The view from the top was spectacular and the cloud formations added to the overall drama of the scene.

 
We reached the summit of this very difficult climb after 5 hours and would take another 3 to descend.

 
This is Mario’s first exposure to climbing and he is the strongest of our team. It was a great pleasure to climb with him and to introduce him to this way of enjoying the great outdoors. His parents would have been very proud of his courage and tenacity. My uncle Bob was the first to introduce me to climbing so this uncle/nephew tradition has been passed down for at least two generations now.

 
Mayela (age 43) shows off her guns. Her older brother decides to stand behind the camera rather than face the humiliation of comparing biceps.

 
My uncle Bob (age 72), my sister Mayela and husband Stephen, my cousin-in-law Burton, my nephew and I set out to climb 4,000 foot Mount Webster, part of the Presidential Range.

 
Her protruding tongue is very cute, but I must teach her to protect it by keeping it inside her mouth.

 
After a quick breakfast Maya scales the first mountain she finds.

 
I am the first to rise and cannot resist photographing my favorite daughter.

 
After dinner young and old retire to the basement of the lodge for a ping pong tournament.

 
My art shot for the evening.

 
Lounging before dinner, Jeanine is responsible for orchestrating the family reunion weekend which is a joint celebration of my mother’s 80th birthday and my 50th (not till late September actually).

 
Before the evening ends we are joined by my parents, my uncle Bob and aunt Maruja, sister Mayela and brother-in-law Stephen, and Jeanine’s sister Susan who drove up with us from Concord. Here we pose in front of the Crawford train depot illuminated by the setting sun.

 
We arrive in time for a quick hike around Saco Lake. Kyle had to remain in Concord for high school soccer tryouts and will not join us until tomorrow.

 
Our arrival coincides with three perfect days of weather after a long stretch of rain. Temperatures are perfect for hiking.