The fragrance of the pines filled the air. The sound of water dancing across the rocks in the creek bed set my mind at ease. It was a glorious day. One filled with challenges, laughter and memories.

We arrived at Snowbird and the TRAM loading gate with 10 minutes to spare. Amanda, Aiden and myself were on a journey to the top of the peak via the TRAM and back down to the bottom via our own two feet

I remember doing this with Blake and Cameron. Cam was eight and he struggled on the way down. Don't ask me why I thought a two year old could make it with ease. It didn't matter to me. It was something I wanted to do and however it turned out was fine with me. .

The peak has the steepest decent at the top. Thinking that giving Aiden some dried fruit for energy would hurry him along in fact slowed him down.

He would take 10 or so steps, sit down right in the middle of the road, fish out one piece of fruit to eat, get back up and go a few more steps and do it all over again. At this point in time Amanda is looking at her watch wondering if we would make it down by nightfall. Thinking ahead like I am the little planner, I brought a blanket that I thought we could make a hammock type carrying devise to assist Aiden in his journey. It didn't work cuz he wouldn't stay in it. Which is why we didn't have any other type of devise to assist. He does not like them and would prefer to walk. Except now. So we were forced to take turns carrying him. Or sleep on the mountain.

We stopped along a dry creek bed to sit on a bridge and have lunch with some squirrels. Lunch left a lot to be desired. Smashed and soggy sandwiches. Oh well...It was all part of the adventure. We ventured a bit further when this big dark cloud started appearing over the peak. This would have been just fine if it wasn't accompanied by thunder. Need I remind you we are closer to the top than the bottom. To look up at the road we had just traveled made me more tired than just beating it to the bottom. And that is what we did. Scurried like we had to be somewhere soon. I was not real thrilled with the idea of lightening that may soon show up with the thunder. Midway down the thunder subsided and we slowed our pace. It could have been because we were exhausted and couldn't keep up that pace any longer regardless of the looming thunder?

I was singing songs to Aiden and Amanda as we smelled the fresh air and took in the sight of the mountains and their glory. I love the high country. It was a challenge making it back down with him on our shoulders, but we laughed and shared together something wonderful and memorable. The memories of this day are worth the pain I have been suffering for the past three days. My hamstrings and quads are screaming at me but I would do it all again.