4th of July & Larsens

This past weekend we drove up to Midway to gather for the 4th of July (2014) and a Larsen Family Reunion.  Most of Lowell & Marilyn Larsen's children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were present.  Five of the six brothers made it this year.  We had a meal outside in the yard and hooked up the pony cart and watched fireworks.  This year the fireworks show on Memorial Hill was wilder than ever with significant brush fires consuming a portion of the hillside.  The following day many of us put on our backpacks and hiked past Ruth Lake and camped at Naomi Lake.  There were twenty five of us all together.  It was quite a backpacker's camp!  I did get in some rock climbing with Ben and CJ caught a huge trout out of Jewel Lake.  Nick and Eric hiked up on a mountain to visit Lofty Lake.  Except for fierce gnats and mosquitos it was perfect conditions for the short backpack trip.  Siena even took a tumble trying to climb a big boulder beneath the cliff where her grandpa (me) was climbing.  Glad she was only bruised.