The Yellowstone Grand Slam at Age 6!!

We spent the last week in Grand Teton and Yellowstone. I will post more on this trip later. Kellie accomplished something on this trip that took me years to do. She caught  what is called the Yellowstone Grand Slam. This means she caught all 4 Yellowstone trout, including a Brown, a Rainbow, a Brooke, and a Cutthroat. She did this all with a fly rod!

Paintbrush Divide

Michelle and I hiked Paintbrush Divide this weekend. We had planned on doing the 20 miles in 3 days, but we ended up wrapping it up in 2. This was Michelle's first backpacking experience. Judging by the amount of time she spent looking through her viewfinder on her camera, I would say she loved the trip! Here are the highlights:

The first night right below Holly Lake. That is Leigh Lake and Jackson Lake in the background.

The next Iron Chef? 

Holly Lake

Michelle with a death grip on her ice ax.

Snow fields in July

"Brady. Can we please go on an anniversary trip that does not require bear spray, ice axes, and digging holes to go to the bathroom?"

  

The high point

Descending 4000 feet in 8 miles was beautiful, but rough.

We have never enjoyed the Jenny Lake shuttle boat so much!!

The Summer So Far

It has been a while since I have shared anything. The summer is zooming by as usual. We have had a ton of fun adventures to share. Here are just a few:

Mother's day was our 4th trip into the park for the year. We had skied in, rode our bikes in, and this weekend was the second time that we got to drive in. This picture was taken on Storm Point, one of our family's new favorite hikes. We hiked about 13 miles this weekend. 

The older girls and I backpacked into Leigh Lake in the Tetons for a night. It was a two mile hike that opened up into this awesome lake. I had no idea that we would have our own private beach for the evening.

Fishing the Box Canyon is a family favorite.

Andie likes the Box Canyon. We watched an Osprey defend her nest against a Bald Eagle on this trip.

We went back into the park for father's day. We are on track to beat our single season record of seeing 32 bears in one season! This guy was about a mile from our camp trotting along side the rode. Michelle has much better pictures, but I like this one that was taken with my little camera through the binoculars.

This is Katelyn identifying animal tracks with Mom on the Cascade Lake trail.  

The road less traveled.

Family picture

Eric Greenwood. Sherpa, Manny, Photographer Extraordinaire.

Fishing at Cave Falls. The fishing was great, despite the insane mosquitoes. Andie, Fish. Fish, Andie.

I love this picture.

This is Kellie's first fish that she ever caught. It was on a fly rod with a #12 Royal PMX.

Andie's first float trip

We took the girls on a float trip on Saturday. Andie loved it! She just laid back and took it all in!

I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday.

The girls and I spent Friday and Saturday skiing with Grandpa Johnston. Grandma, Grandpa, and Alacia took us all out for a birthday dinner Saturday night. It was a great way to spend my birthday! I am so blessed to have such a great wife, kids, and in-laws. I give them a lot of grief (it's just my nature), but I love them.

Kelly Canyon Ski Hut

I thought it would be fun to take my older 2 girls, a couple of senior citizens, and all of the gear and haul it all up the hill for a night of camping at the ski hut at Kelly Canyon. I felt like a bit of a pack mule, but it was a great time for my kids to bond with Grandma and Grandpa. It was also nice for Michelle and Andie to get some one on one time.

Katelyn poised and ready in her cockpit. See the sled in the back ground? It got strapped to the back of the kid's sled. I looked like a train.

Working our way up the hill.

Kellie rockin' the flats.

Home sweet home for the evening.

Hot dogs and fruit dip anyone?

Grandma and Katelyn

Katelyn photo-bombing Grandpa

The sleeping arrangement: I gave the elderly folks the cots, the girls huddled in the middle, and  my bag across the front of it all so I could man the fireplace. I never heard a peep out of the girls. My mom, however, snores louder than my dad. Nobody tell her.

We woke up to and skied home in a blizzard. Thank heavens for chemical hand warmers.

Lifesaver.

You can't hold them back forever.......

Today was Kellie's first trip on skis. Michelle and I were both apprehensive about letting her try and we did not think she would make it very far. Boy, we were wrong! After a brief clinic from "Uncle Rico", we put the skis on her and pointer her in the direction of the trails and she took off like a rocket. She was unstoppable!! The very few times that she did fall, she popped right back up and carried on. Michelle and I shared several looks of disbelief. It made me a very happy man! Katelyn had a total blast riding on Eric's back and Andie slept through the whole thing. It was a perfect day at Harriman!

If she wasn't asleep, she was smiling!

Uncle Rico is always a willing Manny and a pack mule.

The star of the show!

There is a sleeping 6 month old in that wad of blankies.

Kellie and Mom

The crew. We were running out of daylight to get back to the car. Kellie was not happy when we made her get in the trailer for the trip home. She skied about a mile and a half unassisted! She did great!