The Great Outdoors

So we went rock climbing a few weeks ago with our new friends from church, the Handleys. They are so awesome and outdoorsy like us! They have a daughter named Chloe and a son named Sage. They also have LOTS of rock climbing equipment! (which is nice, because we have very little). Emily and Ian (Handley) knew of a cool place to climb in Spearfish Canyon, so we headed out there. Adam led the first climb, after which we all top-roped it up the rock. Emily is definitely the best and most experienced climber in our group. She is so fearless and awesome! (and she plays it safe when necessary, which puts my mind at ease). Here she is climbing to the top: Their daughter Chloe is a born climber as well. Her dad belayed her as she climbed as high as she could (which was pretty high for a 6 year old!):

I'd say the reward for "most daring climber" would have to go to Ian. Once he puts his mind to climbing a certain rock, he refuses to give up. I'm more of a "do what's reasonable" person myself, but it's cool that he actually accomplishes his rock climbing goals! Here he is reaching the first bolt of a climb (without a rope! yikes!), a route the rest of us had decided to avoid, until he actually got it started:

He was pretty proud of himself... Okay, okay, we were ALL proud of him. lol.

We went rock climbing again a few weeks later in Custer State Park, which was SO pretty. The views from the tops of the rocks were gorgeous. The tallest rock we climbed that day was 30 meters...being weary of heights, I came back down seconds after I reached the top, but it still felt good to make it all the way up.

For the 4th of July, we all went camping in Custer State Park and decided to hike Harney Peak on Independence Day. Harney Peak is the highest mountain in South Dakota (7,242 ft). It's also the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains on the continent of North America, so that was pretty cool.

It was about 3.5 miles both ways. Heidi walked almost the whole way all by herself! Who would have thought that our little Yorkie was a country girl?! (I knew it all along).

We even saw a mountain goat at the top of the peak! It was Crrrazy!!!!

By the time we reached the car, Sage was pretty exhausted...lol. What a cutie!

All in all, our adventures have been great thusfar. South Dakota has a lot of neat places to see and great things to do outdoors. We're so glad we have friends now too!!! (Do I sound desperate for friends or something?...cuz I was). YAY!