Summit #2 Church Fork Peak - 7/4/2012

I have decided that the 2-1-2-2 workday would be pretty cool.  Having a full day off in the middle of the week would be great.  Don't see that happening on a regular basis any time soon.  It was great to be able to celebrate the 4th of July with the family.....  and get summit number 2 in.

First lesson in adventure, have everything packed and ready for out the door the night before.  I intended to be out the door by 6:30am.  Didn't leave until 8am.  All good, had to get bag ready, drop Jonas off for flags, eat, etc, etc....

 The original trip plan was to get both Church Fork Peak and Mt. Aire in today.  From Pipeline to Burch Hollow trail to ridge head west to the Church Fork Summit then east along the ridge to Mt. Aire, down Mt Aire and back to the car via Pipeline to Burch Hollow trail head.  Due to the late start and some significant bushwhacking on the ridge (Melissa and I look like our legs were attacked by a pack of wild cats) and that we needed to get back to other role (parents) we just went up and down the Burch Hollow trail.

Up: 1:44
Down: 1:04
Total 2:48
Elevation gain: 2305
Mileage: Just over 6

A look from Burch Hallow trail down in to the valley.  That is Grandeur at the far right of the photo.

Whereas Pipeline is the Interstate of Millcreek Canyon.  This trail was not well warn.  We didn't see anybody else on the 4th of July.



On the approach to the summit. 

From summit looking southwest.  Grandeur to the right of the pic.  Olympus et al to the left.

Summit looking east along the ridge.  Mt Aire in the center.

Summit looking north over Parleys and Emigration Canyon.  Melissa swatting bugs away.  We passed about 1000 butterflys on the way.  And the bugs were non-existent until we got to the top.  We were motivated to leave once there.

And the proof.  Number two in the books.  Mt Aire up next.  Just moving down the ridge.



Fun to have Melissa go with me

We can never have just one thing on the calendar.  We hurried down the mountain to our annual 4th of July picnic, which is a favorite for everyone. 

Obligatory picture with cousins.Umm... Jonas is growing a little right now.


And then from picnic in Emigration Canyon to first boat outing of the year.


This was a great boating session.  We couldn't get the kids out of the water.  I love it when they fight over who is up next.  They all had pulls of 20-30 minutes each.  A couple of great quotes:

Jonas -  "Dad, I just want to get in and work on getting back and forth across the wake."  Melissa and I literally turned to each other and gave each other a high 5.  We have been waiting 5 years for that sentence. Jonas is getting quite good on the knee board.

Samantha - after a 20 minute ride on the knee board "I can't move my fingers, can someone pull the wedgie out of my butt?"

So good that we were on the water from 3 until 8ish, Melissa and I didn't even get in the water.

This may work out after all.

Happy 4th of July!