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What have we been up to?
13 years ago
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
New Haircut
We just got back from spending a few days in Zion on a rappelling trip. I had been contemplating chopping my hair off for a while, and staying in the heat of Southern Utah convinced me even more. (Plus, it is a lot easier to do when it is short.) One of my friends from our ward always does a good job with my hair. She didn't disappoint this time either--thanks Erin :). I love it!!! What do you think?
the back
the back
Monday, August 23, 2010
Annual Womack Family Campout
Each summer my whole family--mom, dad, 6 kids(well 5 without Jared this year), 5 spouses, and 12 grandkids--spends a few days camped at a ranger's station. Needless to say, we are a big group. The rules are simple: the family with the newest baby gets first dibs on staying in the cabin, and the rest stay in tents on the surrounding lawn.
This year our festivities included:
a section of the river being redirected to make an less dangerous swimming area for the grandkids. (Ammon was the lead engineer of the project and had a lot of help) There is also inevitably a contest that breaks out to determine who can submerge themselves into the freezing river and hold out the longest. (Not my idea of fun.)
numerous games of horseshoes...complete with miraculous comebacks, talking smack, and heated debates.
hiking to the springs where the Cub River comes out of the mountains to get a refreshing giardia-free drink of water
my wonderful nephew Kayl's birthday celebration (I love these pictures of him)
Grandpa having his hands full, and the youngest grandkids getting a lot of attention. (Anywhere Jace is, Sadie follows eager to give him loves)
...and the excitement of taking down our tent on the last day. Somehow we were the only ones with help, because our tent was "cool". My niece, Savanah, assured me that one day when Ammon and I had kids of our own, they would like our tent too. I guess I won't have to worry about that anymore. :)
This year our festivities included:
a section of the river being redirected to make an less dangerous swimming area for the grandkids. (Ammon was the lead engineer of the project and had a lot of help) There is also inevitably a contest that breaks out to determine who can submerge themselves into the freezing river and hold out the longest. (Not my idea of fun.)
numerous games of horseshoes...complete with miraculous comebacks, talking smack, and heated debates.
hiking to the springs where the Cub River comes out of the mountains to get a refreshing giardia-free drink of water
my wonderful nephew Kayl's birthday celebration (I love these pictures of him)
Grandpa having his hands full, and the youngest grandkids getting a lot of attention. (Anywhere Jace is, Sadie follows eager to give him loves)
...and the excitement of taking down our tent on the last day. Somehow we were the only ones with help, because our tent was "cool". My niece, Savanah, assured me that one day when Ammon and I had kids of our own, they would like our tent too. I guess I won't have to worry about that anymore. :)
Monday, August 2, 2010
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Final Yellowstone Pictures from West Geyser Basin: (now my blog is actually letting me insert pictures again maybe I will catch up)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Yellowstone Trip Day 4
Friday we went to the Canyon area of Yellowstone where they have several viewpoints that we hiked down to to see the Upper and Lower Falls. The rocks in this canyon are the reason that "Yellowstone" got its name.
Ammon's dad left us at noon that day to drive to Billings, Montana to meet his mom (who was flying there from Terra's house in Missouri). They went on their own trip the following week up through Glacier National Park and Canada for their second honeymoon. This left Taylie with Ammon and me for the last night in Yellowstone. We went to one last viewpoint called Artist's Point and Ammon and I hiked down 'Uncle Tom's Trail'which led down to the bottom of the canyon directly in front of the falls. Which, by the way, I never plan on going on again.
I discovered on that trail that I had developed a fear of heights that I have never had a problem with before. I don't know if it is some mothering instinct kicking in now that I am married or what, but my level of self-preservation has increased.
The trail started out as a series of switchbacks down to a sign that in summary said, 'this is a very dangerous, strenuous hike take breaks often and don't go if you are a wimp'. That is when my worries began. Then the 300 something stairs began. They were steel mesh stairs that looked rusted over clinging to the canyon walls. Underneath the stairs was the giant drop down to the falls below. I think I would have been fine if I couldn't see through the stairs I was stepping on to the drop below.
