Mini Vacation

Every year we hit the water slides with the Puzey clan.  We do a day trip and go over Logan's Pass.  This year there were a few other things the kids wanted to do.  So we booked a camp site.  We thought of it quite late and where lucky to get one.  Dave took Friday off work.  We wanted to mosey on down and do some hiking over the Pass.  Not in a huge hurry we got ready in the morning and then left.  We ended up having an hour and a half wait at the border.  It was ridiculous.  They were taking on average 10 mins per car.  Then at the park entrance, we go stuck behind a bunch of bikers that must have had a gazillion questions and all the time in the world.  By the time we finally arrived at the top of Logan's Pass to do our hikes we were about 2 hours later than we had thought we would be, so we only did one hike.  It was fun hiking partly through the glacier.  It was a very windy day and only 11 degrees at the top. But we still enjoyed it.

We ate lunch in the car as we were driving instead of on the trail, since we were so late.  I had made buns in a horn shape and then slow cooked a roast before we left.  It was a great picnic lunch if I do say so myself:) We stuffed the meat in the holes and it was wonderful.

There were so many goats out on the trail.  And lots of babies.  It was weird to see them so close up.  Their heads are very slender and long.  It seemed a little out of proportion.

We had wanted to do a full 6 miles down to Hidden Lake, but there had been some bears spotted and the trail was closed half way.  At that point there was a look out.  It was still a beautiful hike.

On the way back down the kid skied down the glacier.

We continued down the mountain and found our campsite.  It was a nice place.  We tried a KOA this time.  Since it was so much later than we had thought, we were to tired to drive into Kalispell and find a nice restaurant.  We hit a quick A&W then took the kids to the maze.

They had been wanting to do the maze for years.  This is one of the main reasons we came down early.  The wind had stopped and the sun had come out.  It really was a fun maze.  We had 4 towers we had to find and get a stamp.  Then we had to find the way out.  It is a wooden maze with two levels that you climb up and around on. Once done, we went back to our site and got an ice cream cone.  Went for a walk around the campground, it is a big campground, and went to bed.  It was an easy camping trip.  We only packed tent, air mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags.  Easy set up, easy clean up.  I had frozen a milk jug of water and it stayed frozen in the cooler for the entire trip. (Still big ice chunks in my fridge right now)  It worked way better than buying ice and having it melt and get everything wet.  When it started to thaw we drank it. The roast and chips lasted up the whole trip.  We packed lots of yogurt and granola bites (thanks Mel).  And I made muffins and raspberry scones before we left.  Next morning we went to see Hungry Horse Dam.  Wow!

I have always wanted to see Hoover Dam.  This was the same thing.  It is the 11th largest.  It was amazing to see and drive over.  Dave said when he was younger you could go down and look at the turbines.  Since 9/11 we were no longer allowed to do that.  

After we quickly hit a grocery store for a few treats and a watermelon to share with everyone.  Then off to the water slides.  I was a little nervous about the weather, but it turned out to be perfect. We ate our

 picnic lunch and slide for hours.  I love this day we get to spend all together every year.  On the way home we stopped to use the rest room at the top of the Pass again.  As we were about to get out a Big Horn Sheep came right up to our car.  We could have touched it.

We got home around 11:30 and were very exhausted.  We slept late this morning.  For the first time in 11 years we were late for church.  Only five minutes, but still, I hate being late for things.  I always feel like a need a vacation after my vacation.  We packed so many things into the two days.  I am loving this rest day today.  I think I will always plan to end a vacation on a Saturday so I can rest Sunday.  It was a lot of fun.  The kids were happy they got some sort of camping in and we have a great hike planned for next year already.