minnetonka cave

while we were up at bear lake we decided to do something that i hadn't done in years. we went to minnetonka cave. my kids had never been before and i remember loving to go here when i was a kid. well, can i just tell you that i didn't remember the hike being so steep. i kinda got a little bit of anxiety while inside. it is a good thing i had my family there to help me with all my little ones.

here are all the kids with papa perry and uncle nate. this is when we were walking on the trail to get to the cave. we saw some cute little squirels. the kids would put some peanuts in their hands and the squirels would come right up and sit in your hand and eat. it was so much fun. i wish that i would have taken a picture!
steph was such a lifesaver. ky was a little nervous inside the cave and so steph ended up carrying her most of the way. although i did help a bit.

here is when we got to the very back of the cave. they called this the bridal room. when you get here, they turned off all the lights to show everyone just how black pitch black really is. it was kind of a weird feeling not to be able to see your own hand in front of your face.

this is the only stalagmite (sp?, i am not sure this is exactly what it was, but i think so) that you can touch. the oils on your skin turn them black. i thought that it was going to be wet and really rock feeling, but it as satiny smooth and dry. it was really neat.

Yeah, we finally made it out of the cave. it was 444 steps in and 444 steps out. the kids did so good, i was really proud of them. there were just a couple of places that i got a little nervous with my kids, but they were oblivious. so much fun. if any of you get a chance to go, do it!