The weather for the weekend was looking perfect with highs in the 80s and lows in the high 50s. We decided it would be warm enough that we should be able to take our 6 week old baby boy, Jack, camping without too much concern for him staying warm enough. Before we could head out we had to make a few purchases to make camping with an infant as stress-free as possible. We needed a new, family friendly tent, a portable crib, and appropriate warm layers for Jack for sleeping. We went to REI during their Labor Day sale and…
Talapus Lake
Jack was 5 weeks old to the day when we headed out on his second hike – we chose the hike up to Talapus Lake. The forecast for the day was calling for intermittent rain and chilly temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s. After some debate as to how we would face our first cold/rainy hike with our newborn son we packed up rain gear, extra layers for everybody, and Jack’s trusty umbrella and hit the road. We arrived at the trailhead at around 11:00 a.m. and were surprised by the number of cars in the lot. We…
Heather Lake
Our baby boy, Jack, is now 4 weeks old! We took him out for his first hike when he was 2 weeks old, but we didn’t get far, as I was still recovering and needed to take things pretty slow. When he was 3 weeks old we took him, along with a set of his grandparents, to Mount Rainier National Park, we drove to Paradise and did the very short paved trail up to Myrtle Falls. Now that he is 4 weeks old and I am pretty much completely healed up from the birth we decided to try a real hike!…
Sunrise Rim Trail to Emmons Overlook
The 4th of July weekend occurred just two short weeks before my due date. Normally, we would’ve planned a grand adventure-filled weekend, but with baby potentially making his appearance at any time we knew we shouldn’t wander far from home. The road to Sunrise in Mount Rainier National Park was just recently opened up after a long snowy winter and Bobby has been itching to visit this section of the park. We had never been to Sunrise, at 6400 feet it is the highest point in the park that you can drive to within the national park. There is a large…
Franklin Falls
This week was a pretty big milestone for us, I am officially full term in my pregnancy at 37 weeks! We decided to celebrate by going on a short and easy hike that was a bit of a drive into the mountains. Franklin Falls was the perfect destination for our outing. It’s a bit of a drive, just about an hour, so I got to enjoy a wonderful car ride through the beautiful Cascades, which is honestly one of my favorite parts of all the adventures we take in the woods! Ever since I was a child I have enjoyed long…
Denny Creek
Bobby and I have both been antsy for a more difficult hike. At 33 weeks pregnant I am limited as to what I can do safely and comfortably, but we decided to embark on a longer hike. We chose Denny Creek, a 4 mile hike, which is touted as one of the most family friendly hikes in WA. Arthur A. Denny was the leader of the Denny Party who were some of the original settlers in Seattle. Denny Creek was named for the family because they had mining claims in the area. We packed lots of snacks, a lunch, and a…
Coal Creek Falls
Officially into my 8th month of pregnancy meant a pretty low key Memorial Day Weekend at home for us. We did manage to get out one day for a little excursion into the foothills of the Cascades. We headed to Cougar mountain and the Coal Creek Falls trail. A trail that I had actually helped reroute on a Washington Trails Association (WTA) trail crew work party earlier this year! It sure was neat to bring Bobby to a trail that I had helped build! I got to point out a stump that I had helped pull out that was sitting…
Lower Johnny Creek Campground and Hidden Lake Trail
When Bobby first posed the idea of camping my immediate and emphatic response was a resounding NO! As I continued to reflect upon the idea of camping it soon hit me that no matter where I am or what I’m doing, at 30 weeks pregnant, I am generally uncomfortable. Sleeping has become a chore even in the comfort of my own bed. So, why not go camping? Camping is one of my all time favorite activities, maybe I’d sleep better in a tent then I was in my own bed! We left early Saturday morning with Latigo and Beth, a…
Schmitz Park
At 29 weeks pregnant walking long distances or anything with much of a change in elevation has become virtually impossible. After a week of hot weather and sunshine in Seattle, the weekend promised clouds and rain. We headed out early on Saturday morning in an effort to beat the forecasted rain showers that would plague the city and most of the surrounding areas. We drove the short distance to West Seattle and found our way to Schmitz Park. Schmitz Park is a gem held within the boundaries of West Seattle and offers walking trails amidst old growth forests that were saved…
Yakima Skyline Rim
We set off on a sunny Sunday morning in the pursuit of wildflowers. The unusual sunny weather we’ve been enjoying in Seattle had us itching for a glorious spring hike away from the slushy snow that still covers much of the Cascades. We decided to make the long drive east, over the Cascades and into the more arid part of our state. Looking at recent trip reports on the Washington Trails Association website, we saw that wildflowers were beginning to bloom on trails around Yakima. Bobby pulled out his 100 Classic Hikes in Washington guidebook and found the Yakima Skyline…