Mintonka Caves:Family Reuion Connect the Dots

 There is this beautiful cave about an hour and half away from where we were staying near Bear Lake.  The cave is named Mintonka after the local Indian tribe that gave the cave it's name following the discovery of it.  The name Mintonka means falling water.  The original name of the cave was given by a group of boy scouts who went through to tour the cave.  They named it porcupine cave because the troop of boys found a porcupine skeleton inside.  But, the name changed shortly later to Minatonka, I think Minatonka sounds much better right?  So, we got there and were told we had to wait over an hour for a tour of the cave.  So, we decided to go on a half mile hike down the side of the mountain.  It was a beautiful hike until it started to pour down a cold rain about 10 minutes into the hike.  So, we turned around to head back to the entrance of the cave which provided the only shelter.  The last switchback of the hike was very steep and narrow and now very muddy.  Mike slipped and fell and then my brother Kenny slipped and fell right after him cutting his arm in the process.  They were both covered in mud.  But, we made it up to the mouth of the cave safe and sound (mostly) and thoroughly soaked!  We waited for our tour and putting on coats over wet clothes ventured into this gorgeous cave.  The cave remains a balmy 40 degrees year round.  The tour lasted just over an hour.  We had a great time!  Even when Mike "accidentally" bumped up against one of the light switches bathing all of us in the tour group (about 30 people) in complete darkness.  Good thing our tour guide knew right where the light switch was, but boy was it dark!  Also in this post are the pictures of the cousins all in a row (sort of, poor Carter age 2 did not want to stand where he was supposed to) with their cute shirts.  Good times as usual!