Gregg's father died in 1996.  With mom and nine children to schedule, there was never a good time for the family to go and spread his father's ashes.  Finally in the summer of 2004, Gregg's mom asked him to coordinate the activity.

  First he made sure it was OK to spread the ashes at the top of the ski area at Snoqualmie Pass.  (It is OK.)  Then he and I went up there a few weeks ahead of time to make sure there is a good enough trail for Mom and OJ.  The easiest part of coordination was picking the date and time.

Gregg, Mom, OJ, and almost me... just as we are leaving the house.

This shot, you get all of me.

Gregg, Christina, Riley, Nick, Annie, Samantha, Mantz.

Waiting for Pam... in the parking lot near the bunny tow.

Still waiting...

Gregg keeping the kids busy by throwing rocks.

Lowell, Paul and Matt.

The ashes were spread around Beaver Lake, near the Thunder Bird chair lift.

Gregg chose the last Saturday in June, 2004.  To make sure everyone was OK with the date, he offered no alternatives.  Seven of the nine brothers and sisters were able to make it.

The ashes were divided into paper envelopes, so everyone had their own private moment

All the grandchildren had an envelope of ashes too.

Mark brought Riley's drum.  He often kept cadence as we hiked up the mountain.  Paul is between Mark and Matt, who is holding some flowers.

Lowell, Mom, OJ and Joey.

Samantha is wearing "team" sweat shirt.  To her left is Jay.  To right is Marci, Paul, Linda, Annie, Pam, Elana, and OJ.

Gregg dispensing ashes.  In the foreground is Riley and Nick.  To left of Gregg is Mantz, Marci, Mom, Paul (in hood), Linda and half-way in the picture is Pam.

Lowell carrying Maggie, Mom, OJ, and Joey.

Elana, Lowell, and Maggie.

Mark and Matt.

Pam, Mark, and Riley.

Matt & Gregg.  Cristina's back is to the camera.

Mantz and Linda.

Mom and OJ.

Christina, Gregg, Marci, and Samantha.

Paul, Matt, Annie, Elana and Lowell.

Mom, OJ, Nick and Riley.

Matt near edge of Beaver Lake.

Matt and Gregg.

Spreading ashes.

All the envelopes were collected, torn up and buried... so none of ashes left the mountain.

See Interstate 90 in the valley?

The hills are alive with the sound of Arthur.

It took about an hour to walk up.  We spent about 30 minutes at the top.  The walk down took less than an hour.

Burying the envelopes.

Gregg, Mantz, and Annie burying the envelopes.

Riley, Linda, Pam, OJ, Mom, and Marci.

The trail was in good shape.  OJ and Mom did just fine as we took a slow and steady pace.

Pam and Linda.

OJ

Linda, Matt, Elana, OJ, and Mom.

Pam, Linda, Matt, Elana, OJ.

We gathered at the one parking lot just at the freeway exit.  Then we moved to another one at the base of trail.  After the hike we had a simple picnic lunch.

The mini-van seat came out to make a comfortable place to rest some tired, little legs.

Instant service!

A parking lot picnic was much easier than trying get everyone into a restaurant.

Pam on the road that leads from the parking lot to the hiking trail.  (No, we couldn't drive on that road.)

When I was skiing here, back in the 60's, this part of the hill was known as Dodge Ridge.

This is the road coming down from Thunderbird.

This is a little movie.