Vacations are an opportunity to try new places, new lifestyles on for size, to see how they feel.

We like to dream of living our everyday lives in the places we visit, and interestingly most places we spend time in, when vacationing, are deeper into the wilderness.

These trips into the outback bring us closer together as a family.

The children get to try new outdoor sports, like alpine touring on mountaineering skis and equipment, carrying their own backpacks filled with their chosen clothes for a few days.

It teaches them a little about self-reliance and reliance upon us as their teachers.

Our time in the wilderness is special for us, where we face the gambit of all emotions, together, while pushing ourselves to go harder and further than we thought we could.

And we have time for silence together in the depth of the woods.

The children learn how precious our time is spent together, the value of setting goals, simple ones, like getting to where we’re sleeping for the night.

Just when you think that goal is not attainable: 6 and a half hours uphill to 10,450 feet and your own feet ache…

You arrive.

Hot cocoa comes quickly, along with a warm fire where snow is melting for water.

Days are spent telling stories, far from the allure of social media and electronics.

We create a magic together, a joy of simplicity.

And slow way down, just enough to commune with the pinyon jays.

We have family council out in the snow on the snow chairs the children make for us.

The frosty air feels good for the soul.

Thank you, 10th Mountain Division, for sharing the beauty of your mountain huts with us.

We can’t wait to come back again soon.

What simple pleasures do you share together as a family?