The Wave 2019-1-8

4 Months ago...we won the lottery, and got a permit to hike The Wave on Jan 8, 2019.  That day finally arrived!  We feel lucky to have the permit in hand, because with the government shutdown, the daily lottery was not held, so only the online lottery winners had permits.

Julie was kind enough to be our guide.  She was training Laura so Laura would be able to take tours to The Wave on her own.  So our group was a group of 6, Dean and Erika, Bob and Pam, and Julie and Laura.

The roads had snow on them, but the ground was still frozen, so driving out to The Wave was great, coming back was a different story!

 Julie was the only one in our group that had been to The Wave before.  The rest of us were pretty excited for the adventure that lay ahead!

...and we are off!

That pink tag hanging from Dean's backpack is the coveted permit! 

 After hiking a few minutes, the coats came off.  Perfect temperature for hiking.

 Our guides, Julie and Laura.  On one site online, I read that 30%  of the people that get a permit, never find The Wave.  There are not trails, or cairns. 

 In the packet with your permit they give you a "picture map" of landmarks along the way.

The hike out to The Wave is full of beautiful sights!

 

Julie, Laura, Bob, Pam, and E

 Lunch in the sun at The Wave!  Doesn't get much better than this!

 Looking down on the area known as the Wave.

 Dean and EJ

 Bob, Pam, Erika and Dean

 This rock is called the Cheeseburger.

 Playing with shadows

 Stunning scenery!

 Bob getting the perfect picture of the weird rock formations at the area called the Boneyard.

Our last look back at The Wave.

Bob, Pam, Julie, Erika and Dean

Dean, Erika, Julie, Laura, Pam and Bob

 Our whole group at the end of the hike.

After the hike we had dinner at Big Al's.  We couldn't pass up a deal like this! 

 Before we headed home, we helped install new railings on the condos.

 I love the adventures with this guy!