FAMILY VACATION: DAY SIX

Saturday’s schedule included a hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in the Skykomish wilderness or Merrit Lake not far from where we camped; however, plans required change due to a weather system that blew in during the night and looked like it came to stay for the duration of our trip. Over Lake Wenatchee the clouds seemed lighter, more of a white tint than dark gray or black. We thought perhaps we might attempt a hike anyway since appropriate clothing and gear remained in our packs, until we walked to the lake’s edge and felt the wind and viewed the very dark clouds in and among the mountains towards our intended destination. Instead, we took a couple of hours to perform family photo shoots along the lake. The boys enjoyed being boys, rock hopping along the water’s edge and Dale and I took a short walk, while the kids stayed on the beach. About 11:00 a.m. the rain began to gently fall, soon turning into good sized pellets. We took cover once again under our table covering where we stayed dry, relaxing, whittling sticks, finishing Jack London’s “Call of the Wild,” and drinking hot beverages. Feeling too lethargic after a time I decided to take a walk in search of viewing black bears seen above the campgrounds. A mother and two cubs along with what probably was a male bear had been viewed several times over the past three weeks. Since I did not get to see a mountain goat on any of our hikes, I hoped to see at least a black bear. An easy trail led from the Lake Wenatchee campground to the Nason Creek Campground maybe a quarter of a mile away. Following the lake up to the groups sites, down into forested clearings, into Nason Creek Campground, up to the horse barn where one can pay dearly for even a half hour ride, back to our site, my blood started to flow again and my muscles loosened up after sitting, but I did not see a black bear. This was not my vacation to experience wildlife. The evening brought the sounds of voices being lifted up in song and once again my heart warmed. As I sat and reflected back upon the week in personal thought and in discussion with the kids, the realization that these times will soon be coming to an end as we know them presently. The kids will begin summer jobs within the next year or two, four years and our son will essentially be on his own, and we never know what the future holds. No amount of money and no amount of material possessions can replace the memories and bonds created during these family events. Even with uncooperative weather and interrupted plans, enjoyment of unplanned experiences lends to stories for years to come. We all agreed that taking games would have enhanced the week, something usually included in any of our trips, but this time they remained at home due to mom’s clogged memory banks. Another time around we will take canoes or kayaks with us to explore the lake and provide activities when rain and storms prevent us from taking to the backcountry. Other than a couple of these “extras,” we all decided our vacation ended up a great success. Now we look forward to planning our next adventure to the San Juan Islands next year, and this time we will be on the reservation site the day it opens for next season. Now it’s back to reality and getting our daughter ready for a girl’s campout this week, beginning Tuesday, August 10, possibly again at Lake Wenatchee!

FAMILY VACATION: DAY FIVE

We considered hiking a two mile round-trip back into Hidden Lake, a place we visited the prior weekend, but after Thursday’s adventure the kids wished to remain close to camp on Friday, the fifth day of our family vacation at the lake. Eating a leisurely breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, and left-over chili, somehow we did not mind the enjoyment of a lazy morning. We traveled into Leavenworth to visit the ranger station to gather more specific information on the Glacier Peak Wilderness, a 29.5 mile backpack trip that looks inviting, and the Pacific Crest Trail. Thirty miles back towards Seattle in the Skykomish Wilderness area, a trailhead that accessed the Pacific Crest awaited a full day of hiking on Saturday. Dale hoped to find an update for our camera hardware so that I could download and fix photos during the afternoon. The kids wandered through the bookstore while Dale and I sat in Starbucks taking advantage of their free internet service. Not finding what we needed, we gathered the troops and headed back to camp. An afternoon of swimming and feeling the warmth of the sun healed any sore muscles and refreshed the spirits. The evening found us relaxing by a most cozy campfire and listening to our neighbors singing good old gospel songs, some I haven’t heard in years. The patriarchs of this family reunion had been missionaries, and one other family is presently in Mexico serving as missionaries, but came home due to the severe problem of kidnapping, especially of young girls. Since the family had five girls, they came back to the states for a period of time for their daughters’ safety. It encouraged our hearts to see other families who value extended family and the creation of family memories. We fell asleep that evening to the sounds of their music, all singing in parts to a guitar that accompanied their family choir. I must say that this ended up being a highlight for me. The night brought sleep quickly, but soon became interrupted with the sounds of wind bringing in a weather system, which we awoke to the next morning.

