Putting the WHY in Wyoming

***** See "moving day Moab to Rock Springs" as the one that is chronologically before this one.

Posts should be in order from here on, when I actually do them.*****

July 7, 2013
Rock Springs, WY

The last time we were in Wyoming, we were chased away by a tornado.  So why risk a return?   A high school friend of Gordon's lives here, with her husband, six kids, three horses, one dog and a handful of snakes (never did get an accurate count, and I'm not sure they even knew how many were still in the reptariam).  Melinda and Jamie are physicians.  They and their kids are active, avid outdoors folks - running, hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking, white-water rafting, horseback riding, rock climbing, and after a recent trip to Iceland, volcano explorers.  Their house is warm and welcoming, with a revolving door for friends who may show up, and stay, any time, even the middle of the night.  You never know who will be at the breakfast table.  One of the horses has been know to visit the kitchen, leaving hoof prints as evidence, but apparently did not figure out how to open the refrigerator since the carrots were in tact.  And the really amazing part to me?  Mindy is always easy-going, smiling, without a trace of "is-it-4:00-yet-so-I-can-have-a-glass-of-wine" stress in her eyes.  She's my new guru.  I did learn three important philosophies from her: 

1.  Always say "yes" to doing something active.

2.  There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

3.  Life is too short to sort socks.

While I have embraced the first two, the third is a challenge.  Some OCDs are harder to overcome than others.  And besides, my family whined that they didn't have any clean socks since they weren't in pairs.  Hum, paired = clean, single = dirty.  Whatever.  Besides, it is somewhat rewarding when I can get them to all match up after laundry. 

I need this.

 

One of the impressive, active things Melinda's family does is a nightly stroll through their backyard. 
How nice to take a walk after supper to help settle your meal.  Oh, wait, did I mention that their yard backs up to While Mountain?  Philosophy #1- say "yes" to being active!
 

It doesn't look that far, really...

Wind blown trees.

 

So here we are at the top.  Sorry there are not more photos of the trip up,

but I had to use my hands to crawl up some of the trail.

Got to the top just in time for the rain.  But Melinda says,

"don't worry, it'll blow over".  She was right and we only got a little wet.

Then the wind started blowing like crazy and dried us off,

while also lowering our core temperatures to about 93 degrees.

Philosophy #2 - no bad weather, just bad clothing.  I got it.

 

Yes he is.  But at least the wind is to his back.

 

Once we reach the summit, we discover it isn't really the summit.  

That is Pilot Butte way over there, one of the highest points in the region.

It was used by early pioneers as a signal that they were on the right trail.

Gordon with Pilot Butte in the background. 

Maybe the wind could just blow you over there.

Are you sure that isn't just an old Stuckey's?

 

?

Jamie and Melinda, along with Duke the dog.

 

This is to the NE.  It's the Boar's Tusk, a volcanic neck. 

I did not know volcanos had necks.

 

Another big mountain, 100 or so miles away, I think.

On our way back.

 

 

 

Jamie teaching Alex how to run down the mountain.

It is easier than hiking.  But, of course, he and Melinda

run UP the mountain, too.

Beautiful!

We made it!  Thanks to Mindy and Jamie for an incredible hike. 

I think I'm going to like it here.