September 2024!!

On September 3rd, I helped chaperone Zeke's 8th grade class on a hike up to Timpanogas Cave. 

Lucas, Zeke, Hank, Dom and Finn. They were all instructed to stay with the group but these boys are so fast and fit they had a hard time not running up the steep trail. I didn't blame them and did a little running myself.

Dom, Zeke, Hank and Lucas. The infamous "sports boys" of the Sparrow Class, ready to go into the belly of Timpanogas Cave.

Exploring the cave.

On September 6th, Sophie and Hallee ran at the Park City Invitational at Quinn's Junction Trailhead. Hallee placed 2nd with a time of 18:16 in the 3 mile race through mountain trails. 

Sophie came in 22nd with a time of 19:52. 

Hallee, cruising in to claim her 2nd place medal.

The Skyline girl's varsity cross country team plus a couple of fans--Sarah Nicholes, Shelley Hansen and Tatum Flach (who runs for Park City).

On September 7th, I hiked the Mighty Mount Timpanogas--the 2nd highest mountain in the Wasatch Range at an elevation of 11,752 feet--with nieces Gretha and Zoe and Newel and Karen (although we didn't see much of the White's as they ran a good portion of the trail as marathon training). 

Hiking toward the high triangular summit in the distance. 

Gretha, me and Zoe, looking for mountain goats!

Mountain goats high on the trail to Timpanogas Peak.

We finally caught up with Newel and Karen (momentarily) on the summit.

I had to sign my name, naturally, as did the rest of our group, in multiple places, inside the summit hut.

Zoe, Newel, Gretha and me on the summit ridge of Mount Timp.

Later that same day, Sophie went to homecoming at Skyline High School with Drew Crouch, who also runs on the school's cross country team.

She's a beauty. 

Drew and Sophie.

Casey snapped this picture of the Meltons and Sullivans at Tillman's homecoming. He just got back from the Santa Maria, Brazil mission.

On September 9th, we held the annual Best Avenue street party. This tradition dates back to the 1970s and has been held every year since. This year we had live music again, this time Craig Mecham (hailing from Logan, Utah, entertained us. It was a lot of fun, as usual. 

Marni and Hayden, joining the party.

Shelley, Sophie Kolb and Porter, making the rounds in the golf cart.

On September 10th, Sophie and Hallee competed in the Sanpete Classic XC Invitational at the Skyline Mountain Resort in Fairview. Sophie took 9th place with a time of 19:54 and Hallee placed 2nd with 18:23. They both took home medals!

Sophie, sporting her medal!

Hallee, claiming her 2nd place medal.

On the 11th, Casey and I met up for a tour of the Governor's Mansion.

Lindy started her first season of cross country in September, running in the local County Rec program.

A rousing round of "Follow the Prophet" at our trek reunion

Some of our trek family: Ken and Margaret Peterson, Janette Dudinski and Penny and Winslow. 

Another summit: this time Mount Olympus!

Newel with Sean. You can see our boarded up back door. The stained glass insert fell out back in August one morning as Sophie left for school. The sun had warped the frame so the door was literally falling apart. Luckily, Casey gifted me new doors for my birthday! In the meantime, he screwed a piece of plywood over the gaping hole, redneck-style.

On September 15th,  Casey headed up to Idaho to join Arthur Morris and his brother, Mark, on a turkey hunting expedition. He was super excited to stay in Arthur's study shed/mini-house.

Sean met this little friend over at Cottonwood Regional Park while Lindy was at cross country practice. The two of them kept speeding down this hill until Sean crashed and scraped himself up.

Sean and Dad caught a salmon near Rockport Reservoir on the Father and Son's campout.

On the 21st, Sophie went to Highland High School's homecoming with Atticus May.

Casey and Zeke at a BYU football game! Casey said that he'd never been to a game that was so incredibly  loud. He had a thunderclap headache start during the game and barely made it home later that night because he was so nauseous. The headache persisted for weeks and he eventually went in for an MRI to make sure everything was okay. We were worried about another stroke but everything looked fine on the MRI.

No one (and I mean that) rivals Lindy's unique ability to craft interesting things out of paper, cardboard and tape. I love the full armor plus battle gear that she produced on this September day.

Lindy, ready for battle!

Sean tried the complete ensemble on for size too.

Mountain Monday up Millcreek Canyon with Kimberly and Carlynn.

We even met someone out hiking the trail with a parrot.

Carlynn, James, Kirsten, Jen and I all did a longer training hike starting in Big Cottonwood Canyon, passing an old mine, up over the ridge into Little Cottonwood and back to the trailhead, all as training for our upcoming rim to rim to rim in the Grand Canyon.

Checking out the abandoned mine in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Casey and Josh climbed The Green Adjective in Little Cottonwood Canyon at the Gate Buttress area, a 5.9+.

Casey, on the sharp end.

On September 26th, we headed to Maple Grove Hot Springs in Idaho with Zeke, Lindy and Sean. (Sophie and Hallee were going to Idaho with the cross country team for the Bob Firman Invitational the next day.)

Zeke in the Oneida Narrows.

The fall colors were extraordinary along the Bear River corridor.

We rented a yurt and a stone shelter. Casey and I stayed up in the yurt and the kids stayed closer to the river in the stone shelter.

Sean, playing in the leaves.

Sean.

Lindy.

Lindy and Sean in one of the bigger soaking pools.

Zeke was glad to be able to get both of his arms into the water. The last time we were at the springs he was in a cast and had to keep one arm elevated constantly.

On our drive home, we stopped at a small town park in Idaho and had a picnic under this Lindon tree. As Casey and I lay on our backs beneath it, I said: "It's highly improbable but it is possible that I'll catch a falling leaf under this tree." I extended my arms and waited, willed it, and sure enough I did just that. Casey did the same. It was one of those moments that is totally magical.

Meanwhile, Sophie and Hallee were up at Eagle Island State Park, having dinner at Olive Garden in costume with the Skyline XC team the night before the big race. Coach Porter decided to keep Hallee out because of some aches and pains she'd been experiencing leading up to the race (and a hefty amount of pre-race anxiety/PTSD from the previous year's race). Hal was devastated.

Sophie ran in the highest division--the elite girls 5K race. She was first on her team and ran 43rd overall with a time of 19:22.

The Mountain Monday ladies, out for a morning hike along the Old Pine Road at the top of Millcreek Canyon. The fall foliage was spectacular!

There were no fewer than FOUR moose guarding the trail. A mom with two babies and a bull!

The painting I've been working on with my neighbor, Dawn Nessl. The reference photo is one I took in Emigration Canyon last fall on a Sunday afternoon stroll with the family.