It all started with a phone call: Part 1 - Timp Caves

In continuation of my summer update...

Fun with my nieces came to an end. However, my summer fun had just begun! It called started with a phone call...from my nephew Zach in Utah! His all-star baseball team was in the state play-offs and he wanted us to watch him play. I thought, Why not? What else do I have going on this summer?

So, thanks to standby flying (a great blessing and worst nightmare...I'll get to that later), my mother and I flew down to Utah the same day I said goodbye to my nieces. Now, I'd lived in Utah for about 7 years total. Yet, in all that time, there were many things that I didn't do or see...I always thought, I'll get to it eventually.

Well, eventually never really came and I moved back to Seattle. So here I am, back in Utah with the option of going on a hike with my sister-in-law, her sister, and their kids. They were going to hike Mt. Timpanogos to the Timp Caves. Why not, I thought...you'll notice most of my activities start with that comment :).

However, there are a couple things you have to understand. One, it was Utah in July...freakin' hot! In order for us to hike without suffering extreme heat exhaustion, we had to leave early in the morning (which meant a 3-alarm early wake up call...and during my summer break...bummer). Two, I had just flown in from Seattle, which is at sea level...Mt. Timp is 11,750 feet above sea level. Some of you may see where I'm going with this.

We began our hike and man were we bookin' it! They give you about 90 minutes to get from base to the caves before the tour starts...we made it in about 45 minutes. Normally, not a big deal, but I was just at sea level 24 hours before! So, my little body was huffin' and puffin' all the way up. Close to the top, a feeling of vertigo set in...it was either that or I was poisoned by plant life like in The Happening...highly unlikely but Hollywood tells me it's a possibility ;).

If you've never felt vertigo, it's not a fun feeling with there are steep cliffs around you. I'm just sayin'...

Here are some pictures of what I saw:

Me at the base of Mount Timp. My third national park in two weeks.

What the Mount Timp National Park looks like from the base...pretty green for Utah in July!

Finally at the entrance to the cave.

Helictites, stalactites, and stalagmites...some of the amazing sites in the cave (my science teacher would be so proud!)

Closer view of the helictites up close...

Hi ho, hi ho, it's back to home we go

We had some fun our time is done

Hi ho, hi ho, hi ho

Quite the view, right? Of nature, people! Yeesh...

Coming up...It all started with a phone call: Part 2 - State Baseball Championship

Summer with the Nieces 2010

This summer, my sister and I got to spend a whole month with two of my nieces! They live in Texas and I hadn't seen them in almost two years. We decided to give them the "Best of Washington" tour, in case they don't get to make their way back to us for the summer (hey, as sports and jobs start to take over their summers, these fun adventures with them may be our last hurrah). Unfortunately, our tour involved A LOT of driving. Here is a recap of our adventures:

To the Pacific Ocean! We took a trip to Seabrook, WA (6 hour round trip drive from my home). It's north of Ocean Shores, but much less crowded...and more scenic in my opinion. The area includes beaches, hikes, bikes, and gorgeous cabins, like the one we stayed in (above).

http://www.seabrookwa.com/town.asp

This is what some of the other cabins look like...beautiful, right?

The inside of our cabin...I'd love to live there!

My niece Madi out on the Pacific Ocean beach.

Playing in the ocean...yes it was cold, but you get use to it :)

This is why I love the Pacific Northwest!

A couple days later, we went to Mt. Rainier...5 hour drive roundtrip...

My niece Paige and me.

By the way, this picture is taken in July...and we're standing in snow! Too bad I wore my Teva sandals...my toes were freezing!

All that snow means gorgeous waterfalls!

Apparently Paradise IS in Washington state!

Another day, another trip...this one to Mount St. Helens and the Ape Caves.

(And yes, another 6 hour roundtrip adventure!)

Okay, so it WAS clear and beautiful that day...until we got closer to Mt. St. Helens! So sad they didn't get to see it! :(

This is what they were supposed to see!

Following these trips, we went out to our grandmother's house on the Olympic Peninsula. We had planned to take them to the Sol Duc Hot Springs and Hoh Rainforest, but needless to say, they weren't really interested in yet another 5 hour drive. Oh well, maybe next time if they come to visit again!