FAMILY VACATION: DAY FOUR

Thursday brought skies that exhibited patches of blue with thick thunder looking clouds rolling in during the morning hours. We debated as to whether we should take our planned hike to Twin Lakes, seven miles round-trip according to the very rough outlined and misguided state park map. We began to find out that local park rangers passed out these trail maps without a personal knowledge of the existing trails around the area. If we waited on the northwest weather to cooperate perfectly, all outdoor activities would consistently be postponed. Preparations the night before of rain gear, warm clothing, extra water, and extra food gave everyone the enthusiasm to enjoy an adventure. The trailhead is accessed from White River road, the same road we drove to get to White River Trail on Monday. A campground across from the trailhead provides a nice place to camp if a person chose to meander and wander the backcountry in this area. Bring lots of mosquito repellent if you choose to ever attempt this 1800 foot elevation climb in at least a five mile hike to the first lake of the two. The trail begins with a gradual incline through open forested land, displaying old growth pines that seem to touch the sky, large green ferns that blanket the forest floor, and birds to accompany one’s travels with song. Mosquitos and flies quickly make their appearance known buzzing fiercely around in hopes to turn the traveler back towards home. Half a mile up the trail it begins to climb at a steeper incline until you reach a small pond that some mistake for the first lake. This creates a landmark at approximately 1.5 miles. Lily pads and water grasses decorate this small and quiet oasis, while reflections of the mountains outlying these woods quietly dance in the water among the plant life that abounds. From this point forward the trail begins to climb, we figured, at about 500 feet per mile, perhaps even a bit steeper. It would not be considered an extremely difficult trail to hike, but it does offer a good strong workout for the climb does not relent after this point for the next 3.5 miles. Our family generally hikes 4 miles an hour on good trail or heading downward from the top of one, and approximately two miles an hour up fairly steep terrain. Allowing for times to catch our breath and rest unused muscles for brief periods, we can calculate fairly well distances we travel. This trail to Twin Lakes could not have been a 3.5 mile trip, nor was the incline 800 feet gain in elevation. Our trip took us alongside one of the most beautiful creeks upon which we encountered the whole week. At one spot we crossed over a log to continue on the trail, a place that provided a rest for tired feet, hot faces, and a cool drink. Hikers easily could use a water filter along this trail due to the creek that you follow the rest of the trip up to the first lake, making packs a bit lighter to carry. However, we cannot reiterate enough to bring plenty of mosquito repellent or even netting. I wish I would have had a broad brimmed hat with the netting; the trip would have been much more pleasant. Light weight long-sleeved shirt and pants would have also made this trip more enjoyable. Continuing along the trail from the creek crossing we became like mountain goats hiking over a couple of narrow and rocky avalanche areas, and the trail seems to go straight up, climbing even steeper. A person becomes so enthralled with the creek which accompanies them, and eyes stay steady on the rocky slopes so that footing is not lost that it takes a while before eyes begin to gaze upward and one finds the peak of the mountain they are climbing not 500 feet above them, and it’s here that a hiker decides to either continue onward or turn back. I don’t know if flash floods occur in this area, but I imagine at the right moment a hiker could find themselves in such a harry situation for the trail, located almost at the top along the side of this mountain with the creek as the only barrier between you and the peak, leaves no way out but back down the trail. After refreshing splashes of water on our hot faces we decided to continue and find these famous Twin Lakes that the park rangers said to be a must for those campers who enjoyed hiking. Thus, we entered what we termed to be a mountain jungle. The flies and mosquitos, after this point, became almost unbearable. The trail is clear if one can find it through all the dense overgrowth the makes it somewhat obscure. A machete could have been some use, but we persevered and about a quarter of a mile from the end of the creek we crossed over to the other side of this mountain and came upon the first of the Twin Lakes. Had it not been for the mosquitos and flies, it would have been a beautiful spot to spend meditating upon nature, the person of God, one’s own life, and perform some inner soul searching. The trail is not maintained well around the lake, and does not offer many spots for contemplation. Camping is prohibited, which we realized at first glance, the reasons for this. The second lake happened to be .5 miles from the first, but due to jungle around the lake we would trek through and all the little inhabitants that did not seem to appreciate our presence, we decided to turn back and return down the trail. We made a quick food and water stop at the log crossing and ended up back at camp in time to enjoy a swim in the lake before the thunderstorm hit late in the afternoon. Clearing up a bit, a fire was made to roast hot dogs, and the early evening was spent in our makeshift living room under our table covering. The rains let up and I read from Jack London’s “Call of the Wild,” as we sat around enjoying a fire until about 9:30 p.m. Eyes drooping and bodies tired, we all decided bed sounded good.

