City of Rocks

 As our wonderful, extended summer is coming to an end, we asked the kids if there is anything they really wanted to do this summer that we haven't done.  Emerald said, "City of Rocks!"  So we organized a sunrise trip to the City of Rocks Friday.

Dallin, Isaac, Alexander, and Emerald

We packed lunches and Pop Tarts and set off.  We arrived at the City of Rocks around 8:30 a.m.  It was still quite chilly there, especially in the shade. We started at Bath Rock, because Emerald really wanted to try to climb to the top.  

It was cold and bright in front of Bath Rock!

Alexander was too cold to hike at first.  But once he started following the other kids around, he warmed up pretty quickly.  We walked around to the back of the rock and the kids climbed all over.

Emerald didn't make it to the top of Bath Rock, but she sat down and surveyed her progress with satisfaction when she reached this point.  Isaac is climbing up toward her, and Dallin is planning his climbing strategy.

Here Emerald is moving on, Dallin is reaching the high point, and Alexander is tentatively trying to follow.

Here is Dallin surveying his progress with satisfaction.

The kids enjoyed exploring these nooks and crannies together.  Alexander is on the top right, Emerald on the left, Isaac coming down in front, and Dallin is behind Emerald.

Here are Tiffany and Scott in front of Bath Rock.  Alexander is huddled to the side in Tiffany's sweater with Isaac's gaiter on his head before he started climbing.

After Bath Rock, we went across the parking lot and started down the Stairways Trail.  Emerald was our tour guide, having been there the most recently and remembering the places where she had hiked with her classmates.  

The Stairways were very steep!  But we had a beautiful view:

Alexander liked this cave and asked me to take his picture.

Emerald loved being the leader and exploring all kinds of "detours" - side trails and rock climbs.

We definitely took some trails less traveled, and even climbed through places that weren't trails at all!  In the photo above, Alexander is climbing through a break in the rock up high, and Scott is helping Dallin on the left over some fallen logs.

Scott climbed into this cool rock after the kids explored it and moved on.

Alexander wanted to climb up this rock, but it was too slippery, so he climbed the fallen tree instead.  I stayed with him while the rest of the group went on toward Parking Lot Rock.

By the time we got to Parking Lot, we were all pretty tired.  Scott and Isaac volunteered to walk back down the road to Bath Rock to get the Yukon and drive up to pick up the rest of us.  Dallin and Alexander explored the rocks near the Parking Lot, while Emerald explored the circular trail around Parking Lot Rock on her own.

Alexander and Dallin really enjoyed exploring all around this rock and the amazing view.

Here is the map of our hike - starting at Bath Rock, down the Stairways Trail, then taking the South Fork Circle Creek Trail up to Parking Lot Rock.

Once we were all together in the Yukon again, we drove to the Twin Sisters Group Use Campground.  We ate our lunch of sandwiches, chips and fruit snacks at a picnic table, then the three younger kids climbed all over the surrounding rocks and caves.  Isaac climbed to a comfy spot and read the book he brought:

Here is Dallin looking at Emmy, who is curled up in a rock crevice.

Here is the last rock that Emerald summited before we had to leave for home.  Emerald is in the center of the photo, near a tree, and Alexander is to the right.  Dallin climbed around, but didn't go as high as Emerald on this rock.

We had such a wonderful time!  We are already looking forward to going again next year!