I went down one step at a time forcing myself forward, the whole time nervously telling Ammon things like: I can't go any further, I'm freaking out!, I'm never ever doing this again, and why couldn't they make these stairs solid concrete?! Ammon being the civil engineer he is, kept saying: "Steel is so much stronger than concrete. I should know." He couldn't understand that the strength didn't so much matter to me it was more the lack of view underneath my feet that I desired.
See how happy I am?
The hike destination...was it worth it?
I did make it all the way down and back again--very slowly. I didn't follow the recommendations to stop every few feet and rest. I booked it up those stairs as fast as my nerves would allow. I about killed the people that stopped in the middle of the flights of scary stairs and told me to 'just go around me' forcing me to release my two-handed death grip on the railing. I don't think anyone has ever been so grateful for solid ground.
Ammon's dad left us at noon that day to drive to Billings, Montana to meet his mom (who was flying there from Terra's house in Missouri). They went on their own trip the following week up through Glacier National Park and Canada for their second honeymoon. This left Taylie with Ammon and me for the last night in Yellowstone. We went to one last viewpoint called Artist's Point and Ammon and I hiked down 'Uncle Tom's Trail'which led down to the bottom of the canyon directly in front of the falls. Which, by the way, I never plan on going on again.
I discovered on that trail that I had developed a fear of heights that I have never had a problem with before. I don't know if it is some mothering instinct kicking in now that I am married or what, but my level of self-preservation has increased.
The trail started out as a series of switchbacks down to a sign that in summary said, 'this is a very dangerous, strenuous hike take breaks often and don't go if you are a wimp'. That is when my worries began. Then the 300 something stairs began. They were steel mesh stairs that looked rusted over clinging to the canyon walls. Underneath the stairs was the giant drop down to the falls below. I think I would have been fine if I couldn't see through the stairs I was stepping on to the drop below.
I went down one step at a time forcing myself forward, the whole time nervously telling Ammon things like: I can't go any further, I'm freaking out!, I'm never ever doing this again, and why couldn't they make these stairs solid concrete?! Ammon being the civil engineer he is, kept saying: "Steel is so much stronger than concrete. I should know." He couldn't understand that the strength didn't so much matter to me it was more the lack of view underneath my feet that I desired.
See how happy I am?
The hike destination...was it worth it?
I did make it all the way down and back again--very slowly. I didn't follow the recommendations to stop every few feet and rest. I booked it up those stairs as fast as my nerves would allow. I about killed the people that stopped in the middle of the flights of scary stairs and told me to 'just go around me' forcing me to release my two-handed death grip on the railing. I don't think anyone has ever been so grateful for solid ground.
Yellowstone Trip Day 3
Fishing was the objective of the second day in Yellowstone. Ammon's Dad rented a boat and we went fishing on Yellowstone Lake. Ammon's dad was hoping to relive some past trips that were spent with Ammon's Grandpa Hedin. However, the area they used to fish in is now off limits. The fishing rules guidebook-- which only I read--said that cutthroat trout (the native species) were to be caught and released, but lake trout (an invasive species that fed on cutthroat trout) were to be killed even if you didn't want to keep them. Taylie thought this rule was a little harsh, and refused to even touch a fishing pole. My fishing consisted of Ammon casting out the line and me reeling it in two or three times before I grew bored of getting no results. This was probably for the best because only Ammon and his dad had a fishing permit. After three short hours on the lake our time was up and there had been only one possible bite and no fish flopping around in our boat (much to Taylie's relief).
After dropping off the boat at the docks, we drove around the lake a ways and pulled off at a picnic spot to try fishing off the shore. I wasn't too sure about the choice of fishing locations. I read a sign nearby that said that whole end of the lake was the hottest thermal active spot in Yellowstone and there were geysers on either side of the picnic area down the shore a ways.
My unease grew when a random buffalo came walking into the area that was getting nervous because of all the cars crowding it to take pictures. Luckily we didn't fall into any thermal pool and the buffalo didn't charge. The fishermen in the family weren't as lucky so we headed back to camp.
