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.