Matty vs. The Mountain

Now that everyone else is back to work after their long Labor Day weekend, Jonathan and I are finally getting OUR three-day weekend . . . and what better way to start it than a much-needed trip OUT of the claustrophobia and excessive heat of the city and up to the cooler temps and beautiful scenery of Mt. Charleston (or the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, if you please).

Sprinkles on the windshield and ominous clouds made for a nervous drive in.

But, no worries:  the weather was beautiful (72 degrees and mercifully cloudy) once we got into the mountains.  With Matty strapped on Jonathan's back and Oskar's leash in my hand, we headed for Fletcher's Canyon, a trail we randomly selected, as it was one we hadn't hiked before on our previous trips.

After hiking for a bit, we stopped in this dry creek bed to get some water and let Matty out to stretch his legs and explore . . . 

. . . and he promptly fell and hit his head on a rock.  Fantastic.  After some tears and a few kisses from Mommy, we decided it was safer for him to go BACK into the carrier, albeit on the front, where he could get snuggles from Daddy.

But it took a switch to being carried by Mommy and fun with Daddy's hat before the smiles came back.

Daddy, in the meantime, was teaching us "Survival:  101" with his knife.  Here, he was showing us how to use a knife and a larger piece of wood to cut firewood.

Matty couldn't have cared less.  He found a pine tree to examine.  "Hey--Daddy!  What is this?"

"Seriously--put away the knife and camera.  What IS this?"

Another break on a dead tree laying over the dry creek bed.  Matty thought knocking on the wood was the best thing EVER.

Another break, another chance for Matty to get down and explore.  And, thankfully, take two involved no head trauma!  Instead, he had a blast playing the dirt and climbing his own mini-mountains.

But soon, it was back to the carrier, back to the car . . . 

. . . and back to the scorching heat of Las Vegas.  But trust me, Mount Charleston, we'll be back.  Matty may have a left with a bump on his head, but I guarantee he's not finished with you yet!