But the fishing didn't stop there. Later that day Ammon decided to test the waters of the lake at our campground. He noticed a long sandbar a ways off shore that would be a good place to stand and fish. We had brought our newly patched raft (damaged from floating the Narrows). Only Ammon was determined enough to take the raft out into the freezing water to test the patch job he had done. Off he went in the raft rowing with both paddles with the fishing pole hanging off the side.
patched inflatable raft + sharp fishing hook trailing behind + water that could give you hypothermia = something only Ammon would try
He did make it to the sandbar without any incident, leaving the other hopeful fisherman stuck on the shore a little jealous I'm sure. He didn't stay long however before he got back in the boat and rowed back to shore. I was sure he must have miraculously caught a fish because I knew he wouldn't give up so soon. As it turns out he returned due to a "equipment malfunction". I spent quite a bit of time that night detangling fishing line.
I guess the lady who handed Ammon and Kerry their fishing licenses as the boat was rented knew what she was talking about: "Remember that you are fishing not catching"
Or maybe there is a greater conspiracy going on at Yellowstone: NO FISH IN THE LAKE
After dropping off the boat at the docks, we drove around the lake a ways and pulled off at a picnic spot to try fishing off the shore. I wasn't too sure about the choice of fishing locations. I read a sign nearby that said that whole end of the lake was the hottest thermal active spot in Yellowstone and there were geysers on either side of the picnic area down the shore a ways.
My unease grew when a random buffalo came walking into the area that was getting nervous because of all the cars crowding it to take pictures. Luckily we didn't fall into any thermal pool and the buffalo didn't charge. The fishermen in the family weren't as lucky so we headed back to camp.
But the fishing didn't stop there. Later that day Ammon decided to test the waters of the lake at our campground. He noticed a long sandbar a ways off shore that would be a good place to stand and fish. We had brought our newly patched raft (damaged from floating the Narrows). Only Ammon was determined enough to take the raft out into the freezing water to test the patch job he had done. Off he went in the raft rowing with both paddles with the fishing pole hanging off the side.
patched inflatable raft + sharp fishing hook trailing behind + water that could give you hypothermia = something only Ammon would try
He did make it to the sandbar without any incident, leaving the other hopeful fisherman stuck on the shore a little jealous I'm sure. He didn't stay long however before he got back in the boat and rowed back to shore. I was sure he must have miraculously caught a fish because I knew he wouldn't give up so soon. As it turns out he returned due to a "equipment malfunction". I spent quite a bit of time that night detangling fishing line.
I guess the lady who handed Ammon and Kerry their fishing licenses as the boat was rented knew what she was talking about: "Remember that you are fishing not catching"
Or maybe there is a greater conspiracy going on at Yellowstone: NO FISH IN THE LAKE
Yellowstone Trip Day 2
We left the Teton camp in the morning and drove to Yellowstone. We arrived at our campground only to be told that "a resident grizzly bear" particularly liked that area much to my chagrin.
I had been to Yellowstone before but, I was about 4 years old the last time. The only thing I remembered from that trip was seeing Old Faithful and the wildlife. I got to renew that memory on the first day of our stay in Yellowstone. We went and watched Old Faithful, our timing was perfect. It went off about 10 minutes after we arrived. We walked around the boardwalk and looked at the various geysers and pools. I was amazed at how vivid the colors in the pools were, but not so impressed with the sulfur smell.
This last picture is of Morning Glory pool. It is Ammon's mom's favorite. Apparently it used to be a vivid blue, but because some not so nice people throw in junk that clogs the vent (coins, sticks etc) the pools can start to lose their purity and start to turn this rust color. Every year the people who care for the park work to clean all the debri left in the pool to help retain the natural beauty.
I had been to Yellowstone before but, I was about 4 years old the last time. The only thing I remembered from that trip was seeing Old Faithful and the wildlife. I got to renew that memory on the first day of our stay in Yellowstone. We went and watched Old Faithful, our timing was perfect. It went off about 10 minutes after we arrived. We walked around the boardwalk and looked at the various geysers and pools. I was amazed at how vivid the colors in the pools were, but not so impressed with the sulfur smell.
This last picture is of Morning Glory pool. It is Ammon's mom's favorite. Apparently it used to be a vivid blue, but because some not so nice people throw in junk that clogs the vent (coins, sticks etc) the pools can start to lose their purity and start to turn this rust color. Every year the people who care for the park work to clean all the debri left in the pool to help retain the natural beauty.
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