FAMILY VACATION: DAY THREE

Sleeping in after a rough night of thunderstorms and achy bodies, felt like heaven. Rain continued to drop during the early morning hours so we did not rush to get out of bed. I arose about 8:30 from under a warm comforter (yes, Dale and I bring blankets to sleep under when we use the camper due to the confining nature of sleeping bags) and made hot coffee while Spencer, who followed me in arising from his slumber, prepared a morning fire. No agenda waited for us this day so we lounged in our chairs enjoying the warmth the flames provided against the dampness the rain left behind. We read at one of the trailheads where some men were backpacking into the Glacier Peak Wilderness. We counted our blessings that we were not those men when the thunderstorm hit. Dale cooked pancakes and sausages over the fire for breakfast and we leisurely suffered through such a scrumptious feast; not! I used to do most of the cooking over an open fire, but in recent years he has come to enjoy this part of camping and readily performs this particular camp duty. We decided that we would use day five of our vacation to clean up a bit. After traveling one day and two hikes the past two days, we all began to smell as if we needed to clean out the pores a bit. Swimming in the lake helped some with the body odors, but the dust and dirt needed washed out of the hair and a good scrub down seemed to be a requirement for a complete cleaning. Nature provided the room near the back of our campsite for a spit bath, at least for three people in our family. I took mine in the shower area located in the bathroom. Later in the afternoon Dale and the kids went swimming in what seemed to be ice cold water today while I went in search for another tarp. Clouds began to gather and it appeared another storm was sure to be upon us again. Success for everyone! I found a tarp and Dale and Spencer froze for an hour in the lake while Amanda must have ice for veins. Our daughter swims in just about any kind of water, no matter if the water comes from glacier melt. By 6:00 p.m. everyone decided stomachs needed food, so Dale cooked hamburgers over an open fire. Dinner consisted of hamburgers, baked beans, chips, carrots, and applesauce with plenty of conversation and stories from past outdoor trips. After finishing dish duty, Amanda took an evening swim in the lake, leaving the rest of us wishing to stay dry and warm. As I write, we are all sitting by the fire, Dale reading a book on trails, Spencer carving a stick, Amanda writing a story, and all about to continue our reading from Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.” Clear skies above, the clouds passed over and it looks like we will be able to enjoy stars later this evening. The fire is toasting our toes. What is it about fires that bring a comfort and cozy feeling to one’s soul? The sounds of sparks rising up and disappearing into the night sky, flames dancing to its own music, red coals burning brightly keeping the flames alive, all provide an atmosphere for contemplation, thoughtfulness, and soul searching. We prepare for a 7 mile round trip to Twin Lakes tomorrow, once again in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

