Hiking Pioneer Peak (the first part...)

On Saturday the 13th, we wanted to go do something fun together as a family. I had suggested going to Matanuska Lake and enjoying a nice hike (read: level nature walk). Everyone was on board for that so we got in the car and started driving there. But as we were going Kenny decided that instead, it would be really fun to go do the beginning part of Pioneer Peak hike. He said there's a really beautiful look-out point where you can see the Knik Glacier and it's only about a mile in. So I expressed my concern about our lack of preparation for the hike, and the fact that the kids were still tired and a bit ornery from their sleepover. But we decided a mile there and back wouldn't be too bad. Mostly I just knew that once he gets an idea in his head, it's hard to talk him out of it. :) So we went for it and it started off fine. Everything is so green and beautiful and we loved all the wildflowers. We even brought our "Alaska Wildflowers" book so we could identify and put a name to what we were seeing. It's Bryn's favorite book right now. 

Problem #1 was that Madison said she "couldn't find" her tennis shoes even though I asked her repeatedly to put them on. So she was wearing her bogs with ankle socks. She quickly started to get a blister on her heel. Kenny was wearing Briggs in the carrier on his back, but he still took turns carrying Madison and making her walk off and on. Kelsey decided life was just too hard and she was too tired to walk and needed to be held a lot too. So I was alternating off and on with her as well. There were many times where we were carrying more children than were walking. That seemed a little silly to me. But if you think Kenny would turn around, then you don't know his determination!! (Some might call it stubbornness...) We get to the mile point--thankfully this trail is super well-marked--and Kenny says it must be just a little bit further. So we think, well we're already this far we can go just a little bit more. But that "little bit more" and "just around the ridge" and "right above this treeline" and "we're almost there" turned into 2.2 miles (11,600 feet to be precise) with about 4800 elevation gain (estimate). Not to mention Kenny and I had already done a hard 6 mile run a few hours earlier. Anyway, it was rough going. Briggs cried. A lot! And Kelsey demanded to be held. A lot! And Madison too, until I finally wised up and told her to just take off her shoes and socks and I carried those for her. She loved being bare foot and it was just what she needed to give her a positive attitude the rest of the way. 

At a couple points we were really about to turn around. I mean, it was getting ridiculous because we really had no idea how much further we needed to go, and we only had one water bottle for the whole family to share. I hate to admit I was definitely grumbling to Kenny. If only he had just listened to me and gone to the lake we could have been having a FUN time! ;) Had we known and prepared we could have brought more water and snacks, especially for Briggs! so we got to a point where we all stopped and Kenny had everyone take a vote. It was to be decided by majority rule whether we would turn around back to the car, or trudge on and get to the picnic table (look-out point had a picnic table). For whatever reason, the kids decided to continue. So I told them if we all did it together we could stop and get some ice cream on the way home. Boy did that cheer them all right up! From that point on everyone's attitudes changed (except the baby haha) and we made it to the top. The top for us, not for everyone else hiking that huge mountain. It took us about 3 hours to get up and 1.5 hrs to get back down. Brigham finally fell asleep in the carrier on the way down, making it bearable for everyone. We quickly drove to a McDonalds and got dinner and ice cream for everyone, because it was 8:00 at night!! We were all starving and dehydrated and that crappy food tasted so dang good haha. My legs were so sore. Even the kids woke up the next morning complaining of muscle aches.

Once it was all done and over with, I will admit it was a great thing for our family to get through together. Kenny talked to the kids afterwards how this can be a good example and reminder for them that we can do hard things! Just like our family cheer we say every night, "We are the Westons and we are strong!" Memories were made and we all came out alive. :) 

I sure love my family and I'm grateful for a wonderful husband that pushes us all to greater heights and further distances.