Ensign Peak

"This is the place" to go when your a/c is broken. Yes, it has almost been a week that we have been enduring intierior temps reaching mid - to high 80's. It's so hot that I don't want to cook...James made some quesidillas for lunch and spilled a bit during the process. The poor cheese was melted on the floor before I could sweep it up. The boys have now offered to help me build that solar oven I've been talking about.

We also had plans to meet up with some out of town friends and thought to spare them from the heat so we met up at Ensign Peak. Both the view and the breeze were refreshing. Maryanna's soaking it up and licking it in -the girl is full of life and looks as if she's ready to take flight. This was her very first hike free from Daddy's back and though it slowed us down a bit she enjoyed the freedom as well as filling her pockets with rocks. The boys played "I Spy" up top the peak and said the city looked like an ant village. They also laughed in the wind as my haircut took on new life.

The hike itself was actually very quick and easy but I still couldn't help but think of the pioneers because 1. they never had a/c and 2. they navigated up these rocky paths with several young children as well. We also encountered one snake along the way and I thought that may have been a frequent occurance for those brave pioneers.

As we headed down the sun began to set and we passed several young couples on their way up. I was quite amused by a hopeless young boy carrying his date up on his back....all because she chose to wear a pair of red hot stilettos like these. But I'm not one to mock the silly things one does in the name of teenaged love. I think my Paul is still just as love stricken because he was quick to run back up to the top of the peak when I told him Maryanna left her Sigg there. Free from the baby backpack he was quite quick. Infact, it took me almost as long to load up and buckle all the kids in the car.

We finished the night off with a quick 7-11 stop and offered Maryanna her first slurpee as a reward for good hiking. Unfortuantely she dumped it into Henry's infant carseat. I think we'll stick to just hiking and Siggs full of water next time.