FAMILY VACATION: DAY TWO

We woke up to sunshine and blue skies about 7:00 a.m. Hot coffee and a few minutes to enjoy a morning fire reminded us why we love to camp. Perhaps it’s not as quiet and peaceful as we’d like, but it’s still outdoors with the smells of campfires filling the campgrounds while the smoke filters through the trees. Hot oatmeal and bagels filled our stomachs for breakfast after which we started out for a hike at Nason Creek Ridge. The hike was supposed to take us to a fire lookout point, but due to unmarked trails and not good information by the park ranger we did not make it. However, the hike still provided excellent views of Lake Wenatchee, Dirty Face (which we hiked last weekend), and magnificent sights of the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Round trip, the Nason Ridge trail would take 2-3 days traveling 32 miles of trail through “forest and wide’sky highlands from near the Pacific Crest Trail.” This trail is not for the inexperienced and can be done one way either in a one very long 16 mile day, or 2 days of 8 miles each leaving one car at the Snowy Creek trailhead and one at the Round Mountain trailhead. To reach the junction of Nason Ridge one must climb 1000 feet in the first 1.5 miles and if so desired take a ¼ mile detour to the Alpine Lookout where mountain goats and magnificent scenery leaves one in complete awe. We hiked in from the other side just outside Lake Wenatchee campgrounds. From this side we hiked six miles one way up to within three miles of the lookout point. After gaining close to 700 feet per mile reaching an elevation of 5200 feet, the kids decided they wanted to turn around and go back for an afternoon of swimming. Of course Dale and I wished to continue, but this is a family vacation. We had hoped to reach Merritt Lake, which drops from 6227 feet of elevation at Alpine Lookout to 4900 feet to the lake, but this would make a better backpack trip rather than a day hike, especially with kids, despite being excellent hikers. Feet hurting and bodies sweating we returned to camp for a swim in the lake, which after becoming numb, feels warm. An hour later the clouds began to roll in and it appeared that a thunderstorm might hit without much warning. I returned to camp to get chairs and wood in under our table cabin when a few drops began to fall. Dale and the kids returned shortly after which Dale went to the store for some ice. During his departure, the storm hit with a vengeance. The table covering is good to keep rain from coming down vertically, but the screening allows the water to make its way into the table area. We all quickly put up a make-shift covering with a tarp and rain ponchos and we stayed quite dry in what we termed our new “living room” for the week if need be. Warm soup filled our bellies, chips and salsa tasted good for a snack, and a feeling of coziness relaxed us after our 12 mile hike. With rain falling, thunder booming, and darkness settling in early, we all decided to hit our beds about 8:30 p.m. Sleep came quickly to most of us, although Amanda decided to stay up and write her story and read for a while. However, achy bodies and thunder woke us several times throughout the night causing for very droopy eyes and slow awakening Wednesday morning.

