Hike the Y

Two weeks ago, I planned for us to move FHE to Tuesday this week so that we could hike the Y for homecoming. Tonight we followed through with that plan. Corey ended up not coming, cause he stayed home with Owen, who really really really wanted to go to his last soccer practice tonight, where they were having a scrimmage the whole time. So we left Corey and Owen, got gas at Costco for $3.14 a gallon (would have been less expensive at the new Walmart gas station, where I saw it was $3.04 yesterday. Doh, I should have gotten it there). We picked up Mel on the way down. She lives in an apartment close to the Orem Temple. Then to the Y. We were cutting it close - we were starting up the trail at 6:50 right at sunset. 

Mel read online that the lighting was going to be at 7:30, so we should still be good for time if we hustled. I looked at my strava and saw that last year, my hike activity took 42 minutes, but I couldn't tell where it started or ended on the map from last year, but I figured that was for the climb and decent, and so we should be good if we kept it under 40. They didn't allow any parking at the trailhead parking lot this year, boo... but they said we could drop off, so I drove the van up, got out with all the kids, then Mel went back to park and then walk back up with Christian, who was also parking at the bottom. And lucky her, we found out later that they did just let her park there at the top, which was nice, cause there were like 30 perfectly open parking stalls. I think they just didn't like having so many people in the road when the shuttles were trying to leave. But I'm glad they let us park. Anyway, so I started up the trail with the kids. Actually they started up without me, cause I was too slow getting Katharine out of the car. I caught up and yelled for them to wait for a picture.

Then Abi and I took turns carrying Katharine, who had fallen asleep in the car and (you can prob tell by that photo above...) didn't feel like hiking. Abi carried her for the the first long stretch, then I carried her up until turn 10. Having her on my shoulders was easier than having her on my back. Daniel and Peter both did AMAZING. Daniel was in front leading the way. I tried to keep up with him. The girls stayed back with Peter who was steady but was slower cause he had the shortest legs of the group. Abi was kind of an in between, checking on me Katharine and Daniel and LSNP behind us. We had K walk at the final walk to the bottom of the Y, with Abi and I both holding her hands and pulling her along, which she did not like. We heard shouting around 7:15 when we were at like turns 6&7 and found out, once the Y was in view, that they lit it up without us! Darn! Well, note to self for next year: leave earlier (we didn't leave home until 5:27). Maybe 5:30 works if we don't stop for gas or to pick up anyone. We should have left earlier, but we were in negotiations with Owen. It's ok, but next year: get ready at 4:30, leave at 5. Then we can pick up anyone, take our time up the trail, and not miss the lighting. Mel and Christian caught up to us at the very top. We sat at the bottom of the Y and enjoyed the view. 

Christian saved the day with a bag of gummy bears that Katharine held onto and another package or two of treats.

Ethan and Bella didn't join us this year, but we went by their house to say hi and stayed for an hour. The kids played a quick game of Smash bros and we loved on Alvie. He gave us all smiles and Mel got him to do some good laughs as she tickled his neck and ribs.

I like hiking the Y. It's a steep hike, but it's kid possible, it's short, it's only one time each year, and it makes a very good family tradition. Tonight makes a three year streak that I will keep going. I already have it on my calendar for next year. I'm glad we did it. And here are the years past that I've recorded here. I remember doing it one year with my friend Susan and all our kids, but I can't find that here so I don't know what year it was. Might have been when we were at BYU together (2005 or 2006?) or it might have been like 2007 -09 after we were back and their family was still at BYU. I'll update here if I can find a pic of that and learn what year it was. 

So we just had a quick scripture session and watched some BYU videos as part of that, including this lighting of the Y video from 2023 where Katharine makes her cinematic debut.

2012, 2013, 2019, covid, 2021 not on my radar, 2022 didn't go (Natalie had a party), 2023, 2024, 

Other things we did today: I went and gathered more concord grapes. I got like 6 big bowls full and spent a few hours washing and plucking those to freeze. 

(I should prob learn how to can food). And Katharine's friend Scarlet was here to play after we got back from picking grapes, so they played nicely as I prepped grapes. 

I'm grateful for all these grapes. I told the kids I won't be buying grapes at Costco until these are gone, which they don't love, but beggars can't be choosers. There were still a lot of grapes left on the vine at the Dummers. I'll go get more if I get these all put away before the week is over.