High Adventure 2010

Four hours after students screamed "summer" through the halls of every school in Hillsboro, I was on my way to a weekend of the great out doors.

High Adventure was held at the beautiful Oxbow Regional Park this year. The park is next to YMCA's Camp Collins, so we spent a day out on the ropes too.

Setting up a tent can quickly turn into a fishing trip when you're with my girlies.

We were camped right along side the Sandy River. There are not many things better than falling asleep to the tranquil sounds of a running river.I do believe I have rubbed off on my friends...their all turning into tree huggin' hippies. Next thing you know their all gunna want dreads too. Sarah made what she calls a "Hobo dinner" for our meal. It was quite tasty.Sarah and I had a great time at the ropes course.Sarah was itching for her turn at the "Leap of Faith". I got a video of her jumping 50ft off a platform hanging in a tree. I took my camera with me to the top for my jump.The next course we did would be perfect for the adrenaline-junky. I'll try to post the videos of this one too.It started raining our second night there. While every one was down in the dumps because on the rain, I put my shorts and poncho on, and took in the refreshing breath of nature. I spent my last morning of camp hiking through the jaw-dropping shades of green that paint this landscape of Oregon. Spending my first days of Summer out camping was a renewing and reviving way to release myself from the old stresses of school. I plan on spending plenty more summer days with my dear friend Nature.

The Flush...

The truth is painful, but true... I live with a murderer. I guess it's a good thing I'll be living next to her when we have our own families...just in case.

Sarah has killed another one of her pet fish. Of course, this comes as no surprise to those of us who know Sarah's history of pets; it's quite a rap sheet. Two birds, two hamsters, too many fish, and we all know the cat was her too.

There I was, running on the treadmill and I hear an innocent "Lizzy? Can you come up stairs?" Hmmmm, what could it be this time?

As I walk up the stairs, there Sarah is, standing in her doorway with terror and guilt pasted across her face. She ushers me to the fish bowl and there he was. Tequila, this fish, was floating, lifeless on the water. Just because I'm her sister, I had to rub in the guilt. "Sarah, you should be ashamed with yourself. How many fish will it take for you to realize you just can't handle the responsibility of another life?"

When my fun was over, I followed her to the toilet for the "burial".

We Will Miss You...

I met Missy Cochran at church, and the first words I think I spoke to her were, "you are just like my 8th grade English teacher...and yeah, that's a good thing."
All of us who know and love Missy know just how outgoing she can be. Missy is one of a kind. I have learned so much from her. I was privileged enough to have her at Girls Camp this summer. I defiantly saw a different side of her, mostly while we played ZipBong :0

Sadly, Missy is moving. Everyone will miss her.

We love you Missy!!!

Backpacking at Red Lodge

Last weekend Amber and I went backpacking up at Red Lodge. This experience proved to me just how out of shape I am. The view at the top of the mountains was great.

At Vista Point in Wyoming.Flippin' amazing truck.I had to cross a shark infested ocean to get to the snow on the other side.

In my efforts to cross the shark-infested-ocean I was swallowed by a whale. I rolled the rock, that I'm sitting on, down the whales throat and then it spit me out.

I think this is the exact spot I am going to build my house. I would have plenty of visitors hiking by each day.

We got to this point and had to go all the way back, I'm told it's not a good idea to be on the top of a mountain while there is lightening.I, eventually, got to play in the snow.Me crossing the treacherous waters below.

Just picture me holding a fishing pole.No, that is not a helicopter above my head. It's a mosquito. Oh that's Amber, by the way.

That was the hardest hike I had ever done.

The next day we hiked up to Basin Lake, in Montana. It was a very nice hike.

We hiked to the Upper Basin Lake and ate lunch. That was the first time I had ever eaten MRE's...surprisingly tasty. When we got to the Upper Basin Lake, we went swimming. Yup, I went swimming in a glacial lake...I was freezing and far from dry.

On the way down it started hailing with lightening. I thought Montana was supposed to be a dry state.