Laos Trip

Since having kids, we haven't traveled overseas as much as we used to, but we've been able to tag team a few times and do some trips separately with friends while the kids are little.  Britt had been encouraging me to plan an international trip for at least a year, and I decided to sit on it until a good opportunity came up.  Sure enough, my friend Brian emailed me last summer to tell me about an amazing new climbing area in Laos:  "the best in all of Asia," he said.  He had been living in Thailand for the last year or so, working as a climbing guide, and he planned to visit Laos again in November.  That was an easy decision.  My friend Bryce was also looking to take a vacation so we decided to fly out together an meet Brian. Here are some photos from the trip:

 

Taking a tuk tuk out of Thakhek to our destination in the countryside

 

Our bungalow at Green Climbers Home, a camp built and operated by German climbers Uli and Tanja Weidner

 

Camp headquarters/restaurant

 

  

Bryce enjoying the limestone tufas

 

Fish dinner

 

Good company from all over the world

  Massive cave with a river running through it, two minute walk from our bungalow. It was a great place to take a dip and cool off on hot days.

   

 Finishing a fun 5-pitch sport route called Chinese New Year

 

Brian summiting

 

We ended up renting a couple motorbikes to get in and out of town easier, and visit the local attractions

 

Sunset on the Mekong River. Thailand is on the other side.

 

 

 Come to find out our motorbike's headlight didn't work. Luckily we are climbers and had headlamps with us to make the long ride back to camp.

 

I led this route called "Finally Home" a couple times but didn't have enough time left in the trip to finish it clean.

  Classic roof climb called "Jungle King". One of my favorites of the trip.

 

Wild rock! Three climbers are seen. I'm near the top of the photo, climbing Jungle King

   

 Brian tunneling through the birth canal on "Saugeburt"

   

 The gecko that lived in our roof. It tormented us with its chirps every night.

 

Motor scooter adventure to visit one of the many Buddha caves

   

Moments before I fell. Somehow it a feels much more difficult when you're above water.

 

 

Back in Bangkok before flying home

 

The recently deceased King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

 

Mourners outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok

 

Happy Birthday to Me in Moab 2016

As per my favorite birthday tradition, we stayed in Moab with some friends.  We biked, climbed, hiked, bouldered, and ate good food together.  It was a wonderful birthday and I loved having the Richins there!

The Richins

The Hammonds

:)

Brett at the top

Avery's first time on a rope!  She did awesome.

Carlee fell into a bush!

How can anyone look this beautiful while biking?  Seriously Car!

Uintas Backpacking Trip

We went backpacking again!  The Uinta Mountains have hundreds of lakes and hikes for all skill levels.  I really love it there.  This time we went to Notch Lake, so Todd could do some deep water soloing.  The hike was flat and easy, and only a few miles. 

Can you spot the climber?

I forgot Avery's jacket so she borrowed mine.  I thought it would be years before we were sharing clothes!

Sunrise over a glassy lake

I couldn't resist posting this one :)

Family Photo

7 Year Anniversary

Todd and I have been married seven years!  We've known each other now for 25 years (I don't remember when we first met but it was probably in kindergarten.)

We celebrated this year by taking Avery camping for her very first time.

We went to Moab, and it was awesome!!

Avery supervised as we set up camp.

We hung out in the tent and watched her sit up unassisted for the very first time.  She also started trying to crawl. 

We climbed (me too!) while she napped in the car, 2 feet away from us.  We climbed some more while she was awake and sitting in her bumbo watching us.

We hiked with her in the backpack till she got tired and melted down the entire way back to the car. :)

We had a campfire after she fell asleep for the night.

We woke up every 2 hours to her screaming with what I think was gas pain.  Poor baby!  (Poor parents too!)

While Todd did a 10 mile run Avery and I shopped, napped, and walked along the river together.

We all picnicked in the park together.

She took most of her naps in the car while we drove between destinations.

Though I am still recovering from the sleepless night, it was SO worth it, and it felt so good to camp again.  I really wanted to get just one picture of the three of us, but it never happened.  The littlest things take so much more effort with a kid. 

Oh well, maybe next time.

Climbing at Wallstreet

The hike started like this:

And ended with me carrying her to try to stop her from crying.

Her favorite pastime.  Tasting everything.

Picnicking.  What a cute chunk!