Mount Owen and Ruby Peak

I didn't make those names up.  Here's the story...Ruby and Owen were actually named Brooklyn and Avery for most of my pregnancy.  At about 7 months, we decided to change our minds...to Ruby and Owen.  Chip quickly did a google search to make sure we weren't naming them after some exotic dancing pair or popular cartoon...and up came Mount Owen and Ruby Peak.  These two summits are right next to each other, separated by only a saddle.  They rest just a few minutes outside of Crested Butte, CO.  In the blog entry Chip was reading about them, he called them the "twin peaks".  Crazy, eh?  It was an obvious goal to summit these two peaks with the kids at some point.

At some point this winter, as the kids got heavier and the hikes got harder, even with them in these awesomely ergonomic  backpacks, we realized that this summer might be our only chance to summit Mount Owen and Ruby Peak until they can hike them on their own...which could be 10 years!  So, despite the trip to Crested Butte being a lot of driving and out of the way for our already planned road trip to Colorado, we decided to suck it up and go for it.  Thank goodness Aunt Mindy and Uncle Bo were able to make the trip down from Steamboat to help us out.  Ruby or Owen plus a little water and food equals a pack that weighs probably around 35 pounds so the extra help carrying enough water and food as well as taking over the kid duty was essential to our success.

And well, I guess I gave away the surprise ending- we made it!...to the top of both and down again all healthy, happy, and grateful for the bottles awaiting us in the cooler (beers for adults and milk for the kids). After 8 miles and 3,000 vertical feet....we felt pretty grateful and accomplished! The weather could not have cooperated more perfectly- warm...maybe a little hot at times, but not scorching and overcast in the afternoon, but no afternoon storm.  The kids took a few naps, enjoyed a lot of trail snacks despite mom forgetting the majority of their lunch in the fridge in the hotel, and thoroughly enjoyed celebrating atop their peaks.  Owen said, "mine, mine!"  on top of Mount Owen.  We tried to explain that the mountain just shared a name with him, but I don't think he grasped that concept.  :)  We all enjoyed the INCREDIBLE 360 degrees of views all day long.  This was one of the most stunning hikes I have done.  And, Crested Butte is about as authentic a mountain town as they come.  We decided that we probably wouldn't wait 10 years to come do this again.  Maybe next time we will only hike part way up and play on Ruby Peak and Mount Owen until we are all ready and willing to make it to the tops again. 

Thanks again to Mindy, Bo, and Oma (who didn't hike, but was an integral part of the support team in getting us out the door on time and cleaned up when we got home) for helping make this adventure possible.  I really don't think we could have pulled it off without all of you.  It was a really special day to say the least.  Here are a ton of pictures to check out.  I just couldn't narrow it very well.  The paparazzis get way too many good pictures.

Amazing coffee and a breakfast of champions got us started.

Our adorable partners in crime for this adventure.

Mount Owen on the right (first stop) and Ruby Peak on the right.

Making our way up

Sister power!

Owen gets a ride from Aunt Mindy while sipping on his water.  Must be nice!

The wildflowers were AWESOME and so was that emerald lake we hiked past and had a view of most of the day.

Heading up to Mount Owen.  If you want to see any of these larger, just click on the photo and I believe it will bring them all up.  This one is one of my favorites, hence I make the suggestion here. 

A little scrambly at times, but only had to use both hands and feet at the same time occasionally.

These two were complete hams at the top of both peaks.  They really got into the celebrating...as if they had hiked themselves.  We enjoyed and appreciated their enthusiasm for sure.  Made the effort seem even more worth it.

Owen and Ruby on top of Mount Owen.

Looked so fun we decided to join them.  

We love you!

Love this one.  And, The clouds in these next handful of pictures are just incredible.  They were almost as picturesque as the surrounding mountains in my opinion.

We made it back down to the saddle for lunch...or more snacks anyway.  Ruby and Owen picked flowers and delivered them to everyone in the group.  I know, we probably left a bigger impact here than we would have without kids...but a little pruning can't hurt too much, right?

Oh yeah, and a diaper change with a view.  Walking around without your pants on is pretty cool just at home, so to do it in the middle of a hike was extra spectacular.

I brought these hiking poles to use myself, only to quickly find out that I really brought them along for Owen to hold and play with all day.

That's right, that's my peak behind us there.  Been there, done that.

Alright gang, let's pack up and head up Ruby's peak.

Ruby Peak is awesome too!!  Wohoo!

 You may or may not see one of these pictures again come this winter. ;)

Making our way back down to the saddle.

Ruby and Owen napping on Mindy and Bo's backs.  It was nice to have a break from that pack!

And, a few parting shots-

The WHOLE gang. :)

Dad and Ruby taking in the views.

Good job everyone!  Lookin forward to becoming good friends with this area over the years.  We had a great first romp.  Until next time!

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it. Perhaps this is what Thoreau had in mind when he said, “the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think the same is true of human beings.”
-David Sobel, Beyond Ecophobia