52 hike challenge 2020 COMPLETE!

 I did it!

Mike and Rose (and Doug) even came with me to celebrate :)

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 1 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

48. 10/25/20 - 2 mi - out and back

49. 11/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back

50. 11/15/20 - 2 mi - out and back

51. 11/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52. 11/27/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge #51

 I still can't believe I'm actually about to finish this challenge this year! I know I haven't gone on any super long hikes, nor have I ventured to many trails outside my neighborhood, but I have made a point of getting out there and I'm proud of myself for that!

Today was another short one - just the 2ish mile out and back, again with my hiking buddy (Doug).

While he is a great hiking buddy, he still hasn't mastered the art of the selfie yet!

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 1 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

48. 10/25/20 - 2 mi - out and back

49. 11/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back

50. 11/15/20 - 2 mi - out and back

51. 11/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge #49 and #50

 I'm almost there! Can't believe that I'm only two hikes away from reaching my 52 hike challenge goal this year. Amazing!!

Yesterday Mike and I went for a walk around the neighborhood to look for deer:

Today, Mike and Rose both came with me! It's always a treat to go for a family hike. So much so that I completely neglected to take any photos during the walk, so here are some cute cat pictures instead:

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

48. 10/25/20 - 2 mi - out and back

49. 11/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back

50. 11/15/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge #48

 We got SO. MUCH. SNOW. yesterday.  It was a lovely day to stay inside and do some cleaning, yoga and baking. Even though it was cold today (15F) I wanted to get out and move my body a bit, so Doug and I hiked to Red Roof Steve's and back.

Also, I can't believe I'm at hike #48 for the year! Technically I'm not following the rules of the real 52 hike challenge (who only count one hike per day), but I don't care. I decided a long time ago that I was going to count any hikes that I wouldn't have otherwise done except for the challenge, and several times I wouldn't have gone on a second hike that day except that I wanted to count the hikes toward my total. These are the rules that work for me, and I'm super proud that I'm so close to completing this year-long hiking journey!!

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

48. 10/25/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge #45 & #46 & #47

Trula came to visit!! It was so fun to see her and to meet her boyfriend, Steven. I still can't believe they made the 16-hour drive in only one day. I feel bad that I was sick in bed for their first two days here, but at least I felt human-like enough to go on a couple hikes with them on their third day. 

And we also went on a shorter hike together the next day too:

 

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge

I haven't blogged in almost two months! How did that happen?!? Here some photos from the past several hikes that I/we did. 

 

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge #33

Last weekend was our anniversary, so we decided to celebrate by going on an "official" hike (i.e., not just walking around our neighborhood). We chose Crow Creek Falls because it was only 25 miles south of Helena, it included water, and it looked relatively level (compared to some of the others in my "Hiking Montana" book).  What we neglected to consider, however, that the directions there mentioned the last 17 miles being on a "good dirt road." It turns out that what a "good dirt road" is in Montana is exponentially worse than a "good dirt road" in the Midwest. Thus, instead of taking 90 min for us to get there, it took us almost 3 hours. Uff-dah. My Forester handled it admirably, but we had to go incredibly slow to avoid the sharp rocks, ginormous potholes, and occasional rock slides. 

But once we got there, it sure was beautiful! While I love the mountains of Montana, I really miss the water of Minnesota. It was so refreshing to hike along a lovely creek. 

Unfortunately, this hike was "busy by Montana standards" (per my guidebook), and that held up when we got to the falls at the end of the out-and-back trail. There was a group of about 15 people who were sitting on all the spots where you could actually see the falls (since they were kind of hidden behind a rocky outcropping) and they refused to move or to follow social distancing. Even after we finished our lunch and back 30 min later, they still refused to move. Supper aggravating to go all that way and then not be able to enjoy the falls! Which is why I decided that the creek was the highlight of the hike anyway.

In other news, Mike has been continuing to do a ton of wood chopping, and Rose and I have been chipping in with the wood stacking.

Finally, homeschool at EFC has started! Here is Rose's first day of school picture for 3rd grade:

Here is Rose's treehouse desk where she prefers to do her work:

Guess what they do for Phy Ed each day...

Happy August!

52 hike challenge 2020
1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

hikes (#28-32), (socially distanced) visitors, and other random updates

Somehow I haven't posted any updates in nearly a month, so here's a quick run-down from the past several weeks...

1. Doug somehow got a really bad wound on his leg/groin - we're thinking it might have been a puncture wound and scrapes from a thistle?? - so he was unfortunately subjected to the Cone of Shame until he healed. He was SO not a fan. :(

2. I finally got around to painting our hideous stairs! I'm just not a fan of browns and yellows for decor, so I was really happy with how the grey turned out here. 

3. Hike #28 was me (and Doug) around the long neighborhood loop on 7/12. It was a great walk, but I was slipping and sliding like crazy. I finally decided that I HAD to bite the bullet and buy some new hiking boots. 

4. Yes, I think I wore through the tread pretty well. The saleslady said I definitely got my money's worth out of my old ones!

5. Rose and I have started "swimming lessons" as part of EFC! Actually, she doesn't want "lessons" so much as she just wants an excuse to go splash around in the creek more often. As you can see, it's really not that deep, but she sure does enjoy it! And because it's fairly shallow, I feel comfortable reading while she's "swimming" (which I definitely don't do when she's near deeper water), so it's a WIN-WIN!

6. Mike and Rose are working on adding a second story to the treehouse! (Yes, it will have doors and railings soon!) 

7. We finally got rid of our ancient Ikea chairs and bought grown-up chairs! (Currently $225 for 2 of them at Target, but I found them on clearance for $96 for 4 of them. Yay!) They are so pretty and solid and comfortable! I finally feel like a grown-up ;)

8. Mike has been busy chopping wood to prepare for the winter. His job is the chopping and then Rose and I are supposed to do the stacking in the woodshed. Both jobs are painfully hot in this 90+-degree weather so, while he continues to chop, I'm letting my job pile up until it gets cooler. Blech.

9. We ate rattlesnake for dinner one night!!! I still can't believe we did that. I can't say I enjoyed it, but I enjoy telling people that I did it. 

10.  Hike #29 was a socially distanced one with me, Rose, my college friend Anna, and her husband and daughter (who is 11 months older than Rose)! Such a treat to see them!! (Also, my new hiking shoes worked beautifully.)

11. After finishing our hike, we came back home for separate lunches, then did some socially distanced "swimming" at the creek. The girls had a blast while we adults relaxed. 

12. Hike #30 was the neighborhood loop again the next day, but this time just me and Anna. We tried to take a socially distanced photo of the two of us, but ended up just laughing at my weird shadow in the picture.

13. Hike #31 - That afternoon we also stopped at the nearest state park to do a quick hike. We could only do about a mile or so because we all only had flipflops on, but it was still nice to get out and for them to see where the plains of Montana start. (Thankfully we did not encounter any rattlesnakes on this hike!)

14. Hike #32 - the next day we took a quick trek up to "Pride Rock" to test Jesse's fancy drone for some family photos! I'm eager to see what pictures look like in the end. 

see the drone lifting off?

15. That afternoon we tried to rent kayaks but couldn't find a place, so we instead went swimming at Holter Lake. It was a great depth for the girls (waist-deep for them) but a little less fulfilling for us adults to swim. Luckily it was nice to sit in the shade and relax. 

16. While we've been preparing our meals separately, we have had a few "picnics" on their deck. The sunsets have been gorgeous, and we love the excellent company!

Happy July, everyone!

52 hike challenge 2020
1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"