FAMILY VACATION: DAY ONE

DAY ONE, MONDAY
We awoke to campers next to us speaking loudly and not using early morning “camping etiquette.” We woke at 7:00 a.m. to sunshine and a bit of haze due to two fires in the Wenatchee Wilderness, over 430 fires in Canada, and over 800 forest fires in Russia, all affecting the weather patterns here in the northwest. Dale cooked bacon and eggs over an open campfire while the kids made toast using the extra-long roasting sticks. Egg sandwiches made the breakfast menu with grapes, hot chocolate, and coffee. Plans for the week were discussed putting hiking and swimming on every day’s plan of activities. Monday found us exploring the Glacier Peak Wilderness, just the outskirts of what seems to be a most beautiful area. We must go back! We drove approximately fifteen miles taking highway 207 out of the campground and then took White River Road to the very end. The road is paved for a short time and then becomes a gravel road on which most vehicles can maneuver. At the end is White River Campground, to which we detoured and found a spot we will most definitely frequent. Located right on the White River, water is plentiful via the creek. Campers can either use a good quality filter to attain water or pack in all the water they might need for the duration of their stay. Primitive outhouses allow for some bathroom facilities. No showers, no sinks, just outhouses. However, the area is quiet and no one came in sight the whole time we enjoyed the campground. The kids, Dale, and Maddy climbed logs, ran up and down the hills, and could do pretty much as they pleased; a kid’s outdoor playground! Driving down to the opposite end of the campground we were searching for the White River Trailhead when we found the most beautiful waterfalls seen in a very long time. The last time I saw a waterfall such as this was over twenty years ago in Jasper, Canada. The water did not just cascade over the rocks carved from the power of the water, it roared as it fell over 100 feet into a clear green glacier water filled pool below. Truly amazing and glorious, if this was all we experienced during the week we would feel lucky. Many frequent this area we assume and many have enjoyed this experience we must admit, but when you stand at the edge of those rocks overlooking such magnitude and greatness, you feel like you have to be the first and only one to see such beauty. It’s amazing how all of life seems to rush away in a few short minutes of absorption into the roaring sounds and the beauty of such natural wonders. After spending time taking photos and exploring around the falls a little we went in search again of the trailhead. A little ways up the road from the campground takes you to the very end and connects with two trailheads, White River and Indian Creek. If one had a couple of weeks to backpack the loop, a person could take off at White River Trail then hike up to Steven’s Pass and come back down the Indian Creek Trail, or the other direction if one preferred. We hiked five miles round trip on the White River Trail, which ended up being a very pleaseant. Easy to hike, nicely groomed and serviced, and a slow incline, this trail makes for great hiking. Four miles in would take us to the first camp destination on the map provided at the trailhead. However, the kids wanted to get back to swim, so we only hiked 2.5 miles and turned around. The river is gorgeous, clear and green, and runs from the glaciers that exist high up in the mountains. We will be back to camp at White River Campgrounds and explore this area of the Glacier Peak Wilderness. It’s as beautiful as we imagined and we cannot wait to return. Tomorrow, day two will take us to a lookout point upon which we have been told will allow us spectacular views of the mountains in the Glacier Peak area. Perhaps a lake will be on the day’s adventures if time allows. Of course, swimming is a must for the kids. A campfire, s’mores, and Jack London await for the evening.

LAKE WENATCHEE

Our family enjoyed camping at Lake Wenatchee this past weekend, located in the Wenatchee National Forest approximately 25 minutes outside the quaint Bavarian/German town of Leavenworth. We arrived Thursday night after Dale returned from work and arrived about 8:00 p.m. I called earlier that day to find out if first come first serve spots continued to be available and the office told me 8 of the 12 were still open and we should be fine if we arrived by 8:00. Dale planned on driving back the two hours to work Friday morning and joining us Friday evening for the rest of the weekend. When we arrived it became apparent all the sites had been taken. A few reservable ones remained open for Thursday, but were all full beginning Friday night for the weekend. As we sat in the middle of the road deciding what we should do, a camper came over to speak with us to see if he could help. A park ranger soon drove by and stopped to talk with us and suggested we pull into an open spot for at least Thursday night and then get up early Friday morning to see if anyone might be leaving in the first come first serve areas. The only problem before us happened to be that Dale needed to take the car back at 5:00 a.m. and the kids and I had no way of moving the camper even if a spot did open up. The camper who stopped to talk with us said that he and his friend could pull the camper to the spot we could get if one opened up. But, what if one did not open up? We had no way of moving it until Friday night after whoever reserved the spot we took Thursday evening had arrived. Once again, the camper could be pulled down to the day area if need be. So we decided we would stay and take our chances. The park ranger decided to take it upon himself to walk to each of the first come spots and ask for us if anyone was planning on leaving Friday. Sure enough, two ladies were planning on leaving by 11:00 the next morning and mentioned that we could bring our things earlier to show a presence before they left. The next morning I rounded up five more men to help me drag our camper about 100 yards to our camping spot when the park host came over and said he had a hitch on his truck and could move us. This began our weekend at Lake Wenatchee.

Friday turned into a day of moving our weekend home, taking a short walk by the river that ran into the lake, swimming, and relaxing back at camp waiting for Dale to join us. I was fighting a cold the kids had generously shared, so it turned out to be a good day for doing a lot of nothing. I usually either make food ahead of time to take with us or cook from scratch, but this trip we went pre-cooked. Dale joined us Friday night and we spent the rest of the weekend hiking and swimming with a fetal attempt to fish.

