Mt. Princeton

We hiked Mt. Princeton with my family on my birthday. My little brothers have a goal to hike fourteen 14ers in 2014 with my dad, and as a bonus they wanted to do at least one mountain with each member of the family. This was their seventh mountain, and with it, every family member has completed a hike with them!

My sister brought along two friends from Texas, bringing our party count to nine people. It was quite the expedition! We rented a small mobile home in Buena Vista for a couple nights and had fun eating meatball subs, chocolate cake (chocolate birthday cake), watching movies, and visiting a paco-vicuña farm. We even arrived just minutes after a baby paco had been born--it was learning to walk and the cuteness was almost unbearable.

The actual hike was, how shall I put this, long. Seven miles, eleven hours. My sister's Texan friends were troopers, but they were freaking slow troopers. I don't know how it happens, but every Thomas family hike turns into a death march. We climbed Timp last year and it took twelve hours (the average is eight) because my dad insisted on taking several "shortcuts".

Ah, well. Sore legs make for good memories! It was definitely my most tiring birthday, but the company and scenery were unbeatable. Thanks for a fun adventure, mom and dad! I love you and I love Colorado.

^^ Those skid marks are from my 10-year old brother who lost his footing crossing this snow field. He tried to jam his feet and poles into the ground the stop, but was moving too fast. By the grace of God, he walked away with only bruises.

^^ This little pup is such a trooper! Mojo's paws took a beating on the rocks the whole way. He didn't put up any fight being stuffed into Brock's backpack for the hike down! Sweet thing.

^^ Mama on the home stretch!