Alpine Loop

I remember the first time I really saw mountains. Yes, I spent my toddler and preschool years in the midst of mountains, but I hardly remember that. I grew up in the rolling hills where I saw the sun come up over the horizon and set on the other side. The mountains were never in the way. So when I went to school in Utah and Idaho, I saw mountains. I remember going up to Sundance Ski Resort in  October and the claustrophobic feeling I had. Those steep mountain switchbacks were more than my stomach could handle. I was scared to death. Obviously not to death because I'm still here. But I was very afraid. I think the driver had a lot to do with it. He knew my fear and was a cocky young adult that was having fun with my fear.

What I also remember was being fascinated by the beauty of the cliff walls throughout the Alpine Loop. Evan and I loved a few years near those magnificent mountains and took long drives in them. I was still somewhat afraid, but a little more used to them.

They made an impression on me. I wanted to share that mountain experience, minus the fear, with my children. So we drive the Alpine Loop and I think my older children felt what I felt so many years ago. They were in awe. It was beautiful. And I loved sharing that experience with them.

I guess an indicator of how impressed they were with the splendor of the mountains was they kept asking for my camera. "Oohs" and "awww's" and "quick, can I have your camera" were said over and over and over. We took hundreds of pictures. Most of them were taken by Taneal and Camie. I had to make Spencer put his Leapster away so he would see some of the scenic drive.

Taneal ,Camie, Danielle, and Spencer all had their first experience of using non flushing toilets up in the mountains. After the drive I asked all the kids what their favorite part was. Camie's was the snow. Taneal's was the toilets that didn't flush and well, I won't go into her description. She did have me get a picture of her out in front of the bathrooms.

Great bonding moments. This is a picture of the quick water moving down the mountain. It looks more like snow in the picture, but it was some beautiful, fast moving water.

And Nathan just couldn't stay awake. I guess when you are two, scenery just isn't the same unless you can be out in that scenery touching everything and jumping off everything.

The aspen trees were beautiful. I don't think my girls had ever seen Aspen trees before. Probably half the pictures we took were the forests of Aspens.