The Wind Rivers

While we were in Utah, Del took Wally on his very first week long backpacking trip. They went with Del's brother, and brothers-in-law, and all their boys. There were cousins ranging from Dallin, who is just about to leave on a Mission to Bolivia, all the way down to eight year old Ian.

What a fine looking group of mountain men!

Will was so sad not to be able to go. But I think that nine is the right age. So we helped Will understand that one day, it will be his time! Just be patient.

I was nervous about this adventure. So many horror stories come out the moutons in the West about little boys scouts wandering away from their group.

But we worked with Wally for months leading up to the trip so that he would understand the importance of always being in Dad's line of sight. We also made sure he had plenty of chances to go on hikes with his pack, and new boots to make sure he was used to them.

Wally took this very seriously. He was ready. He even came home with the skin on his neck rubbed to a leathery toughness from his diligence in keeping his rescue whistle around his neck all week. He became very attached to it.

 The only person more excited than Wally, was Del.
And Del was probably more excited about this backpacking trip than our trip to Hawaii the week after! Ha!
The Wind Rivers are way up in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming.
The group hiked probably about sixteen miles in, about five miles around the different lakes and valleys every day, and then sixteen more miles out.

And Del said Wally held his hand the entire way. He has never done so much hand holding!
So cute!

One rule on a backpacking trip is that you must have a trusty hat. It can be as goofy as you desire, just so long as it is reliable. You can see from the pictures that these guys followed that rule closely!

No, that is not just a big heap of backpacking supplies, it is Wally's cousin Cameron wearing his pack! Ha!

Wally and his first fish of the trip! And that was all it took! He was hooked! Del said that Wally would set a goal of how many he wanted to catch, and then up it when he reached that number. When it looked like they were at a lake that was not going to bring in many fish, Wally told Del he would walk back another mile and a half to get to a lake that he could catch more fish in, just so he could reach his goal.

Wally caught 33 fish total. He is very proud of that number!

   

Resting up for another day.

Del and Wally did some night fishing so that Wally could reach his fish catching goal.

Wally and Dallin, and an incredible view!

Del and Wally and a few others jumped into a lake the day before they came home. Del said the water had a huge chunk of ice melting into it. He said it was the coldest water he has ever been in, and showed me a video of Wally jumping in.
The water shocked him nearly to death! But he got a move on and swam to the edge of the lake in a hurry!

When Wally got back to Grandmas house, he was so excited to tell anyone who would listen all about his adventures!

He gathered all the cousins on the front porch, and told all his tall tales. I thought it was so funny that they sat down for him and then actually listened!

When I told Wally to go get in the shower before dinner, he said,
"I'm not that dirty."
Ha! Believe me, after a week in the wilds, he was! Swim in the glacier water, or not!

I am glad they go to go on their trip. The confidence it gave Wally has been awesome!
So is the love he has for his Dad! I am so glad he has Del, and that they have their memories of the mountains!