Saturday we decided to take a hike, said to be beautiful, up to a waterfall on the mountain named Dirty Face. The trailhead began at 2100 feet and climbed to 4000 feet to the top in 4.5 miles. We began too late in the day for the heat of the sun was excruciatingly hot and most of the trail was exposed to the sun. We made it up 2 miles to the waterfall and found access to the falls allusive. They could have been beautiful, but they were extremely difficult to see. The trail did not offer restful spots or decent places to pull off for a water or food break. We decided to turn around due to the heat for we had been warned that the last 1.5 miles headed straight up and a lot of scrambling needed to be done to reach the top without one bit of shade. I am sorry we did not make it for the scenery sake, but not sorry in that someone could have been seriously sick or experienced heat exhaustion it was that hot. Upon our return we changed and hit the refreshing water at the lake. That evening we enjoyed relaxing to a campfire, contributing to a round robin story, and making plans for our big family vacation soon to arrive.

Sunday we packed up early after eating breakfast so that we could explore a 2 mile round trip hike back into Hidden Lake. The road that took us to the trailhead wound along the lake providing us with views of all the private property that surrounds the lake with vacation cabins. The trail was forested and very nicely groomed. An easy hike and pleasant after the grueling and strenuous sun exposed trail we took the day before. Hidden Lake sat at the base of a mountain and provided fishing opportunities if one had the right equipment. It looks like we need to restock the fishing supplies, especially for trout. The mountains were not rugged, but nothing to laugh at either. The water was cold, but we all had taken our swimsuits, and using nature as our changing room, for there were quite a few other people there, mostly families, we enjoyed a refreshing dip in this beautiful mountain lake. After drying out, changing back into our clothes, and having some snacks we hiked back out to head back home.

Overall we had a good time because we were away from the norms of life. The lake is beautiful, the park makes for great family camping, especially with young children, but for us it tended to be a bit crowded and noisy. For a quick weekend get away to escape the heat and get to some place scenic it makes for a nice place. However, we do enjoy the more primitive areas that take us away from people, crowds, and into more serene, quiet, and peaceful areas. I'm sure we will be back to visit at some time in the future, but for our next getaway we hope to be a little more secluded.

OKANOGAN NATIONAL FOREST

Camping in the Okanogan National Forest in Washington became a memorable experience for our family. it became especially memorable with the two additional children for the weekend through the opening our home to respite through the foster care agency with whom we are licensed. 50 miles or closer to the border of Canada, the national forest is filled with creeks, rivers, lakes, and plenty of wildlife. We found a camping spot right next to a bubbling creek to which we would wake in the morning and fall asleep to at night. The water was cold from the mountain run-off, but not so cold to prevent four kids and one adult man from playing in it. The crackling of campfires at night meant stories, songs, and games after roasting hot dogs for dinner and marshmallows for s'mores. A two mile hike found us enjoying lunch by a second creek and the fun of wading as close to a small water fall as possible. A tired three year old just about fell asleep riding piggy back carried by our fourteen year old son. Being able to experience a first for these two girls, 3 and 7 who had never been camping or hiking before made this weekend extra special for our family. The laughter and giggles of a three year old and the little screams because of bugs from a seven year old provided an extra element of enjoyment. Catching a catepillar, hoping to take it home, and then being sad when she had to let it go brought back so many memories of our two children at these ages. Blowing bubbles and coloring in great big coloring books, playing bean bag games, playing tag and hide-and-go seek, and playing with our dog presented much pleasure for the whole family. I realized how nice it was to have older children to help with the younger ones. We could not have been prouder parents this weekend than we were when we watched our two kids work and play with the younger ones. They both acquire a special and tender heart towards children and it clearly come through during our respite times. The Okanogan National Forest requires much exploration with trails high up in the mountains, something the Lance family will definitely be enjoying at various times. At one moment on our hike we thought we were in the "Man from Snowy River" movies. A large herd of cattle roamed the mountains. We heard branches snapping and knew something moved through the forest, and then we saw them, the herd of cattle. That was definitely a first! The next day, sure enough, a cattle truck with horse trailers following traveled up to gather in the herd the old fashioned way...by horseback. This area would be outstanding to do some trips with horses, or llamas, or both. We'll be back...soon!