I like to hike. I try to get in at least one a year, preferable summiting something. Somehow this year I have managed to not really hike at all. So, today my dad and I ventured out to Millcreek canyon with the final destination being Grandeur Peak. I had hiked it before in 2006 with Nate when Zeke was still quite little. We reached the top fairly easily - at least that is how I remembered it when I told my dad about. What I didn't consider then, or even this morning until I had my pack on, was that as just me it is an easy hike. Carrying a child on my back was a completely different story - and I had the lighter pack! Despite not actually making it to the peak itself, my dad and I at least had some good strength training exercise and it was very pretty. Besides realizing how heavy kids are, our hike started off a little bit poorly when the gate to the trail head was closed, adding about 1/4 of a mile to our trip. From the trailhead to the peak is about 3 miles. 
The boys did fantastically on our backs. I thought there would be at least a little fight, but up until the very end they were both quite happy. 
We saw enough wildlife to keep the boys quite interested too. We saw a couple of lizards, a grouse, some other birds like robins, etc., a few squirrels, and three snakes. Alexander missed out on those because my dad caught one while he was sleeping.
The pictures are on my dad's camera, but I got one of Zeke holding it. He was very excited about it. I hate grasshoppers, but I still thought Zeke might want to see that those were on the trail too. My dad caught snagged one for Zeke to check out.
I think Zeke really liked having Grandpa Lou there to show him all kinds of neat animals and insects. Another discovery that Zeke held was the praying mantis. 
And while both boys were dozing, we walked past a super fuzzy caterpillar. Lucky for them once they were awake I saw another.
The hike was hard on my dad and me. The extra weight was really just more than we were expecting, so we called it quits about half a mile (700 ft elevation) from the top. I am so glad we did that! We let the boys out and spent some time eating snacks.
To give you an idea of how it is to carry a kid during such a workout, check this out. 
My dad even had fabric between him and Zeke. If he didn't, then Zeke would have looked a bit more like Alexander did. 
That is ALL sweat, not pee. Poor thing looked so neglected though. Once we felt like we'd given our backs break enough and had enough to eat and drink, we hoisted the kids up on our backs again and headed back down. 
The walk down went much easier than the way up, but it wasn't perfect. Being such a genius (that's me being sarcastic), I figured out a way to get all of us in a picture during the hike. this was one of many attempts. 
I stopped trying right after I fell because I was trying to figure out the perfect angle and was was more focused on the camera (as I walked) than the ground. 
We were quite happy when we reached this sign again. (Thanks rocks on the ground for such a lovely group shot.) 
The pavement started just past that and we let the kids out of the packs, much to theirs and our (backs) relief. the boys threw some rocks in a waterfall and stream. They were such good little hikers...until we had another mishap. Look at cute Hoo run like a big boy. 
Look at what happens when he runs where it is too steep. 
I gave Grandpa Lou a job after that while I tried to get Zeke to come along.
Zeke wanted this pictures taken. I thought they were sort of funny. 
Once we got to the car all we wanted to do was go eat - and that we did, despite being dirty and smelly.
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