Not Ruth Lake

So every summer we go on a backpacking trip to Ruth Lake, but this year we decided to try something new. So, we did the Lofty Lake Loop.  It was about four miles long and we did it over the course of three days and two nights.  The hike itself wasn't very long but it was quite steep at parts and very challenging for the kids (and their parents with huge packs on).  We all survived and had a great time, but I think we will be back to Ruth next year, it's a quite a bit easier!

So we all jumped out of the car and it was in the low sixties and we all scrambled for warmer cloths, but after ten minutes on the trail the long sleeves and coats were gone and the weather felt great for hiking.  In fact the weather was perfect the whole weekend, no rain, no cold just blue skies and best of all no bugs!!

 So this is how Russell gets us all to go....he carries everything!  He did only carry the cooler for a little bit and then I carried it the rest of the trip.  He had enough with 80 or more pounds on his back!

Eliza and Aiden carried their sleeping bags, pads, cloths and fishing poles the whole way!  Eliza kept telling us that we were torturing her, but once we got to the lake she said, "that was so hard, but it is so pretty up here that I think it was worth it."

 Eliza on a bridge going across a little stream.

Jack and Aiden...Jack carried all of his cloths and fishing pole the first day and then Russell and I had to carry it the second and third days, he had had enough!  But he was a great hiker and did awesome on the trail.

 

This is Reid's Meadow.  It was beautiful and big.

Aiden and Eliza posing in the meadow.

So once we got to our first camp site...Kamas Lake...Russell said, "You are going to like this" and he pulled out a five gallon bucket from his backpack.  He had put all of the food inside of it and then slid the whole thing into his pack and carried it up the mountain.  It was pretty smart because the critters couldn't get inside to eat the food, but I was laughing because I couldn't believe he hauled that on his back.  I will post day two and three pictures later.  It was a fun adventure.