Four Generations On Top of "Saddleback" (Santiago Peak) July 31, 2010

Here are the details:
Appx. 16 miles, from parking lot to Saddleback Peak and back.
One group hiked to the top; the other met us by 4 wheel drive at the top for lunch.
The generations:
1. Steve & Marion Robinson
2. Greg & Jeff Robinson
3. Austin & Rachel Robinson, Christian Robinson, Nathan Robinson, Ryan Robinson
4. Dylan Robinson
The hikers started about 7:45 am; on the peak by 12:30 pm; left the peak by 2:15 and back at car by 5:45 pm. The last mile was the longest and sloooowest, due to my blisters and fatigue.
The truckers left about 10:30, tried one dirt road (gate locked); found another at the end of Silverado Canyon; arrived about 1:00 pm.

Greg took this photo at the 730 am in the departure parking lot.
Make it look like you've already been to the top!

At the trial head sign: up the Lower Holy Jim Trail

"Terry the Tarantula," on of the animal friends we saw along the way.
Nathan's hand shows scale. Rachael wanted to take Terry home as a pet, since she loves spiders so much---NOT!

Hamming it up at Bear Springs, just over halfway up the mountain.
This is where the trail switches to Upper Holy Jim.

On top at last! Greg celebrates while Austin checks the map (or peels an orange).
The day was hot, but not blazing there b/c we had a high thin cloud cover at least initially

Tired and sweaty self-photo, on top, resting on the concrete under one of the numerous antenna towers.

Exploring the scenery and view. At various points from the peak, you could see areas near San Diego (Mt Palomar); Palm Springs (San Gorgonio/San Jacinto) , downtown LA, Catalina.

In the shade of an antenna tower: enjoying the nice lunch and extra water that arrived via 4 wheel drive!
Robyn, Jeff, Steve, Austin, Rachel, Nathan, Ryan, Dylan, Christian, Greg (and photo by Marion)

Dylan found a "big gun."

Ryan and Rachel using the spotter tubes to view the neighboring mountains.
Thank you Eagle Scout for this project!

Robyn exploring the summit, with the antenna towers in the background.
Best advice from the guidebooks: When you first see the antenna towers from the trail, don't get excited--you still have many miles/hours to go before you get there!

It was a challenging and wonderful trip. Thanks to all who participated.

Ryan Receives His Eagle Scout Award

Ryan's Eagle Court of Honor was one of the happiest days of my life.

Proud Dad and Mom.
Look closely on my lapel--you see the eagle scout badge I received 39 years ago, in 1971, at Troop 131 in Torrance, CA.
I wore it to illustrate a "Tribute to Eagle Scouts" talk I gave for the Court of Honor.
(Date on camera should be 7/15/2010.)

Eagle Scouts: Drew Barretto, Ryan Robinson, Jason Harris, Jacob Gibbons
Troop 767, Foothill Ranch CA

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement of Ryan.
There are 5 eagle scouts in this picture--only one in uniform.
Steve and Marion started the tradition with their sons, now continuing with grandsons, and soon to be great-grand-sons.
(Dylan will be a cub scout in 6 short years!)

Hap & Jannetta Family Reunion

We enjoyed our trip to Utah for the annual Hap & Jannetta Robinson Family Reunion held at Farmington Park.

A group photo at the pavilion. JoAnn and Family are bringing us up to date.

Thanks to Grandpa Steve and Grandma Marion for keeping up the tradition.
We love you.

Clay and MaryLou Robinson led us on a hike up Farmington Canyon.

Clay was our tour guide. He stopped every few minutes to point out past adventures... Here's where his Dad (uncle Rick Robinson) shot his first mountain lions (when he was 12), or here's were they restored a trail to prevent any more horses from rolling to their deaths...

Jeff, Greg and Austin--picture by Mary Lou

Clay led the boys, Brent, Ben, Josh, Nathan, Ryan, down the cliff and trail to the gushing waterfall at the bottom of the canyon. The picture does not do justice to the scale or height exposure.

Proof that they made it to the falls.

Wonderful trip!

Thanks also to Joyce, Sean, Jill and family for the fun we had staying with you! My pix of the Bountiful stay got lost!

Ryan's High School Graudation

Thanks to all our family and friends who helped celebrate

Ryan's graduation from Trabuco Hills High School

Ryan spelled with Reese's.

Dylan brought his Uncle Ryan a special card and even more special hugs.

Ryan walks to Pomp and Circumstance.
Enlarge the photo to see Ryan's expression.

Post-graduation greetings on the THHS football field. Thanks for taking this photo, Austin.
Four great sons have graduated from THHS: 2000, 2002, 2006 & 2010!
Such blessings, all.

Father's Day 2010

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, TO THE GREATEST DAD IN THE WORLD
with love from Jeff

Family Hike: Trippet Ranch to Will Rogers State Historic Park

Family hike: Austin and Rachel's great idea:

We gathered at Trippett Ranch in Topanga Canyon State Park. We hiked 8.6 miles along the "Backbone Trail" through the Park, exiting at the Will Rogers Historic State Park.
The Hardy Hikers: Jeff, Ryan, Nathan, Austin, Rachel, Greg, Jillair, and Jillair's sister Amy.

Greg/Jillair/Amy did the first leg of the hike, 5+miles up and back to Trippett Ranch, then drove the cars around to Will Rogers State Historic Park to pick us up. We enjoyed spectacular views of the mountain scenery (many bushes still in bloom and attracting bees and butterflies), the ocean and panoramic Los Angeles from Santa Monica to Downtown in the background.

Starting out.

8.6 miles of fun ahead. This was one of the last shady spots.

Rest stop at the "Sculpture Garden" (Greg coined the term.)

The Girls
Lunch Break at The Hub--near the highest elevation
Multiple trails and fire-roads come together

The Guys
Saved the shade for the Girls

On the down hill slope. Santa Monica in the background.
LA Temple was visible at many points.

Jillair snapped this picture, right before we landed at the Polo Grounds in the Will Rogers State Park, where we watched the last few minutes of a polo match between Palisades and Beverly Hills.

I can hardly wait until the next hike ... rumor has it that it could be Saddleback!

Ryan's Eagle Scout Project

After several weeks of planning, Ryan's Eagle Scout Project came to fruition this week.

Over 50 people came out to Trabuco Hills High School on Saturday, June 12 to help install a new sign, and refurbish the batting cages and repaint backstop at the Varsity Softball field. More than 100 hours of time were donated! Here are some pictures. My camera battery gave out, so the finished pix will be posted later (when I receive them from our back-up camera person.)

Designing the new field sign, with help from Blair Lucas, of Signsplus in Newport Beach.

Making a new field sign for the softball field--on 4 x 8 sheet of aluminum, from scratch.

The finished sign.

Taking down the old sign--more than 20 feet in the air!

Ryan was busy helping manage all the work crews.

Painting the backstop

Re-tying the batting cages

Ryan, telling Bishop Schoessow and Scout Committee Chairman Warner
how to fix their weed whacker!

Christian helped in the batting cages, here with Jason Harris.

Christian and Katie with Dylan

Robyn, Corey Harris and Bishop Schoessow

A million thanks to everyone who helped!