PHELPS LAKE: GTNP

Today was fantastic.  After what seemed to be a rainy start to the day,  the skies cleared and we made our way up to the Park.  We had wanted to hike Phelps Lake with our honorary little sister, Steph last weekend but the weather just didn't cooperate and we opted for the shorter Leigh Lake hike.  But since then, I've had Phelps on the brain so that's where we headed today.

I did not think we'd do the whole loop, but we did!  All 7.1 miles of it!  Sully is a machine on the trail, he impresses me so much.  He also must have climbed a dozen or so boulders (including one that was about 15 feet).

We came across a moose, a deer and a couple of marmots along the way-no bears!  (Yay).  Afterwards we noshed on some Thai food and drank some wine and now each and everyone of us feels oh so fine!

Enjoy the million pictures!  Believe me, there are more, I narrowed it down!  

The boys gearing up, Sully with his gloves and Eli with his sick Sunblock Hawk

This is Sully throwing one of his patented fits.  In this case it was over a bug I had pointed out to him that flew off before he could see it.  "Now, I'll NEVER get to see a bug like that in my WHOLE LIFE!!"  Luckily we talked him out of being a grouch for the rest of the hike. (this was barely out of the parking lot).

SNAILS!  We see a lot of snail shells on Snow King, but never any snails.  Quite the treat!

In this picture, I am explaining that the last time Mike took my picture at this spot, there was a giant Eli belly involved.

Away we go!

Caterpillars doing their thing 

The benefits of a post rain hike

Lots of big boulders on this hike, and Sully loves climbing boulders.  This one was about 15 ft high, and had very few good foot holds.  That did not stop him. 

First view of the canyon from across the lake.

Sully getting his water shoes on.  Look at those roughed up hiker legs!  He's a bad ass!

Ants doing their thing

Took a break to take in the view.

Back on the trail

An enormous mushroom of some sort. There should have been a weird cat speaking in riddles on this thing.

Lunch break.  Eli ate a pinecone with his meal.

This is what Sully calls "Hugging the View".  I love him.  

Kids jump off this rock in the summer.  Because they are nuts. 

This is the view of a Tom Mangelson picture we have in our house.

BEACH!!!

Mainers will find a beach, no matter where they are!

Beach Worm

Look out Robin!  The Joker!

This tree was enormous. I should have made some one stand next to it for scale. 

This is about the half way point of the loop. The trail goes off into an enormous canyon, or back around the lake,  It was so beautiful back there.

A young buck deer having his lunch.

A couple of Marmots!  I'd never seen these in the wild.

Checking out the mouth of the canyon.  There was a waterfall, which rendered Sully speechless.  "I don't know what to say!!!...." And then "It must be PARADISE FALLS" (Like the movie UP).  That kid.

Death Canyon

More boulder climbing

Lake View

That's one strong kid!

Sully plays hard and rests hard.

Sully made Mike "Hug the View"

Towards the end of the hike, this was a super neat bridge through a marsh with lots of frogs and bugs.  No moose this time, but I'm sure its a spot they like.


BONUS MATERIALS:  If you made it this far,  please enjoy a caterpillar dance party.