Sunset

Finishing up the day with a sunset cruise around Horsetooth.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Driving

For some strange reason, Shawn is allowing me to drive the boat. Gosh this is fun. And no, I'm not blogging and driving. Babe, should we get a boat?? I could pull it behind the Viking!!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Horsetooth

Finally done with work for the week. Update on that will come later. Up at Horsetooth now with my friend Shawn and his family on the boat. Don't know if the weather will allow me to ski today. Sure is fun to be back on a boat after about 5 years. Let the good times roll!!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Time Machine

So I did manage to find some of the photos from years past of the kids in front of Butt Tree. I am still sad that there won't be more photos like this in the future. Wow, have those kids gotten big over the last couple of years.

Grandparents!

Jim and Janet arrived early Sunday afternoon. They missed the walking tacos for lunch, which were delicious by the way. But they were in time to help with the 3-man slingshot. It provided hours of fun for the kids over the weekend. It even helped them befriend the girl in the campsite next door. They worked well together, each taking turns, hunting for pine cones to launch, and giggling and laughing the entire time.

Campground

A few pictures from Glacier Basin on Sunday night. At least some parts of it are still pretty. Good thing I remembered to bring the shade canopy or we all would have ended up with much worse sunburn than we did.

"Butt" Tree

The Bear Lake hiking trail has been a favorite of our family's for almost 6 years. We always end up there once a summer, either on a camping trip or just a day hike. On one of the first hikes there, we were heading up a hill, when someone noticed the tree up ahead had a stump that sort of looked like a butt. Henceforth it became know as Butt Tree. I have pictures of the kids in front of it every summer since.

Sadly, on this trip, we discovered that Butt Tree has been infected with pine bark beetle. I doubt it will be there next summer on the family hike. It is so sad to me to see such a special memorable place not be there anymore. So, here is the last picture of the kids in front of Butt Tree. Kind of has a "Giving Tree" feel to it. I wish I could ask the Forest Service for the stump when they cut it down or it falls down.

The Hike Continues

A few more from the big hike...we decided to turn around shortly after the lake. All total, it was almost a 5 mile hike through beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park.

Kids

We take a break from the hike photos to present to you 4 amazing, fun, beautiful, energetic, life-loving kids. We are so blessed. Oh, and one crazy, Hulk Hogan posing dad.

Big Hike 2

The hike continues....even found some snow for a snowball fight!

Big Hike 1

After getting cleaned up from breakfast, it was time to depart for a hike in the park. We walked to the Bear Lake shuttle, which took us to....Bear Lake! Since the kids are getting bigger and stronger, we decided to do a longer hike this year which would end up being almost 5 miles. Nathanael lead the group most of the way, and Sarabeth hiked the entire way! As long as we took a snack break every half mile or so, the kids did great. As you will see in many of the pictures, there are quite a few brown trees that are infected with the pine bark beetle. These will all either need to be removed by the Forest Service, fall down on their own, or burned in a fire. So so sad.

Sunday Morning

Father's Day morning was extra special this year. Jen tried out a new recipe, the coffee was especially tasty, and I was with my family in a National Park. Jen cooked blueberry muffins inside a hollowed out orange. I think they will become a new Roth family camping trip staple. I even got a few gifts from the kids and my in-laws.

Saturday Night

Dinner was hamburgers and fresh cut fries cooked over the campfire with melted cheese. Yummy! They were a big hit. Also enjoyed s'mores for dessert. And a perfectly clear night to watch the stars. Didn't even have to turn on the heater in the Viking.






n
e

Father's Day Weekend

What can I say? It was simply an amazing weekend in our family's favorite National Park. The weather was great, we got in several super hikes, the meals were well planned out, and we had a special visit from Jim and Janet on Sunday night. None of it would have been possible without several days of hard work from Jennifer and the kids getting us ready.

The only really sad/distressing/jaw dropping moment of the trip was when we first pulled into the campground. Two years ago when we last camped here, it was a dense forest of beautiful lodge pole pines. There was incredible privacy, shade on the campsite until at least 9 or 10 in the morning, and the fresh mountain air blowing through the trees. Now, it looks like Kansas. It was stunning. Hardly a tree in the entire campground. Thanks to Mr. Pine Bark Beetle, all the trees were infected and had to be clear cut in order to keep campers safe. Now the campsite has no shade, no privacy, and no beautiful trees. I will try and find some pictures from several summers ago and post them along with pictures from this weekend.

So, here are some great pictures from the weekend. One of the few positive aspects of having all the trees gone is the elk can roam throughout the campground having their morning and evening meals. I love how Sarabeth poses in almost every picture.