Building Trails

  • Travelling with Baby

    In A8’s first 2 years, she visited 11 US states and British Columbia. These adventures included a few small road trips and 12 round trip flights. I want to share how we survived and had fun. I share about expectations and then tips for packing, riding on the plane, and hitting the road.

    Expectations

    We love adventures with our daughter but we needed to adjust our expectations. The biggest change was reducing the amount we do each day. We typically wake early, go on a morning adventure, return to nap, do something small in the afternoon, and return early for bed. For the first year, we could skip the naps and instead explore while she slept in a baby carrier. We also get nicer and more spacious accommodations compared to before kids. We love balconies or patios for while she is sleeping. We prefer kitchens so we do not need to eat out every meal and can prep  snacks.  And for longer trips, we need access to laundry facilities.

    Packing

    Packing depends on the trip but I recommend the following at minimum:

    • Diapers/Wipes: We pack all we need for a shorter trip. If more than a long weekend, we used to bring some and buy a pack at our destination. But we eventually learned that packing all diapers needed meant increased packing space coming home. We always have a full pack of wipes and back up diaper bag supplies available while travelling. We do cloth diapers at home but stick to disposable when travelling.
    • Pumping supplies and bottles: I only bring pumping supplies if on a trip that I plan to spend time with friends or family minus the little one. For us that means only when we are visiting the grandparents and we can get away.
    • Clothes: This depends on where we are going. If the trip is more than a long weekend, we plan on doing laundry at least once. Layers are important to keep baby warm or cool as needed. I found I also need more clothes for myself than before kids due to spills and spit up.
    • Thermometer and Medicine: We often forget to bring over the counter medicines with us. As a result, one of us would need to run to a pharmacy in a city we don’t know at 1am because our daughter has a high fever.
    • Snacks: These of course change has she moved onto solids but we tend to let her have a bit more sodium and sugar on plane rides to keep everyone happy.
    • Toys/Activities: Our child is most happy with books. We bring along a few of her favorite books and smaller toys. Puppets are fun on airplanes. On our most recent flight at a little over 3 years old, we also brought crayons and coloring books. We have managed all flights and long car rides (so far) without a screen except going through photos.
    • Car seat: When flying, we bring our car seat and check if for free. We check it even when a seat is available to place it in, because we prefer the extra space. We did not bring one to Chicago and Las Vegas since we relied on public transit. In Vegas, we rented a car seat with our car rental when we ventured to Zion. The car seat made her legal but we questioned how safe it was.
    • Stroller/Carrier: We brought a stroller on our first trip and never bothered again. It helps with  managing an infant car seat through the airport but was a pain otherwise. We find it easier to bring a carrier and no stroller. We check the car seat and bags as soon as we arrive at the airport and then wear her in a carrier. In her first flight as a three year old, she rode around on her new Trunki. Note, We later retired Trunki because it added more hassle than value.

    Babes on Planes

    We didn’t purchase tickets for our daughter when she was under 2. We preferred saving the money and we figure they end up in our laps either way. We have friends that buy a ticket for their little one for convenience, safety, or for fear of the car seat getting damaged in baggage. As for the latter, our car seat received only cosmetic damage. Although we did not buy a ticket, we always tried for a third seat. If available, we booked the aisle and window seats of an empty row. The middle seat stays empty or the occupant is happy to switch. With Alaska, we called to have the middle seat blocked, which they do until the flight is full.

    Out of concern for her developing ears, we used headphones for our daughter’s first flight at 5 months old. We always pack these just in case but they are usually not needed. We found that for us the key to flying was nursing. I nursed during take off, landing, and napping. We also changed her diaper every chance and we let her move around when possible (even if between laps). Once she hit toddlerhood, we started providing snacks and activities. Last, if given the opportunity to check bags for free, we always take it. We often check our bags for free with the car seat when we first get to the airport. This makes moving around the airport and plane easier.

    We love that travelling with little ones comes with a little help:

    • Free car seat and stroller check
    • Early boarding while they are under 3
    • Seat hold – Alaska will block the seat until the flight fills.
    • Free flight until they are 2 years old

    Babes on Wheels

    I find road trips harder than flights because I cannot nurse and change diapers without stopping. It doesn’t help that our kids tend to dislike cars and we do not provide screens for easy entertainment. Our first road trip was when she was 2 months old and should have been about 2.5 hours. Between traffic and stops for nursing and changing diapers, it took us 5 hours. It was exhausting.

