timp cave.

Today was our annual Timpanogos Cave hike.

This time, Dad actually got to go and so did Annette (a.k.a. my 2nd mother who helped raise me growing up)!

We were at the visitor center by 7:00 in the morning.  Say what?!  Apparently we really like hiking in the early morning hours.  Getting up before 6 during the summer is a big deal for me.  It usually does NOT happen.  Good thing I love my family or I would have stayed in bed and got my beauty sleep.

And so, the annual picture by the visitor center...

The sign right outside the cave entrance.

Trail lovin'.

Poor T.  Every time he went to eat his sandwich for lunch (at 8:30 in the morning) we were demanding another picture.  Which explains the following...

 {Me, Annette, T}

This one's a little better.  Though this time he was interrupted eating his Clif bar.  The "Carrot Cake" Clif Bar that he was incredibly excited about finding yesterday at Sprouts market while we were shopping for hiking snacks.

What a crack up.

For the first time, Dad beat us to the top.  He had a burst of energy during the hike up the switchbacks and never slowed down!  We were struggling to keep up with him and the mama this time around.  Apparently, the younger generation is getting lazy (said Ranger Brad at the top of the cave).

 Just one of the many faces of my father.  He gets pretty funny when we're in the mountains and camping.  This is the real Daddy.  This is where I get my love of funny faces.  I blame him.

Group picture inside the cave!

Such a fun tradition.  We saw a bajillion centipedes and a handful of lizards while hiking and saw the cave bacon, ice cream sundae, and the upside down chicken in the cave.

Oh how we love hiking Timp. Cave!

heavenly fall break.

T and I love the distinct, sweet smell of fall leaves on the ground.  I literally go out of my way to step on the leaves that look the crunchiest to hear the satisfying crisp of the leaves.

Suffice it to say that fall is my favorite.

Mother Nature in Utah has finally gotten with the program this year and given us a beautiful fall before moving onto winter.  

And for the very first time that I can remember, we hiked Timp Cave in the fall.

It was a breathtaking hike and a vigorous climb to the top.

I love that hiking to the cave has become a tradition over the years for my family.  My mom and my sisters all made it this year and it made for the perfect hiking experience.  

The inside of the cave was beautiful and we had the pleasure of having Ranger Mac as our guide.  

He taught us all something new about the cave.  I learned quite a few things even though we've been there 10+ times!

(1) The only colored light allowed in the cave is the red one behind the "heart" of the cave to make it look more like a heart.

(2) The waiting area outside of the cave was originally a cougar den that had over 7 feet of bones piles high in it.  Apparently generations of cougars had been using it as their home.

(3) During the spring run off, if you go in the cave, you'll be standing in about 2 inches of water.  And if it rains while you're in the cave, you'll get a nice shower of water from up above.  

(4) There's a fault line that goes right through the cave and the cave has literally been pushed up from below the valley to where it is today by the plates shifting.  How neat is that?!

I love traditions.  Especially ones that include lots of family and hiking outdoors.  

Perfect fall break.

Have I Married A Greek God?

Atlas is a Greek god.

He holds the world on his shoulders.
Tyler must be related to Atlas.
He holds up mountains on his shoulders.

He's in training.

And, of course, while he is busy holding up mountains, he has me at his side...while I attempt to make the family look good?

Yes, that it is a question.

And then he shows me up looking better in a headlamp than me at our spelunking adventure in Timpanogos Cave.

I am a lucky girl.
Not only has T held mountains on his shoulders in the past week, he holds me up.
He keeps me going.
He keeps us going.

I love him.