Hiking Season

Today Quinn discovered three things: Ponderosa pine sticks, ant colonies, and speed hiking. On a hot Denver spring Sunday, it was time to head up to the mountains while the girls had other plans. Quinn and dad took a three-mile hike through Ponderosa forests, around granite outcroppings, and down through stream beds with songbirds hiding out from the heat. We went fast because you never know how long Quinn will last in the backpack after a long car ride. He did great, snoozing for part of the time, and playing with the back of dad's hat the rest of the ride. He may even have noticed we were outdoors, I'm not completely sure. When we finished the loop trail, we sat down on some moss rocks under a tree and ate a snack; that's when the sticks and ants came into play. He didn't worry much about the ants crawling up his legs, but that stick was way cool.