This past Sunday Heids and I hiked the Y above BYU campus. Now is a good time to do it. If you haven't been noticing lately, the sunsets have been breathtaking. Even our kids were in awe as we watched the sunset from the perfect view at the base of the Y.  All our kids that is except for Ruthie...she fell asleep. 

Distance: 1.1 miles to the top of the Y from the trail head, or 2.2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1074 feet to top of the Y, or 937 feet to the bottom of the Y
Difficulty: Opinions vary greatly on this one, so, we’ll say anywhere from easy to very hard
Duration: The time it takes to hike up to the Y will depend on your fitness level and how fast you’re wanting to hike. For people who are very intent on making it to the top and back as quickly as possible (we’re talking sprinting), then it could take as little as 30 minutes. For the majority of people, a round trip hike up to the Y and back will take anywhere between 1-3 hours.


Description: Although not a very long hike, the trail to the BYU Y does go up a very steep part of the mountain. There are 12 switchbacks that do make the ascent easier, and to the experienced hiker, it isn’t very difficult. However, the great thing about this hike is that it attracts all types of people, and so some may find it rather difficult to climb. There are many areas where you can stop to take a break and catch your breath. The view from the Y is very much worth the short distance it takes to get there.

Directions: From 900 E in Provo, turn east (toward the mountains) on 820 North and follow it as it veers left and becomes Oakmont Lane. Take a right on Oak Cliff Drive and veer right. Take a right on Terrace Drive and a left to head into the “Y” Trailhead parking lot.

To those who put their money where there mouth was and supported us this past year, get ready for our special VIP party December 17th! More details to follow. Let's just say our friends in this photo will want you to be there. :)

Above: Han, Darth, Chewy, Luke, Leia, and R2.

I took the family over the weekend for a little vacation to Moab. We hiked to Corona Arch, Double arch, Sand Dune Arch, Park Avenue, Delicate Arch, swam at the hotel, made t-shirts, saw petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks, and ate delicious food. The weather was perfect, it wasn't very crowded, and the kids had a wonderful time. It felt good to disconnect for a few days and recharge the batteries. The hikes were all short and for the most part doable for the kids granted I carried Anna half of each hike.

Here are links for more information on The Arches National Park & Canyon Lands.

The sites were awe inspiring. A photographer's paradise. Go while the temperatures are still relatively cool. It's a great chance to put the electronics down and reconnect with your loved ones.

Last week was full of eggs, chocolates, food, friends, and parties. We're worn out. We wanted to say thank you to all who came and attended our client appreciation party last monday. It was wild and crazy and we ate over a thousand hot dogs and could've  eaten even more. We were dissapointed the parachuting toys couldn't be dropped out of the helicopter for safety reasons (pilots made a last minute decision) but we think everyone still had a fun time. If we do it again next year we're debating if we should do the helicopter again or put the resources towards more eggs and more prizes. Any input would be welcomed. It would also open up the possiblity for different venues which could add some excitement. Let us know your thoughts so we can improve the event. Thanks again for coming.  

Funtopia is kid friendly ultra creative rock climbing gym in Lehi just west of I-15 and a little north of Pioneer Crossing. The perfect place to learn how to rock climb for all ages so long as the child weighs at least 35 pounds. There are a wide range of creatively themed and interactive climbing walls, slides, blocks, ladders, even a jumping platform.

Last weekend we took our 7 year old who has been to a few indoor rock climbing gyms but still new to the sport and we took our 3 year old who's never been before. This place is awesome because as parents you can hook your child into the self belay system and then climb yourself or step back and just watch without fearing for your child's safety. If you feel uncomfortable hooking your child into the safety system then the child can raise their hand and a staff member will come and hook or unhook them as needed.

Kate took right to it and climbed just about every wall. Anna took some getting used to the idea of climbing high but by the end of the hour she was climbing to the top of the easier walls. The hour flew by and the kids really had a tremendous time.

This would be a great place to hold a birthday party or just grab a group of friends and have fun. It offers a wide variety of climbing options of different skill levels so there was plenty for the kids to explore. An hour almost wasn't long enough. We will be back soon and often. What a blast.

401 s. 850 e. Suite c4 Lehi

801-717-1236

$18/hr unless you go with a group of 3 or more then it's $14-hr. To be safe call ahead and reserve your spot. They only allow roughly 20 climbers in at a time. 


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