    By the time we did a big road trip when she was a little more than 2 years old, she was a champ. She would chat with us, play with toys, and read her books as we drove. We did another big road trip once she was a potty trained three year old and we had a 6 month old and the trip was surprisingly smooth. I often found myself in the backseat soothing both kids with songs and stories.

    We we found helps for a road trip with an infant or toddler:

    • We allow for plenty of time to get to our destination. Especially with a baby, we find that the trip duration can double.
    • We have found that blow outs are inevitable when taking an infant on a road trip. We change her diaper often (and still get blow outs).
    • We keep our distances short. Even once our daughter was 2 years old and we did our road trip to Banff, we never planned for more than 6 hours in one day. We tended to have it at 4 hours and never two driving days in a row. Even for our more recent trip, we are broke a potential 4 hour drive into two days to be safe.

    At the end of the day, I find that travelling with young children is not easy but worth it. We love the memories we have of exploring cities, mountains, and beaches with our little girl and we are looking forward to the many adventures ahead.

  • Exploring Vancouver Island

    Family Road Trip 2018

    For our 2018 family vacation, we did a road trip to Vancouver Island with our almost three year old Ariel and our five month old Sebastian (Ariel and Sebastian being the nicknames chosen by our mermaid loving three year old). We focused on Victoria and Tofino but spent a little time in a few other spots to help break up the drives. We also spent a few days in Vancouver so one of us could run a half marathon before heading back to Seattle.

    Heading to and exploring Victoria

    We planned to take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria but did not complete the reservation. We were on the road when we realized the mistake and it was too risky to get stuck in Port Angeles. We made a last minute change and drove to Vancouver and took the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry. We reserved a spot on the way and ended up with plenty of buffer time to explore the nearby area and get lunch. We even tried visiting Point Roberts but the line at the border was too long. Once we made it to the port we realized we should have hung out there. There were food options and a playground. On the ferry, we walked around, visited the playroom, and enjoyed the views. After we arrived in Victoria and settled in at the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites, Jared took Ariel for a swim in the indoor pool and I went for a walk with the baby. The weather was clear and the water calm. There was a small protest, street music, and tourists and locals alike heading for happy hours and dinner. I joined back up with the rest of my family for dinner at Red Fish Blue Fish where the long line (with kids!!) was worth the fish and chips.

    On our first full day in Victoria we headed to Butchart Gardens because we did not want to miss the chance to explore the gardens with good weather. Our expectations were surpassed. We loved the sunken gardens and enjoyed afternoon tea time at The Dining Room. We requested a table by the window in our reservation and were placed next to a window overlooking the Italian Garden. We split one afternoon tea and a lunch entree and walked away full and happy. The rest of the day involved our hotel pool, visiting a playground nearby, and cooking dinner in our hotel room. It is worth noting that we reserved a room that included a kitchen so we could eat in at least once a day. We were happily surprised to be upgraded to what was basically a one bedroom apartment with a full kitchen. This made our ‘room’ easy to decompress and eat in with the kids.

    Sunken Garden
    Butchart Gardens
    Rose Carousel

    It was down-pouring the next day, but we still explored Victoria with a self guided walking tour. Luckily, the kids napped in the BOB and the carrier for our longer than expected walk to Spinnakers for lunch with a view.

    Our last full day we went on a long walk to the farm at Beacon Hill Park, Ogden Point Breakwater, and Fisherman’s Wharf. We loved getting up close with the peacocks and baby goats in Beacon Hill Park. The baby goats would even climb up our backs and jump down. The grown ups were just as excited (if not more) as the kids. We were especially happy we got there in time for the morning goat run. From there, the Breakwater was a bit far with two kids but luckily we brought the BOB. The Breakwater was picturesque and the Fisherman’s Wharf was colorful and lively. 

