We went camping one more time this week as a last hurrah to summer. Jeff starts his new high school teaching job on Monday (Aug 29th), so normal life will commence then. This time, Steph and Dan were with us (Jeff’s sister and Dad, for you non-Whites). Jeff and I agreed that every time we get to go play in the woods, we get this pang of joy and longing that makes us wonder how we survive living so far away from the natural haven of trees, trails, and mountains. We are so thankful to be close enough to visit them every now and then.
I should have gotten my fill of camping pictures on our last camping trip a month ago. But no. This time I was breaking in my new camera, so I still took a gorgeous, large file of pictures. My pictures are my treasures, and this blog is kind of like my treasure chest. Here are a few of my jewels for your viewing pleasure.
On the way there…
Jay is such a little Washington boy! When we get in the car, he puts on his “dudes,” leans back, and settles in for a nice, LONG, sunny drive. (everything is far away in this large state)
We could see Mt. Adams for the WHOLE drive—we can even see it from our home. It’s the second highest mountain in Washington—12,281 feet—only 2,130 feet smaller than Mt. Rainier (I just looked all those fun facts up on Wikipedia).
Look what Jay found when we stopped for gas in Goldendale! This thing was huge. Jay loved it.
We also had to stop at this sweet viewpoint, since it was such a clear day. Only one mountain was really visible—not sure if it was Adams or Rainier.
The viewpoint. With rustic old house in the foreground. Courtesy of Jeff photography.
Four hours later, we arrived at Mt. Adams
We set up camp at the popular (aka not as remote/removed from other people as I like camping to be) Cold Springs campground at the South Climb trailhead of Mt. Adams. Then went on a little walk in the woods. Jay got very dirty very fast. I think it’s good for little boys to just GET DIRTY sometimes. No restrictions. He basically bathed in dirt and ash for 24 hours and loved every minute of it.
The lovely trail we strolled on with a lovely person on it.
We arrived at the campsite at 3pm, so there was daylight-a-plenty for fire-building and food-toasting. We made grilled cheese sandwiches on a forked stick and hot dogs.
Rose had carrots in her camp chair throne.
Munching on toast.
Jeff concocted a new dessert: melty marshmallow-Reese’s sandwich. He ate it all in one bite somehow.
Rose bonded with her Grampa, and Dan learned how STIFF and squirmy and tiring Rose can be when she’s been held for a while.
Bed time! Jay kept peeking out at us (so cute). Jeff tied the tent zippers together, and Jay was asleep within a few minutes. I was so relieved that Jay only woke up once all night. It was a welcome change from our last camping trip.
Rose, on the other hand, woke up 2 or 3 times. Ah well.
My camera took the best fire-picture I’ve ever managed before—I was having lots of fun with my new toy.
Morning Run
Good morning, Mr. Adams! I think I’ll go for a little run with you. Do you mind if I bring my camera along?
Before Jeff, Dan, and Steph left on their long trek up the mountain, I took a little jog-jaunt of my own on a different trail.
It opened up into a tree graveyard.
The sun was just coming up over the horizon. The rising sun, the solitary trail, and the gorgeous scenery were balm to my Yakima Valley desert-dried soul. I soaked it up hungrily.
A lesser camera would not have been up to this. I set it on face-detection and put it on a log. When I jogged into view, snap! Mt. Adams is even in the background.
Ah, a high alpine meadow. That pine-perfumed breeze was intoxicating.
A bend in the trail reveals…Adams himself.
Mount St. Helens. This picture makes me so happy.
A close-up of Helen. There were so many other pictures calling to me, but I knew I had to turn around and run back to camp so the hikers could leave on their adventure. The trail I was on had been mostly down hill on the way out, so it was tough going on the way back. Plus we were camped at about 7,000 ft. altitude. When I got to the top of the big hill, Jeff was running towards me. He had been searching for me for 20 minutes! I was only 10 minutes late coming back, but he thought I had been gone way longer, so he was on red alert. As Jay would say, ooopie!
It was super dusty up there. Believe it or not, I was wearing shoes on my run.
The Hike
Jeff, Dan, and Steph braved the mountain. It is a hard, steep 6-7 hour round trip hike to the top of Mt. Adams and back. This picture just had to turn out blurry.
Annnnd they’re off to the trail!
There’s snow and steep climbs and everything up there. That’s why Jay, Rose, and I stayed down low. Steph turned back at the snowline and came down to hang out with us.
Those lines in the snow are from where people slide down it on plastic bags! Jeff and Dan turned back before reaching the summit. Dan was exhausted, and Jeff was in sandals. Sandals? I’m still wondering why.
Meanwhile, back at the camp…
We ate breakfast—I must say I’m getting pretty good at whipping up cinnamon-raisin oatmeal over a campfire.
Rose ate baby oatmeal out of a baggy.
Jay played with sticks
and the shovel.
Rose took a 2 hour nap in the tent, and Jay roamed around. I roamed with him for a while and then toasted my toes by the fire while reading a book. It was quite pleasant.
Jay worked up quite the appetite with all his roaming—at 10:30am he asked for a hot dog. So we roasted one up. Then another. Then he ate half a sandwich. And a graham cracker.
It was too hot to touch with his hands, but not too hot to bite!
I played with my camera some more:
At the beginning of Cold Springs Trail, there was a big patch of sand. We walked on over when Rose woke up so Jay could play.
Our little set-up along the trail.
I could watch Rose play with pine cones all day. I don’t know how to do those cool collages that some people make, so here’s a little series of Rose-pinecone-pictures:
Jay stepped in and loaded her lap with “pine-shones.” He found some partially-stripped pine cones and called them ice cream cones. He kept making me ice cream cones by pouring sand on a pine cone and bringing it over to me. They were tasty.
Pretty wildflowers dotted the trail.
When we got back from the sand pit, it was playtime with Steph on the sleeping bag. The Men returned from their wrestle with the mountain by 3pm. We packed up our dirty feet and and drove on home.
Within 7 minutes, Jay was out like a light.
