Colorado Road Trip 2013 - Part 2

There was a time I envied the people I'd see far overhead, cruising along at 37,000 feet in their airplane, wondering what cool place they were flying to. But then I started cramming the family into the car and driving the empty highways of the West. And now I'm fairly certain most of those people far overhead are straining their eyes, looking down, trying to see what they are missing.

Those who think America is crowded need to take a drive from Missoula to Steamboat Springs. Let me show you what you'll see from your car window for approximately 400 miles:

That's not entirely fair of me. We drove through a lot of beautiful country between Montana and Colorado. But it's always a thrill to drive those long, lost stretches of highway, plentiful in the West, where at any moment you could be a 3 hour wait for a tow truck. My advice is to travel with a full cooler...

On the back side of our Steamboat visit we traveled farther south, into central Colorado, a place Carrie and I really wanted to see. Our first post-Steamboat camping site was spectacular. We drove a road called Kebler Pass, per a recommendation I had received at the KettleHouse in Missoula, and traveled through forests of Aspen...

...to reach our campsite - Lake Irwin at 10,500 feet elevation - to be rewarded with this view from the back Forty from our tent:

Lake Irwin was a great spot to camp, and we wish we could have spent a little more time there. Jacob, who has recently taken up fly fishing, really wanted to stay on.

But we had other sites to see. We first visited the ski nirvana of Crested Butte...

...and then lunched in Gunnison, so I could meet up with an old friend. Following a few beers, we headed to Blue Mesa Reservoir at Curecanti NRA for another night of camping. We really wanted to see Curecanti, a national park very similar to our old home at Lake Powell, and it didn't disappoint. 

We love camping. Much better than a hotel room (although we did spend a night in a hotel on the way home - the shower was much appreciated). Where else can you have so much fun? All these great places, out in the middle of nowhere. We were far often more alone than crowded. And we had a great time along the way...

If ever you want to join us, just drop a line. We're already packed...

Colorado Road Trip 2013 - Part 1

Another summer, another Sweatland family road trip. This year we returned to Steamboat Springs to spend time with Carrie's family and do a little camping in the mountains. It was a great visit and the kids enjoyed hanging out with their cousins. Here's a family photo from taken at Stagecoach Reservoir:

Steamboat is a fun little town. We spent our days fishing, swimming, and running around town, and filled our evenings with dinner, board games, and lots of pool time. There was a little pond just down the street from the place we stayed, and Jacob, his cousin Johnny, and the men spent many a day fishing. Here's Jacob and Johnny with the catch:

Annie and Carrie must have spent 80 percent of their time in the pool. Truth be told we all spent a lot of time in the water. The weather was hot and sunny and the pool was a great relief from the heat of July.

Here's a photo of Annie and cousin Kelly, with Annie doing what Annie does - enjoying a soda:

Being a family, there had to be a little friendly competition, so we hit the putt-putt course for a quick game. Carrie and the McVay clan played pretty well, but unfortunately I don't think Jacob will be earning a golfing scholarship to college.

 With family spread all over the states, it was really nice for Carrie's dad to get us a place where we could spend time together. We'll definitely plan more family get-togethers like this in the future.

Heat Wave!!!

Another weekend in Montana: Another family camping trip. This weekend was supposed to be special, as the dire forecasts rolled in about a massive heat wave. So we went to a shady, cool spot with a nice, cold mountain lake.

Well, this is what a Montana heat wave looks like: The temperature goes from this, with a tree on fire at 9:00 a.m.:

To this by 10:00 a.m., as we all scurried for shelter under a rain tarp and warm clothes as the temps plummeted:

All turned out as planned though by late afternoon, and Jacob took to the water in a way he never takes to his bath: joyfully (That's Jacob floating away. He floated clear to the other side of the lake, ended up tremendously upsetting some poor Loon, and then kicked his way back).

P.S. By "Loon" I do not mean one of his parents. I mean an actual Loon. As in bird. They are quite rare, but call this lake their home.

Some more action shots.

Carrie in action:

Annie in action (note the camping fashion style):

Brian in action (kids in bed. Feet up over the fire):

Well, we're getting ready to head to see Carrie's family in Colorado in a few weeks. Might not be much to report between now and then, so please keep in touch with us!

Good Times

Everyone is enjoying the summer, which seems to have arrived after a pretty hesitant start in early June. The temps can still drop, and we're not through with 50 degree days, but mostly we're in the clear. We've been fishing and camping on the weekends, and the kids have been terrorizing the street during the weekdays. Here's a few pics from our recent wanderings.

The kids have invited friends on our last two campouts. Here's Annie's down-the-street pal Tess.

Jacob preparing his lunch.

This could have been lunch, but we let him go.

Right now we have more photos than things to write about. I'll have to do a post of just pics next time.

Jacob the Webelo

Tonight we attended the final Cub Scout pack event of the school year. We're very active in scouting, and spend a lot of time during the week and many weekends planning, participating in, and cleaning up after the kind of activities that grade school-aged scouters enjoy. But amongst all the bowling parties and ski trips, the kids do spend quite a bit of time learning about scouting, and all that scouting entails: citizenship, responsibility, loyalty, recycling, physical fitness, outdoor skills, team work, and on and on. So tonight was a pretty special night for Jacob and his fellow Bear Scouts, who graduated into the rank of Webelos, the last step before becoming a Boy Scout. We'll be prepared for next year's journey.

Opening the 2013 Camping Season!

Hello all! We wanted to share a few photos with you from our Memorial Day weekend camping trip to Holland Lake. This is one of our favorite spots to camp. The scenery alone is worth the nights out in the cold (and it was cold at night!). The lake is nice for a paddle or a little fishing, the campgrounds are clean and quiet, and there is a little lodge with camp cabins where one can escape the campfire and enjoy a glass of wine or a beer.

We'll try and keep up the the blog a little better this year, mostly to share some photos, but also to let you know a little of what's going on with the kids. So enjoy a few photos for now, and we'll get the posts rolling as summer kicks in to high gear here in Missoula!

Yes, We are still alive!

Well, it has been a busy run since school started in August, and I am more than a bit remiss in my posting. For me, I have finished the last of my certification requirements, and I am currently teaching in a 2nd grade classroom.  The position is taking over for a teacher on leave. It is so rewarding, but it does keep us busy.  Jake is much the same - except taller with longer and browner hair.  He played flag football this fall, and he enjoyed it very much.  Brian was roped into co-coaching, and thankfully he had a great time.  I cringed a few times when I heard him yell things like, 'My grandma can run faster than that'. But no one seemed to mind, and the boys thought it was funny.  Their season ended with a Turkey Bowl.  Then he played on a basketball team, which he also enjoyed.  The games and practices for both kept us running in many directions, but it was fun to introduce him to those sports.  Annie is also much the same - except that she has grown slightly taller and is now missing two front teeth.  I signed her up for a small basketball camp, even though she didn't want to go.  Annie is very 'coachable' and follows all the directions, but she doesn't quite have a dribble down.   Both are taking a 6-week ski program this winter.   Aunt Annie came to visit for Thanksgiving and Grandpa John came to visit for Christmas.   So nice to see family!  We cut down our Christmas Tree in the Lolo National Forest, continuing a tradition we started in Arizona.  One of my new years resolutions - to take more pictures and keep the blog updated.   Happy New Year!