Yosemite

Took the family back to Yosemite for a great weekend of camping

Nate had a blast exploring the woods and rivers.  

What would camping be without friends and wine

My goal on this trip, which was created after our previous trip, was to hike HalfDome.  Here are my hiking buddies Mike and Natalie as we made our way up the Mist trail

It was late enough in the summer that the water on the trail was barely flowing, but still makes for some great photos.

A selfie with the river we follow on the way up to lower yosemite valley

Natalie and I at the top of Vernal falls on the Mist trail 

Vernal falls here is where I want to take Nate on my next trip.  I think he can make it up this far without too much trouble.

We continue on the mist trail, cross the footbridge on our way to Nevada Falls

Behind me is Vernal falls and the mist trail, from which we came.

That's me with Nevada falls in the background.  Get to the top there and we're almost halfway to HalfDome.  

Almost there now.  You can see our destination off in the distance.  

As you get closer to Quarterdome and halfdome, you get some spectacular views of Little Yosemite valley.

View from the top of quarterdome, just have the final climb, the cables and we'll be at the top of HalfDome

Panoramic, from quarterdome.  You can see the cables on the right and to the left is all of Little Yosemite Valley, where the backpackers start their hike from.

The pictures just don't the steepness justice.

From the top of Halfdome, looking out on the valley floor.  No water flowing from Yosemite falls this time of year, but still spectacular views.  You can see El Capitan in the background.

Selfie from the top, with the valley floor behind me.

Lots of photos taken from this spot, often called the Diving board.located 3,500 ft above the valley floor, jutting out in front of more famous face of Haldome.

With the valley floor behind us, it makes for some of the most spectacular photos.

Natalie and I getting out Yoga on, from the top of Half Dome.  Of course I was trying to photo bomb, but I did my pose a little too good for it to work.

Pictures just don't do it justice as to how steep this section is.  Although the really bothersome part was not the steepness, but the slow people and crowds as people freak out.  

Glad they have permits limiting the # of people that can climb.  It was tough getting stuck behind large groups now, can't imagine how much worse without permits

Natalie and I hiked up to the base of Yosemite falls.  NO water flowing.

Since there was no water, we could get right tot he base and swim and play in the water and rocks at the base of the falls.

This photo taken from a unique view.  Natalie was at the base of the falls looking back and up at me.  

Natalie copying my 4th of July photo bomb.  The one constant is Lilia at the center of it all.

Truckee River Rafting

Pack 1592 den's 1 & 5 joined up for a day of fun rafting down the Truckee river

Maria and Nate are ready to get on that raft

Lori and Wyatt joined us for the day.

As we got in line for the boat, we managed to grab Roy and Jackson to fill our boat

One of the several boats that went down the river as the water wars were about to begin.  

Our fearless captains guided us safely down the river

Roy and I enjoying a spectacular day

Time to get the game face on, we're about to go to war

Stopping for a little break and warmth by the sun

The boys in the front of the boat leading the way.  Primary goal to man the guns.

Maria's #1 goal, don't let Nate fall overboard.

Sneak attack!  

Between battles, planning the strategy for the next wave

OK, time to go Rambo!

Captain Jack!

Our boat

Mission complete and we survived!

Some of us a little damp, but happy to be wet.

I had a great time.  We've done the Truckee river rafting trip the last few years and I really enjoyed doing it with the scouts.  Added a lot of fun for the boys as we had quite a few more water fights.

4th of July

Manhattan beach in panoramic mode

Time for our annual trip to Manhattan Beach for the 4th of July.  This year we brought Brad and Natalie with us to the Cottles for a wonderful weekend of sun, sand, surf and BBQ.

While Mike, Brad and I golfed, Nate, Natalie and Maria headed to the beach

Nate and Natalie on the beach

Nate still loves to get buried in the sand and I'm all too happy to oblige.

The water in So Cal is not as warm as Hawaii, so Nate needs time to warm up with a towel between swims.

Nate and Chloe digging for sand crabs.  Chloe showed Nate how to find the pregnant ones with eggs.

Mike and I enjoying a moment in the shade between games of Boccie Ball

Red Solo cup, I lift you up!

Nate still loves to boogie board, the next few shots of him riding the waves

Back at the Cottles house, enjoying great friends

One of my best photo bombs ever.  I'm still shocked Maria was able to take the photo without cracking up.

Horsetail Falls Hike

This fall, planning on hiking Halfdome in Yosemite.  I wanted to get in a practice hike or two before hand.  So I grabbed John and Brad to hike Horsetail falls by South Lake Tahoe.  

Here's Brad by the river.  Brad hadn't done this hike before.

Brad and I part way up the mountain.  Weather was perfect, lot's of great views.

John making his way up.  Not many pictures of him behind us, he was trailblazing most of the way.

The water was really flowing down the falls.  Felt great to catch the mist from the falls.

John and I at the lake at the top of the falls.  Been a lot of years since we last hiked this together.  We actually hiked it with Toby, when Toby was ~4 or 5.  On the way back down, Toby was wiped and confident we were going the wrong way.  But with a lot of coaxing he made it.

Here we are at the lake area at the top.  Great to cool off in.  Water is nice and cold.

John and Brad at the top of the falls, don't go swimming here, it's a long way down.

About halfway up the main falls section here.

Permits are easy, but the altitude makes the hike a bit harder.

Brad and John checking out the views.