Park City play area

Mountain slide with a twist. We went to check out the mountain roller coaster and we found a great ride that the boys really loved. We were there when it opened at 10:00am and they were able to do it several times before it got busy. There was also a zip line that Derek was able to do as he met the height and weight requirements. The zip line was the longest I had ever seen. Bungee trampolene, rock climbing, regular mountain slides, they had it all and the boys had a great time checking it all out. We are all packed and ready to catch our flight this evening. Back to reality!!!
talk with you soon.

Fishing on the Weber River

This morning we went fishing at Thousand Peaks ranch and everyone was geared up with our two guides Doug and Kevin. Ethan caught the largest fish of the day with a nice cutthroat trout and Derek caught the most fish of the day hauling in several whitefish. What a great experience to fish out west here in Utah. The outfitters were great and we all fished hard with the water rushing pretty hard after all the rain they have had out here in the last few weeks. I guess we have really lucked out with the weather as it sounds it just broke before we arrived. After a great lunch at the ranch we headed back to the house and we all crashed for a nice afternoon of hot tub, a game of pool, and reflection on a vacation that has been action packed. We leave tommorow back to Maine.

talk to you soon,

pictures of fish to come.

Up Up and Away!

We had a big surprise for the boys this morning at 6:00 am with a hot air balloon ride over Heber City south of Park City. We enjoyed the views and the experience of being in a hot air balloon that we learned was invented in France 1783 by the Montgolfier brothers. We went up and down and did a fly by on a herd of cows that thought we were getting a little to close. Our pilot, Miles, hit the gas and up we rose to about 2500 feet. We then rode the wind currents to land at a local college's field. The crew pushed the basket over the field for a better landing spot and I thought we were going over when we struck a rock. All the passengers enjoyed a traditional toast of champagne, or cider, in the field to celebrate our successful return to the ground. Once we returned to Park City for lunch we were off for a mountain bike ride through Park City. The trails were so much fun for all of us. We went for a really nice ride down on easier trails and then decide to go up the mountain to try mountain trails that we found a bit more challenging. Another great day!! Darcy

Hiking and Rafting

Today we started off by having a classic pancake breakfast. Then we put on our hiking gear and walked out behind the house to find the Mid Mountain Trail. Went for a hike and was passed by a mountain biker. The trails for mountain bikes looked really good so we decided to check out the bikes for rent downtown. Ethan rode one around the parking lot and he seemed to really like it. Tomorrow we might go for a ride on one of the trails. After we got back from the store we relaxed for an hour and then went to the Heber River to meet Park City rafting adventures. We went rafting and there were tons of big rapids. I had to sit in the front of the raft and got completely soaked. The water was really cold but it was really warm outside so it felt good. Ethan was lucky because he got to ride up back and he barely got wet. It was a really fun day.

Derek

North to the Mountains

The hotel was great and we were surrunded by Model T's as the Model T club was having a gathering and in the town of Kanab there were over 200 Model T's. Henry would be proud. We followed a parade out of town and we finally overtook the leader as the top speed of a model T must be somewhere around 35 to 40 mph. As we drove north it was interesting to see speed limit signs of 80 mph, soon enough we started to gain some serious elevation and the mountains came into view at 11,000+ feet and still snow capped. What a scenic drive up through this route.This was our travel day to get up to the DiNovi retreat in Park City, Utah. Best hotel yet by a mile! We settled in and Derek figured out all the controls. What a beautiful place and this will be our HQ for the remainder of our vacation. Darcy went shopping at the local supermarket and we enjoyed our first homecooked in a while. enjoyed the hot tub as the sun set over the mountains- we all agreed that we were going to take the rest of the summer out here.

The Grand Canyon, Wow!!!

Today we set out for the North Rim of the Grand canyon and we traveled back into Arizona and back into Pacific Time even though we went southeast. As you enter the park from this side you do not see the canyon until you reach the visitor center. Even then it is hidden from view by the North Rim lodge by design. Once you go through the lodge you are treated to some of the most spectacular views in this land. It was interesting to see so many trees on this side as it is very wooded as compared to the desert land we traveled in the morning on our route down. It is quite a contrast, and then to see the canyon. We made our way down a short trail to Angels Point where you get that nervous feeling that the rails and weak attempt at fencing may not contain your kids. After surviving the first overlook we went to many others, and the views just kept getting better and better. Pictures of this 3rd wonder of the world just do not do it justice. You can not quite seem to get the depth of field or contrast of lanscape unless you are there. The boys had a scare early in the morning as we were told the junior ranger program was closed for the day as they ran out of booklets. After talking with the ranger for a minute we discovered that she had lived in Maine as a kid and attended Fryeburg Academy for 2 years in 55 and 56 and then finished at Kents Hill. She met her husband in Castine as he was attending Maine Maritime Academy. He also works at the park, and was able to find both boys a book. They did their exercises and completed their work and became Grand Canyon junior rangers sworn in by another Maine connection. We headed north to Kanab, Utah which is just across the border from AZ and we are back on mountain time. Super HI express with a great pool and hot tub. Local eats at Houstons which was superb family style reataurant.

Great day, catch up tommorow

Horsing Around Zion

Happy Father's Day Todd!! Today we went to Zion National Park. What a view! We were up early and off for a great day. Today Doc, Satin, Brandi and Shania gave us a great trail ride through the park. We hiked to lower, middle and upper Emerald pools to meet falling rock and his best friend cliff. There were signs everywhere telling us to look for Falling Rock and another guy known as dangerous Cliff. The boys were great hikers and we all really enjoyed it. After a break of ice cream, we had some really interesting facts about rattle snakes from Ranger Jen who really knew her stuff. Then we headed back to the visitor center where Derek and Ethan became Junior Rangers. Ranger Mike, who recently moved back to the southwest after 5 years of working at Acadia National Park in Maine, made a proclamation to the whole visitor center that everyone was in the presence of some brand new Zion Junior Rangers. Just a super day of fun at another gem of a national park.