Trail Description: Forest Service #640, 7-mile balloon loop, including about 2 miles to beginning of 3-mile loop, then 2 miles return. Elevation gain 1,280 feet, rated steep at first, then easier. Features scenic route through wooded canyon.

For today’s hike, my upstairs neighbor joined us. It was so *odd* to have company…someone to steady the pack as I put it on, someone to chatter at (and listen to) along the way. Sam’s granddaughter is just a few months older than Maya, so he loves talking to her.

He was amazed that yes…chubby thighs and all (my words, not his), I hiked the whole thing, with a baby/water/gear on my back. Hey, I may still have 10 pounds of babyweight left on me, but that doesn’t mean I’m not a hiker. There’s muscle in those legs of mine! He’d anticipated that I’d give up after the first steep climb, and was stunned that I did the whole thing. It never dawned on me to do anything else…

Maya was such a trooper! She watched quietly for the first major hill climb, then napped for the next couple miles. After she woke up, she was TALKATIVE and sang as we made our way. Eventually, she’d had enough, though, and as it got to be naptime, she fought it. Hard. I’ll tell you what, hiking with a baby crying in your pack, even if it’s only for maybe 1/2 a mile, is torture. Poor thing. She eventually nodded back off for the remainder of the walk.

We’ve had a good bit of rain lately, so the flowers were everywhere! This, of course, means I took a ton of photos, so instead of posting them, click the photo below for a slide show.