August Family Camping Trip

Josh has been wanting to go camping at Twin Lakes in Montana for a couple of years, and we finally made it happen this summer! We went the second weekend in August, making the two hour drive from Salmon. Thankfully, the campground wasn't full and we got a nice secluded spot just down the road from the larger lake access. We brought our bikes and water gear and planned to relax all weekend, other than the hike that Josh had planned for the twins and himself to Ajax Lake and Peak on Saturday. The boys rode bikes around the big campground loop several times that weekend, we spent time relaxing on the lakes in between the multiple storms that blew threw, we ate excellent camp food, enjoyed sitting the campfire, and played games together. 

Josh and the twins drove towards Ajax Lake on Saturday mid-morning. They walked about a 1/2 mile to the lake when full-size vehicles were no longer allowed on the road, then they hiked up to an old mine, and continued on making their own way across the rocks and snow on the ascent to Ajax Peak. They had a great time, and while they were gone, Kanyon and I stayed at the campground. I made some cardboard cut-outs and painted them for my classroom bulletin board, then we went to the lake until it got too stormy. We played board games in the trailer, and learned a new card game called "Skull Kings" which we taught Josh and the boys once they returned.  

We left after lunch on Sunday, later in the day than originally anticipated, because we were enjoying camping so much. We knew it was our last camping trip of the summer, as well as our final camping trip in our camping trailer. We've had this trailer for 10 years, and after much deliberation, we decided it was time to sell it after this trip: the boys have outgrown it, and we want to buy a trailer that's more suitable for the needs we have in our next phase in life. It was a great location to go camping, and we had a wonderful time relaxing together and soaking in the great outdoors. 

The larger of the Twin Lakes

There's a little inlet that connects the two lakes. Kanyon was showing us

how he was able to maneuver the kayak across it. 

The smaller Twin Lake

A view of Ajax Lake on the boys' hike

Another view of the other end of Ajax Lake

The old mine that the boys saw on their hike

At the top of Ajax Peak

They liked looking over into the Idaho side, and could see their friend Anthony's

Ranch in the Carmen Creek Valley from where they stood on the peak. 

Josh captured this image of me taking photos of boys on the lake!

It's the only one I have of me on this trip... ;)

There was a lot of unique tree trunks at the campground.

This one reminds me of what you get when you cross

an elephant and a goose!

This one looks like a naked backside of someone walking!

We were fortunate to have an isolated spot in the campground!

This was a wonderful final voyage for this trailer that we've treasured for a decade!

Josh Conquers the Continental Divide

Josh's favorite mountains are the Bitterroot Range east of Salmon. He admires them year-round from the views at both the golf course and our home. He has a personal goal to hike to each of the peaks on the range, but up until this year, he'd only been able to hike to one: Copperhead. This summer, he amazingly hiked to 5 of them!!! The only peak he has left to conquer is Freeman Peak (which he's attempted twice, but has been unsuccessful due to the impassable terrain. However, he has an idea of how to hike to it from a different direction next summer).

SACAJAWEA PEAKS (also known as the Three Sisters) -- hiked July 14

I was out of town with my friends in Jackson Hole, and Josh planned to take the twins hiking to all 3 peaks with him. He'd loaded all the motorbikes, and got all the supplies ready, but the twins were so tired from being on the Lemhi Range the previous day working at the Beaverhead Endurance Run, so he ended up going alone. He was gone only 6 hours roundtrip; he drove to Geertson Creek and unloaded the motorcycle, and then rode the dirt bike to the top of Geertson Creek where he got off and hiked to each of the three peaks. 

There was an old mine near the top of the 1st peak, and the surround rocks had

this beautiful turquoise/silver coloring in them. 

This is the mine he saw--the snow is covering the entrance. 

Miner Lake

Continental Divide Marker on the 1st peak

Josh's signature picture: a bottle of Mtn. Dew along the Mountains that he hikes

Miner Lake and Hamby Lake on the Montana side

Another view of Miner Lake

Overlooking Kirtley Creek on the Idaho side

The 2nd peak with Hamby Lake in the background

The 2nd peak with Miner Lake in the background

Hiking up to the 3rd peak

Overlooking Geertson Lake on the Idaho side

The 3rd peak

A view of all 3 of the peaks on his hike back to the motorbike

This is as far as the motorcycle would go!

A view of the Sacjawea Peaks from our deck after he returned home

 (the three peaks close together in the middle)

AJAX PEAK -- hiked August 10, 2019

Jonah and Micah went with Josh on this hike. We'd gone camping as a family to Twin Lakes in Montana, and they just went on a day trip from there. Josh took them up the approaching road in the truck until they reached a sign that said "No Full Size Vehicles Past This Point". From there, they hiked a few miles. They couldn't see any trail on the way up, so they made their way up through rocks and snow drifts which was a little tricky. Thankfully, they found the trail on their way back down, which made it faster. They liked looking down into the Carmen Valley on the Idaho side after hiking up from the Montana side. It was a fun adventure that only took them half a day.

Jonah hiking through the snow.

Micah climbing through the snow

Micah traversing the rocky cliff

Jonah hiking carefully over the rocks

Copperhead Peak in the distance

Overlooking Carmen Creek Valley on the Idaho Side

Ajax Lake

The twins hanging out at the top of Ajax Peak

Josh's trademark photo!

MONUMENT PEAK - hiked September 2

Josh took me and the boys on this adventure on Labor Day. We rode up Geertson Creek in the jeep and stopped just a little ways past the site of the antique mail truck wreck. From there, we hiked up the mountainside until the first little ridge, where Kanyon and I stayed and watched the other 3 continue on their hike. It was an 8-mile roundtrip from the jeep to the Monument Peak and back. Part of the trail was very sketchy for them, but thankfully they safely made it there and back. Kanyon and I could barely see them in the distance as they scaled the mountain top, and as soon as they did, we started climbing back down towards the jeep. I got lost on the way, and by the time Kanyon found me, Josh and the boys had caught up to me as well!

This was the point that Josh, Micah, and Jonah continued

on without Kanyon & I. Can you see them?

Monument Peak is the far left peak. The boys had to go up the right side, and 

all along the ridge to get there.

Kanyon atop our small peak with Kirtley Creek in the background.

You can barely make out the 3 silhouettes scaling the rocky terrain in the distance.

I hate hiking. 

Kanyon happily entertained himself while we waited!

Kanyon's constructed rock tower with Salmon in the distance.

Kanyon with his creation--

he can even balance a rock on his shoulder!

A view on their hike of Hamby Lake on the Montana side

Jonah climbing over rocks on the ascent to Monument Peak

Miner Lake

Josh's hat on the peak marker

Another iconic image including the Mountain Dew!

Josh found where he had carved mine & his names into the hood of the

mail truck, and scratched in the boys' names on this trip, too. 

It was a tight squeeze into the jeep, but a lot easier than packing motorbikes!