Spontaneous 4-Hour Camping Trip

Last week (I'm quite on the ball, in case you haven't noticed). Anyway. Last week Andy came home early from work needing to just get away from it all. He grabbed the hydration packs, rounded up the boys, plus 1 neighbor friend, and we headed to the AT. (That's the Appalachian Trail.)
We drove for about 40 minutes. We parked and guided the boys across the street to one of the trailheads. Andy had planned on a ~2 mile hike to one of the shelters. Andy carried all of the food and cooking supplies. I carried Abric. The boys each had a hydration pack, of which most of them drank all their water on the way up to the shelter. Example, Ewan peed 4 times on the way up. Good thing we were in the woods. I think he enjoyed the newfound freedom. He would just drop his pants anywhere along the trail to do his business. Every time we turned around he was peeing again.

I don't know what is up with his 'gang' signs. I have about 4 pictures where he is throwing his hands out like this.
At the shelter. Abric ran around, the bigger boys explored, and Andy and I prepared the backpacking meal of champions. . .

. . . Cup o' Noodles!

After dinner, we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. Yum! The perfect treat after a 'long' hike.
A quick, timed snapshot of our hiking group just before the sun started to set.

Timpanogos Cave

The to hike up to Timpanogos Cave had arrived. This was another big CHECK we wanted to check off. And we wanted to get the stamp in our passport. (Do you have a Passport to your National Parks? Check them out HERE.)

Let the hiking begin!

We took many breaks. Although the trail is only 1.5 miles you gain almost 1200 feet in elevation. Steep in an understatement!

Jens, Tiffany, and Connor above us on a switchback.

Looking down at the switchbacks.

Daddy, Ewan, and Zane. We made sure to hold hands with the little guys. They were much too curious about looking over the edge.
We made it to the top and were just waiting for our tour to start. We were lucky to have our own personal geological tour guide. Thanks, Jens!
Ewan loved it inside the cave, in case you can't tell from his beaming smile.

I kept Abric close by in the baby sling.

Grandma was in heaven with all of her grandsons!

Andy was the official backpack carrier. I always thought he was Superman without the pack.

The heart of Timpanogos.

Taken from an article in the Daily Herald:

"Legend of Timpanogos" is the retelling of a Nez Perce Indian legend about a young Indian maiden, Ucanogos, who falls in love with a brave, Timpanac, from a neighboring tribe. Other braves are vying for the affection of Ucanogos -- one in particular named Red Feather -- and to decide who will win the hand of Ucanogos, the tribal chief issues three challenges: kill an animal using bare hands, race around the lake, and climb to the top of the mountain. As the braves race up the mountain in the final challenge, Timpanac is ambushed at the top and pushed to his death. A heartbroken Ucanogos offers her spirit to the Earth and dies in her father's -- the chief's -- arms. The two lovers are united in death and their spirits embrace, creating what is now known as the Heart of Timpanogos -- a heart-shaped stalactite in Timpanogos Cave.