#OptOutside2017

For the Thanksgiving 2017 long weekend, we decided to #OptOutside and go on outdoor adventures three days in a row! We had a great time hiking the White Tank Mountains, kayaking the Salt River & exploring the Wave Cave, all locations only an hour's drive from our home.

Seriously, Mom, who starts hiking before the sun even comes up?!?

We can finally see the trail and you’re making us stop for a photo op?

One of us needs to learn to take a chill pill while hiking!

Yes, I may get a little wild and crazy when Mom calls me to come for the camera, but really I’m an awesome hiker. Mommy never asks me to heel, but because of all the practice and training we’ve done, the majority of the time I am stuck like glue to her side…sometimes she says a little too close, as I tend to make her trip. If I’m not by her side, I’m just a few feet away, always checking in with her.

These seems like a good place for me to stop and strike a pose…professional model here!

We’re true rock climbers! Can you find all of us?

Why don’t you guys go ahead, I’m just going to hang out here and smell all the smells. This little cavern is perfect for funneling the smells right to me!

Never, ever assume this old man can’t do something, he will prove you wrong every time!

I bet I could figure out a short cut down this mountain…who’s with me?

Okay, so maybe starting before sunrise was a good idea…it’s hot!

Mandatory pit stop in the shade, Mom…so what if we’re just feet from the car…we’re wiped…even the little man!

Another #OptOutside day for the Thanksgiving Weekend! This time, we rented a kayak and traveled the Salt River.

Do these legs look like sea legs to you?

Jax’s first time on the water, and guess what…no big deal!

Do we have it made or what Mom?!? Dad does all the paddling and we just sit here looking pretty!

I think I’ll stay at the bottom level. I can smell the breeze, and there’s no chance of anyone accidentally pushing me in!

Are you sure you know what you’re doing? You seem to be paddling and paddling, and yet we haven’t really gone that far. #GoingUpstreamProblems

We were about to turn around and head back to the car, and what should we see ahead?

It’s the Salt River Wild Horses! What a perfect end to our adventure!

Guess who jumped/fell out of the kayak to get a closer look at the horses?!?

Going downstream is nice, isn’t it Dad? You just get to sit back and feel the breeze!

Oh yeah, we definitely conquered the Salt River!

Of course, we had to get in one last adventure on this amazing #OptOutside Thanksgiving Weekend! We did the challenging, but rewarding, hike up to the Wave Cave. Can you see it? The rock formation looks just like a wave.

The coolest part of the Wave Cave is that you can stand on top of the wave, and not only see for miles and miles, but get a really cool silhouette of yourself against the sky!

We love the hiking community! Everyone is just so friendly and supportive. From greeting us as we run around and say Hi! to everyone, to sharing their banana with us, to letting us sit in their laps, to offering to take photos so Mommy and Daddy could actually join us in a photo, to stepping over us when we’ve decided to take a rest in the middle of the trail.

See that dark hole above our heads? That’s the cave. It was a crazy steep, rock mountain climb to get up there…but going down was even more treacherous, Mommy and Daddy landed on their booties more than once!

HaHaHa! Bet Bruiser and Pebbles were wishing they had climbed down the rocks on their own like me! I don’t think I’d trust their method!

No, I do not care that I’m in the middle of the trail and the people coming up are going to have to step over me. I found a patch of shade…I’m not moving, until I’m ready!

The tongues tell you all you need to know…it was hot, hot, hot on the way down!

Another successful backpack trip, Mom! Despite all of your missteps and bobbles we both made it up and down the mountain in one piece. Sometimes I have to wonder.

Come on, come one, come on…let’s get to the car…it’s meal time!