    Heading to Tofino

    Even though it is only about four hours from Victoria to Tofino, we split the trip with one night in Parksville. We were worried that four hours would become eight after potty breaks and diaper changes. Leaving Victoria, we stopped in Chemainus for lunch, a self-guided mural walk, and time at the playground. The murals were fun, but the town was very quiet. Once in Parksville, we were are able to enjoy the water and views and have a low key dinner in our AirBnB.

    Chemainus Mural
    Parksville Water Play
    Parksville Sunrise

    Exploring Tofino

    Tofino was our first true beach vacation as parents and we loved it. We stayed in a water front hotel with a balcony to enjoy the view when the kids were sleeping. Ariel loved playing in the sand and watching the ocean from the children’s swing. We even met our first Velella! Luckily we took one photo the day we arrived because it was the last day they were around.

    We spent most of our time relaxing at the beach and tide pooling but we also managed to go whale watching.  Sebastian hung out in the carrier while Ariel spotted the whales with mermaid tails. It was chilly and windy so the kids had to retreat indoors. Afterwards we grabbed a waterfront lunch so we could continue enjoying the view but stay warm.

    Velella
    Swinging with a View
    Tidepooling
    Hiking to Shore
    Whale Watching

    Heading to and Exploring Vancouver

    Heading out we stopped for a short hike and picnic. We didn’t want to take any risks with a three hour drive before the ferry so we stayed the night in Qualicum Beach before taking the ferry the next morning. Each parent took the opportunity to go on a evening beach walk and we all enjoyed a little beach time in the morning. The ferry ride was similar to before except we were a little frustrated that the television in the playroom could not be turned off. This was difficult for us when we keep our kids screens free. Luckily there were other kids to play with and plenty of boat to explore.

    We somehow managed to visit Vancouver on a yearly basis. We usually stay downtown but for this trip we stayed near South Main. It was a short walk to Jared’s race start in Queen Elizabeth Park and within walking distance to playgrounds, shops, and restaurants. We did a mix of eating in and dining out and made it to our brunch spot in Vancouver: Twisted Fork.

    Pacific Rim National Park
    Qualicum Beach

    Post trip reflections

    We were a little worried that we were crazy for doing a road trip with two young kids. We were more conservative than needed with breaking up the trips, but happy we played it safe. Staying in places we could cook reduced the need to dine out, which can be overwhelming with kids. We couldn’t get a kitchen in Tofino, but managed to have a refrigerator so we could do very simple lunches or dinners in our room. We look forward to visiting in the future when the kids are older. It will be the same places with new experiences.

  • Prepping for a Baby

    I put this list together for a friend and updated it after our second child in 2017. I don’t include clothes since you tend to receive plenty from family and friends. On our first, we did make sure to start with a set of short sleeve onesies, set of long sleeve onesies, cozy pants, socks, and hats. I sprinkle in a few bits of advice and insight on our personal experience.

    Diaper Changing

    • 1 Change pad – Rather than a change table, we put a changing pad on the dresser.
    • 2 changing pad covers
    • Pack of changing pad liners – We initially didn’t buy these but kept needing to wash the covers.
    • Small trash can for diapers. This can be for cloth or disposable.
    • Wipes and wipe holder – We use both disposable and reusable wipes. For cloth wipes, we also had a glass water bottle for wiping.
    • Antibacterial gel – We keep this on the changing table.
    • Diaper bag supplies: soft fold-able changing pad, disposable liners, wipe holder (we bought one that later broke and now use one that came free with a large pack of diapers), burp cloth, and spare clothes (for baby and you!).

    Cloth Diapers

    • We used Flip diapers for our first daughter primarily with these prefolds but also have some of the official inserts.
    • For overnight, we used a cotten nighttime prefold with a hemp insert folded in (hemp insert shouldn’t touch their skin). We then covered her diaper with wool bloomers.
    • With the second baby, we added some Grovia hybrid diapers. You can also try their trial kit, which is a good deal.
    • We also have a waterproof bag for putting dirty diapers in.

