Baggin' Peaks: #1 Squaw Peak

About a week ago I told Russell that I wanted to climb the Grand Teton and if he wanted to join me that would be great. I had already looked it up on line to find out what we needed to do and I was ready. I needed a goal and The Grand Teton was it. Russell said great, let's do it. Then the next day he came home from work and said that maybe we should start out small and do some other peaks before we conquer The Grand. He said you know you have to use ropes and know how to do mountaineering stuff to climb that mountain (I did because I looked it up!) and since we have young kids to think about coming home to maybe we should just do hiking peaks for awhile. He's always being practical that way. :)

But I agreed, because Russell is always practical when I am crazy. He wasn't messing around with my goal and said on Saturday we are going to the top of Squaw Peak. We had hiked it about 10 years ago and I remembered it was a great hike so I was on board. The thing about Peak Bagging is young kids aren't the best companions when you have a goal to actually make it to the top. So Sherry agreed to babysit and we got on the trail at 3pm.

Can I just say OH MY GOSH! It was so hard! I am out of shape for sure, and that hike was four miles straight up. Not a gradual incline, or switchbacks, no straight up. Russ said aren't we glad we didn't start with the Grand Teton! He is very wise. But it was so much fun just to be hiking with Russell! I think that was what my goal was ultimately about. Spending time with him, having a hobby together and finishing something hard. I know that is what we are doing with our family, but this was a short term glimpse of how having fun together and working together towards a goal it can be accomplished. It was awesome.


The summit of the Peak was about 7,000 Feet so we roughly went up 3,000. This was the marker where the trail took off from the main one.

The colors were spectacular. We couldn't have picked a better day.

Staying hydrated. Before we left we told Eliza where we were going and she said, "You are going to die." and I was like, "Eliza! That is not very nice to say." and she said, "Not die in a grave but die cause it is going to be hard!" And boy was she right!

More beautiful colors.

I just need a minute!

I wanted to take a nice picture of Russell but this all I had in me! Oh, Russell got stung by two bees while we were hiking. We somehow disturbed a nest by the side of the trail and they attacked him. He was a man and took it well, but I know it had to hurt.

The peak! We bagged it!!! We didn't see anyone else on the trail the whole way up and when we got to the top there were two people that were kind enough to take our picture. It was an awesome view. We could see our house and all of Utah Valley. It was perfect.

So now that we have our first peak bagged, what's next? I am not sure yet we don't have the next one scheduled. I am just glad that we got to do this and I know with Russell on my side there will be more peaks to come!