Diamond Mountain

Steve has been wanting to look for some some Lake County Diamonds for quite a while. Growing up my best friend and I would always find them in a muddy spot in the field across the street from her house.  I am pretty sure it is now someones backyard.  Luckily my dad was able to get permission for us to go onto a neighboring ranch to Diamond Mountain.  As its name implies there are lots of Lake County Diamonds there.

Steve's parents were able to join us and the girls were in heaven to have both sets of grandparents on the hike.  

The road up to Diamond Mountain (using the term road loosely) was really wet in spots and washed out in other spots.  So we hiked in, enjoying the sunshine and green grass along the way. Right as we started out I noticed something in the stream we crossed, turns out it was a giant Lake County Diamond.  We hadn't even thought about looking for diamonds yet.  Of course then we started looking and we found them all along the road up to Diamond Mountain.

The girls had so much fun finding diamonds.  Ally was really disappointed that I wouldn't give her my big diamond and she was determined to find a diamond bigger than mine.  

Ally loved filling her bag with her diamonds

It was the most beautiful spring day (I know it isn't technically spring but it was spring weather for sure).  I can't even describe how wonderful it was to be in such a beautiful spot surrounded by nature. 

 

I think John Muir said it best

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." 

Eva was such a good little hiker.  She was a trooper, her little legs just going and going.

We took a little break just before going up onto Diamond Mountain to feed Colton and have a few snacks.  Colton is such an agreeable baby, he just goes along with whatever crazy plan we come up with.  

Allyson discovered this salamander under a log where we stopped for a rest.

As we headed up Diamond Mountain I happened to turn around and catch this view.  We were looking back onto the ranch and the meadow barn.  

Eva was pretty tired and she didn't want to go all the way up to the top of Diamond Mountain so Steve gave her a piggy back ride back down.  Once she was distracted she was fine for the rest of the hike back to the cars.

A rare picture of daddy smiling for the camera.  

Allyson was in heaven on this hike.  She loves hiking, being outside and finding diamonds just made it even better.  She didn't slow down at all the entire hike.  I love watching her enjoy the outdoors.  I couldn't help but smile as she came running down the road from the top of the mountain.  She was so excited to show me what she found on the top.  She had searched and searched and she finally found a diamond bigger than mine.  She was so proud. 

We all came away with a pretty good stash of Lake County Diamonds, they won't make us rich but they are a lot of fun to find.