    Sleep

    • Swaddling – We could not find any the right size for newborn other than those at the hospital. For our first, we later used swaddling blankets. We stopped swaddling much earlier with our second because she was fine without and could roll over early.
    • Crib – For our first, we kept a standard sizes crib in our room the first year (lowers chances of SIDS). But she ended up in our bed much of the time after four months. We switched out the larger crib for a mini crib for our second. Our first switched to the crib mattress on the floor not long after turning one year. The crib has only a mattress and fitted sheet (no bumpers, blankets, or pillows). Our first got a small pillow and blanket at about 14 months.
    • We did not do a pacifier but bought natural rubber pacifiers in case needed them.

    Food

    • They don’t start solids until 6 months but I recommend baby led weaning (zero baby food). The Baby Led Weaning Cookbook has everything you need to know plus recipes.
    • We got a seat on Craiglist similar to this but it depends on what is best for your dining area. The biggest issue we have is that you cannot take the straps across the lap off to clean without taking the whole thing apart with a screwdriver (which we have not done).
    • We like these bibs as well as this full coverage one.

    Bottles (and the joys of pumping)

    • You should get a pump free through your insurance.
    • We did glass bottles and liked Avent Natural Glass the most because they are simple.
    • I recommend ordering some extra milk storage bottles and storage bags. I started pumping before going to work so she would take a bottle and I to build a frozen storage.
    • I personally cannot pump without my pumping bra.
    • You will want pads, especially at work. I have disposable and reusable.
    • And each morning, I packed a micro-steam bag for each pumping session. This made prep easy, especially if there is a microwave in the room you pump in. At home, I use a reusable sterilizer.

    Nursing

    • Buy nipple cream before your baby arrives. I prefer the kind that doesn’t need to be cleaned off.
    • For my first, I used a nursing cover for the first 3 months and then went without. I never bothered covering up with the second.
    • Nursing tanks are amazing because you can wear any top and not worry about pulling out the post baby belly.
    • I got a breast friend and a boppy. Probably overkill but I like having both. The boppy is also good for tummy time.

    Seats & Swings 

    • We have a cheaper version of this sleeper locally for hanging out and napping. We call it the taco. Once she could hold her head consistently up, we got a Bumbo with a belt.
    • We had a swing because we got it free but never used it. That said, others have found it to be a godsend.

    Moving Around

    • We did the Chicco Bravo Trio System but you should check consumer report for the current safest car seat. I don’t recommend used but if you do make sure it is not expired and never been in an accident. At 7 months we switched to a Diono Rainier, but my husband thinks it is too heavy and ridiculous and recommends a lighter one.
    • Car mirror
    • I found our sidewalks to be difficult with the regular stroller so we ended up buying a used Bob Revolution too. I may get a double too but they take up alot of space.
    • Somehow we got the following for free: newborn sling, Moby wrap, BabyBjorn, and Ergo. We barely used the sling but used the rest. The Bjorn is nice because it is easy but it is painful when the baby hits 15 or 16 pounds. If you pick only one, I recommend the Ergo with the newborn insert or something similar. With our second, we replaced the old Ergo with a Lille.

    Other things we found useful

  • To Banff and Back

    Family Road Trip 2017

    For our 2017 family vacation, we planned on sailing to and around the San Juan Islands but our boat engine ran into issues before the trip. We looked for a new plan for our family vacation and landed on Banff. Despite the last minute planning, we managed to reserve four nights of camping in Banff. And since we had a two year old, we made the trek out there and back a road trip. We headed east from Seattle for camping in Winthrop and staying with family in Rathdrum before Banff.  On our way home from Banff, we stayed in Kelowna, BC. We managed to never spend more than six hours driving in one day.

    Winthrop, WA

    Ever since we stumbled upon Winthrop, WA on the way to a backpacking trip in Twisp Pass, we wanted to go back. We finally returned years later with our little girl, A. We managed to get a spot by the river at the Winthrop KOA near town but hope to reserve far enough in advance in the future to get a spot in the shade. At the campground, we enjoyed sitting by the river, playing at the playground, and swimming in the pool. They also had amazing bathrooms and showers and even a small laundry mat. On our first day we set up camp and walked around town. We ate at Carlos1800 Mexican Grill & Cantina and explored the outdoor Schafer Museum. We read about finding and refining gold while A played with the gravel.

