Me and Ethan at the start of the hike - The sign is for the Continental Divide Trail Head.

This Summer we went on a 22 mile hike in the San Juan National Forest in Colorado. We split the hike over three days camping each night. We did the most hiking on our first day 9 miles - which was also the toughest day. We started around 13,000 ft. at the continental divide and got caught in two brief but scary hail storms on the the top of the divide. After that, the weather was perfect, and we all had a great time. Ethan was a trooper, and we can't wait to do it again next summer. Here I am the day before we started hiking. We were checking out the place where we would end our hike and meet our car.

SCENES FROM DAY 1 - Ethan checks out an abandoned mine site.

That is me with my 32 pound pack!

Descending from the Continental Divide Trail to the Elk Creek drainage area on the Colorado Trail. This section was the most amazing part of the hike.

On the trail along Elk Creek

Near the start of the hike on Day 1

That is ice ... on the mountain in August.

Ethan is ready to start his adventure!

This is just after passing through two hail storms - we are sitting at the point where the Continental Divide Trail intersects the Elk Creek Trail.

This is the stream near our campsite for the first night - William is filtering water.

Night 1 - home sweet home.

Sun setting against the mountain.

Our kitchen area -William and Ethan start a fire.

Dinner is served!

SCENES FROM DAY TWO - Animas River - Where we will make camp for the second night.

Ethan soaks his feet.

SCENES FROM DAY 3

A chilly start to the morning.

Looking down over the Animas River valley - we hiked up 44 mountain switchbacks this day.

Big Molas Lake

We ended our hike at our car at Little Molas Lake. We did a point to point hike as we got a ride to the start and left our car at Little Molas Lake at the end. It was an amazing experience, and we are already planning our backpacking trip for next summer - a longer one!

BEAR CREEK CABINS (Near Telluride - DAY 4)

For the next several days we stayed at Bear Creek Cabins between Delores Colorado and Telluride. We spent our days hiking and taking trips into Telluride.

Some resident humming birds.

William bringing our bags to the cabin.

Our day hike to Hope Lake - which was amazing.

We had someone on the trail take a picture of us.

Hope Lake - a hidden oasis.

We took a vacation to Lake Tahoe in July 2009 so that I could run the Tahoe Rim Trail 50 mile race. Grandpa Bond joined us for the adventure. We stayed in a condo north of Lake Tahoe in Incline Village. We had an action packed week! Here are some of the highlights starting with Grandpa and William's golf game at the mountain view course. Me and Ethan took turns driving the golf cart.


Grandpa Bond takes a shot.

William takes a shot.

A beautiful view of Lake Tahoe

William gets ready for his ride around the lake.

We visited the Truckee River in California. Here we are all leaning over the "fanny bridge" to get a look a the gian catfish that live in the river.
Here is a view of the Truckee river.We got tickets to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare festival. This was an amazing performance right on the banks of Lake Tahoe at Sand Harbor.

The guys went fishing twice at Spooner Lake which was also the start line for the 50 miler.

We played mini golf in Kings Beach, California.

We too the gondola up to the top of the mountain at Squaw Valley ski resort.

Here I am the morning of my run - I think it is about 4 am.Here we all right before the race started.

The race director said "start" and we are off - my final wave to the guys before the finish. William, Ethan, and Grandpa Bond met me at the finish line - the guys are running me in the last few steps.Can you tell I am ready to finish?Crossed the finish line holding Ethan's hand 13 hours 21 mins, 31 seconds!

Ethan bungee jumping at Squaw Valley.

Ethan and William rent a kayak.

Ethan climbs on the rocks.

Ethan and William ice skate at the Squaw Valley Ice Rink