Out back in Otto!

This last weekend we decided to head up to Otto, Wyoming to participate in Burlington's famous Pioneer Day celebrations! Of course the instant we got there we were greeted with the welcoming committee of Page, Saide, and Wes by pegging us with water balloons while perched in spots surrounding the entrance to the Neves' home. Day one of our adventure we went horsebackriding around the the back parts of the house, I got to ride one of our "darn Morgans" as grandpa Neves likes to call them. Later that afternoon when Whit, Jenna, and Jordan showed up we decided to take the first-timers out to Trapper! For those of you who haven't been, getting TO Trapper is 70% of the fun. 45 min drive in the back of Uncle Jay's pick-up truck and then a treacherous hike down a cliff for a little over a mile, over the raging river, and then warding off rattlesnakes and man-eating grasshoppers. Yes, one grasshopper tried to eat off my hand while I was catching it for bait.

It was in the back of this truck that I chipped my front tooth back when I was a young'in looking for arrowheads.
Taubi and Jordan's plethora of fish.

Our little fish, Ernesto. He did taste really really good.
My not so white gloves that helped save my hands from shredding down the mountain.



Steph vs. Mountain: mountain-1, steph-0 :(
More love in the back of the truck, Ninny and his lovely soon-to-be-wifey, Jenna.
The crew AFTER our Trapper adventure

We rode horses in the Pioneer day Parade! I WAS on the back of Pippi with Brett but after a slight tumble I landed on my feet, no worries, Brett was fine and he saved his ice cream sandwich too. Pig.















I was especially good at Catching rocks while fishing...and the other pic is just another glimpse of what we hiked down...














All in all I'd have to say it was a fun trip! We also participated in the town's local dance, ate sloppy joes at the town picnic, played and got 2nd in the community volleyball tournament, and managed to not die the whole time! Good times always are had with the Neves crew!!!

Havasupai: water wonderland.

This is a picture of our group that went the first time, a YEAR ago! Julia, Brett, i think we've mastered this trek...




Second trip down. Things that were different from the first one: we're tanner. Julia and Brett didn't acquire as many blisters on their feet. Brett and I were dating 2nd time around (it only took how many years?? :). We hiked both in and out in the dark so we didn't hit the HOT, SWEATY times of the day.



On our way down the hike..

Our favorite falls. Navajo.


Havasu falls is pictured below. This is the first site of water you see when entering into the oasis of lush green trees and gushing waterfalls after hiking approximately 11 miles down some pretty rough terrain. This was the second year I've done this and was able to repeat the trip with Julia and Brett again!


Annie jumping off a perilous fall...the group favorite actually.


Julia braving that same fall...you have to climb down the first part of the waterfall to get to the ledge to jump off. I was very impressed with your bravery sister! I think having Brett up there as a coach helped her along the way a little bit...


The Gals! FEARLESS! FREAKING AWESOME!!!


You'd think we had enough just hiking in the 11 miles into camp from the cars but we decided to hike another 5 down to Beaver falls. It was an interesting hike to the falls, but it was worth it after seeing the beautiful waterfalls. It was a 55 foot jump to go off of, only Brett and one other guy in our group brave enough to jump off it... the rest of us cheered them on and silently wished we had the guts to go off it as well...


A pic Brett took of one of the cooler falls right before it got dark.