Summer Adventure #1: Timponogos Caves

For our first "Mom Camp Adventure" of the summer, the kids and I headed up American Fork Canyon to visit the Timponogos Caves.

I had never been on the road that leads to the caves before. When we set out, things were beautiful. But as we got off the freeway, it started to sprinkle.

"Mommy, what are those drops on the windshield?" my son asked from the back seat.

"Oh, I'm sure it's just a fluke. A few measly drips. Maybe a car passed pulling a boat and it splashed." I replied, hoping to avoid a freakout mood shift.

Then the heavens opened and started to dump. By the time we reached the National Park entrance booth, it was hailing. In June. They said that it was sleeting up at the entrance to the caves.

I decided since we'd come that far that we should just take a lovely, rainy drive through the canyon. When we got to the visitor's center, we got out just to check things out. Gator was pulling to go hiking any way...an unexpected shift. We didn't have any rain gear, and the gift shop had sold 100 rain ponchos in 30 minutes flat...with none left to buy.

We decided to purchase cave tour tickets tickets and then if we didn't make it to the cave for any reason, we'd get a refund.

So we set out. It's a mile and a half hike up the trail, and pretty steep. I expected to make it just a little way before we would turn around due to weather or poor attitudes, but by grace the rain just suddenly stopped as soon as we set out on the trail, and never started up again. The kids had great attitudes, and we had a simply breathtaking trek up the mountain. I am constantly amazed by the beauty of this area where we live. It's astonishing!

Upon reaching the top, we joined right up with a tour guide entering the caves. The tour took an hour, and it was amazing. There are only 2 other cave sites in the world with as many Stalactites and Stalagmites as Timp Caves have. One is in Mexico, and the other in France. It's fantastic.

After the tour, Bunch & Gator interviewed our guide as part of earning their "Junior Ranger" certificates, and then we hiked down. We found out there was a free class going on at 7pm to learn about mining in Utah followed by a panning for gold activity. The kids both wanted to stay, so we did.

Here are pictures from our fun day. In addition to regular trips to the library and other local activities, my goal is to have one fun Mom Camp activity every week with the kids this summer.
It's going to be great! ♥