Cabin with the Munselles

It’d been four years since we’d been to the cabin as a family, we packed a lot into five days up there with the Munselles. Lots of fun with the kids now old enough to tackle some longer hikes and hit some MTB trails. The swim through the tunnel at Natural Bridges early one morning was as exhilarating as I remember it, the icy water took our collective breaths away!

Lilia’s hairdressing salon

BFF

Super fun hike down to Natural Bridges

Murphy’s Pour House

With all the wildfires raging across California it was pretty smokey each morning, so while we were waiting for the smoke to clear one day we explored a section of the Arnold Rim Trail on bikes with the kids. A little whining on the way up in the heat, but there were lots of smiles on the way down.

Swimming at Lakemont Pines

Exploring the MTB trails with the kids

We drove into Big Trees one afternoon and spent a few hours relaxing on the bank of Beaver Creek. Lance and I also snuck away one morning before sunrise to take a stab at some trout in the Stanislaus River. We both landed a couple but nothing worth taking home for breakfast!

Afternoon swim at Beaver Creek

Early morning fishing on the Stanislaus River

All the kids were in heaven on the lake, the beach at the clubhouse was a popular spot for everyone each afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa’s new SUP was also pretty popular, with adults and kids alike.

Enjoying the lake

Skills course behind the cabin

Opening birthday presents by the fire

The kids impressed us with a hike up to Cougar Rock one morning, tried to get up there before the temperature rose for the day. The view from up on top was not a patch on the usual 360 degree vista, but the climb was still a lot of fun and we could make out some of the surrounds through the smoke.

Morning hike to Cougar Rock

The kids helped Amy and Lisa make an emoji birthday cake for Max’s early birthday celebration on our last afternoon in the mountains. Max was stoked with the results. Very generous friends and grandparents had a few gifts for the little man to open, so much excitement around birthdays when you’re a kid… A really fun week up there, went by way too fast!