Backpacking!

All the boys (except Michael)...Nick, Bear, Jake, Jim, Matt and Steve

Don't be fooled.

We did not take our 15 month old on a week long backpacking trip into the high country.
No, I stayed home with our 15 month old (on my 30th birthday...) while Nick headed out on a 35 mile, 5 day backpacking trip into the Emigrant Wilderness.

The Bierman's had started an annual tradition of going backpacking years ago and it has sort of evolved into a time for all the boys (cousins, in-laws/out-laws, uncles, dads,friends) to enjoy some time together.
And I guess they do what boys do...
talk dirty, act dirty and get dirty.
Need I say more?

Nick was super excited to be invited to go on last years trip in Colorado. He had some great memories and he climbed a (his first) fourteener in the Collegiate Peaks. He was excited to do it again this year and was sequentially asked to plan the trip this year. They started on a Tuesday on the Pacific Crest Trail ontop of Sonora Pass and ended approximently 35 miles later,on Saturday, in Kennedy Meadows.

The boys taking off on the top of Sonora Pass.

Late Spring storms had left patches of snow, this is Matt charging on the hardest day.

Late afternoon storms heading their way.

A bizarre hail storm with ball bearing sized kernels, lasting 30 minutes, on first day of camp.

The sunset after the hail storm.

Jake's artistic moon shot, with Nick's tent lit up.

A picture of one of the many high country lakes.

This is a "head dunk" picture montage. This was their wake up call.

Very cold, snow-melt water.

Check out Bear offering Steve whiskey.

And one picture of my handsome hiker.