This morning as a surprise, DJ and I woke up early to make special Montana pancakes with huckleberry syrup for everybody.

On the ride back, conversation in the car turned to getting out of your comfort zone.  Some passengers on this trip had never been camping before, or hiked to such great heights, and everyone was feeling pretty proud.  Traci, who hadn’t jumped in the lake on the way up, was determined to do it now, as a challenge to herself.  We pulled over, and she triumphantly jumped in while everyone clapped for her.  What a moment.  Good job, Traci!

Back in Missoula, the only think left to do was go riverboarding.  Most terrifying/awesome/fun thing ever.  You’re in a full wetsuit, helmet, flippers, even neoprene mittens, and go down head first into whitewater rapids holding onto a large boogey board.  One of the rapids (where most people fell of their boards) has only ever been conquered by 20 people, most of them guides.  The river was at the highest level possible while still being safe- twice as fast/high than normal conditions.

Goodbyes were sad.  Lifelong friends and memories were made.