Trek 2016

I had the privilege and honor of joining my awesome hubby and 5 of our kiddos on Trek this year.  What is trek you say?  Trek -  to journey on foot, especially to hike through the mountains.
  We  

 load up a backpack with everything we will need for 4 nights and 5 days in the Pecos Wilderness.  Most carry 25% of their body weight in their pack.  Others, like our fearless leader (Gandalf -as he was named this year) carry more.  We had 3 in a tent and the rest slept in hammocks.  We pack freeze dried meals for supper and protein snacks for the afternoon.  Most do  oatmeal for breakfast.
The second day was a tough one.  Wow, we all learned to persevere.  We hiked about 4 hours in the rain and hail. The oldest boy, 20, sprained his ankle while helping his 11 yr. old sister out of a boggy area.  He hiked another mile and then he was done, we dropped his pack.  We knew we were getting close to the area we were going to camp however, we weren't there yet.  Some of the boys started a fire on a rock to warm up while Roy hiked on ahead to fine camp.  He returned about 45 min. later with instructions for us on where to go.   He and two other boys went back for the pack and the rest of us headed to camp to set up and get supper started.  Roy and the boys made it in about 10:30 that night.

The flowers above are fire weed, beautiful purple flowers who's seeds are hidden in the forest and bloom after a fire.                 

Matthew marked his spot and many others.  He carved our initials in logs around the campfire.

Relaxing after setting up camp.  This was actually the camp area our forth night .  We enjoyed and welcomed the sunshine .

Joshua and Jimmie getting rigged up to catch some brook trout.  They, along with Matthew, caught about 8 .

Matthew cooked most of the fish like this.  We didn't bring a pan or oil, so he made do.  

Joshua, could you gather some firewood?  Joshua....  the whole tree????

Filtering water in the creek

Wild raspberries, Yum, Yum!!!!!!

Exploring these caves was great fun.  They had a stream running through them. Beautiful!!!!

Zesch's on 2016 Trek - group one.  We had two groups go this year and Michael decided to join one of his buddies who was going for the first time.

Climbing to Pecos Baldy the third day

We didn't make it to the top, as you can see a storm is rolling in. 

Roy, Elizabeth and Matthew warming up and waiting for the rain to stop

The cave entrance

Trek is a life learning experience. Hard work, ups and downs, amazing discoveries, and beauty in the storms. 

Setting up hammocks

Getting the fire started

This is how Matthew collects firewood
And as we were driving home we saw this beautiful rainbow.