over to Lake Solitude. It was a beautiful day, and the view of the Tetons from the lake was, in a word, awesome. (PS Because it was so long ago--July 25---I don't really recall too much about the order these were taken, etc. So here it goes, quite...random):

Part of the trail along the way...

The Tetons...

My piggies...
(It felt so good to truly rest my tootsies during lunch at the lake!)

Lake Solitude and the Tetons...
(Lisa took this gorgeous picture)

I think we all have our eyes closed in this one,
but here we are in front of Lake Solitude...

Cracked rock. Right down the middle.
Yeah...it's cool...

Dirty ankles (belonging to Cameron and Brooke)...

Beautiful flowers...
(Lisa took this one, too)

So there you have it; a taste of our July 25th hike amongst the Tetons. It was lovely. And tiring. And lovely...