    On the second day, we had breakfast and playtime at the KOA before heading to Falls Creek Waterfall. This was further than we expected but we also took a wrong turn that took us up and over the waterfall. It’s best to navigate to the Falls Creek Campground – the waterfall is across the street. The hike to the waterfall is less than 5 minutes so we continued up the hill for another 15 minutes before heading back to our campground for lunch, naptime, and a swim in the pool. A was not a fan of the pool and much preferred our later visit to horses near the main road and to Sheri’s Sweet Shop where the three of us enjoyed Samoa Cookie, Maplenut, and Vanilla ice cream. We ended the day with a walk through town and across the Sa Teekh Wa Bridge.

    Our last morning in Winthrop we woke up to smoke and ash from the forest fires. After packing up and visiting the horses one last time, we grabbed some coffee and a muffin at Rocking Horse Bakery and checked out Trail’s End Bookstore, which has a fun kids’ area.

    KOA Campsite
    Falls Creek Falls, Okanogan County

    Rathdrum, ID

    We didn’t arrive in Rathdrum until the evening so our first adventure was the next morning. We explored the Twin Lakes on a pontoon boat and saw osprey, bald eagles, and  lily pads. We also got to ride around the small community in a golf cart and went through “Stinky Hollow”. In Coeur d’Alene, we visited Mudgy and Millie, walked along Sherman Avenue, strolled the boardwalk, and enjoyed a dinner with a view at Dockside. After dinner, the four of us split a Gooey, which was worth every penny and calorie.

    Rathdrum, ID
    Coeur d’Alene, ID

    Banff

    Our drive to Banff was our first longer drive so we needed a much earlier start. On our drive, we saw an amusement park, enjoyed a faster entry through customs than we are used to, and eating Timbits. We were surprised with how much of the drive was in the national parks. We were also immediately surprised by the wildlife. Not long after entering the parks, we stopped for a grizzly cub crossing the street in front of us. We took a photo from inside the car and kept an eye out for his mama. We were less pleasantly surprised with how busy Banff was when we stopped for supplies. The grocery store was chaos. We wished we purchased our food and alcohol before entering the park. We were excited to reach our campground in the Two Jack Main campground. Despite being a large campground, our spot felt secluded.

    Entering Banff National Park
    Banff Campsite

    Day 1 in Banff: Lake Louise, Lake Agnus, and Two Jack Lake

    We were not expecting how crowded the park would be. On our first full day, we didn’t arrive to Moraine Lake until 10:30am and were unable to turn down Moraine Lake Road because the lot was full. From there we headed to the Lake Louise overflow lot to take the free shuttle to Lake Louis. This was  exciting for A because she got to ride in a yellow bus. Once we arrived, the lake was packed with tourists from all over the world taking pictures at the entrance of the lake. After hitting the restroom, grabbing some cash at the hotel, and taking a few pictures of the iconic lake, we headed up the Lake Agnes trail to the Lake Agnes Tea House. The trail was easy to moderate but we had one person carrying a 30 pound toddler and the other 26 weeks pregnant so the ascent took us about 1.5 hours. The trail was congested but not nearly as packed as the lake. We enjoyed stops at Mirror Lake and a waterfall on our way up. Lake Agnes was packed but we managed to get a table at the tea house, sharing with a few others. We learned the hard way that you do not wait in line for a table but instead hunt one down, similar to finding a parking spot. The food and drinks were simple and a bit more expensive than we expected but we did enjoy a white cheddar and cucumber sandwich on house made bread, tomato and lentil soup, lemonade, and lemon poppy seed bread. We didn’t indulge in tea since tea is a little tricky with pregnancy. Once we made it back down to the bottom, there were less people and smoke so we took some more pictures before shuttling back.

    Since we had to keep all food and cooking supplies in the car, we were able to head straight to the day use area on Two Jack Lake and make dinner. As we drove in, we came across a herd of Bighorn Sheep, including some lambs (Boo Boo sheep according to A). Our biggest tips from the day are to get an early start, hunt down a table immediately at Lake Agnes Tea House, try to stay somewhere close to the sites you plan to see, be prepared to keep everything in the car if camping, and consider Canmore as a less crowded option than Banff.

    Lake Louise
    Mirror Lake
    Lake Agnus
    Two Jack Lake

    Day 2 in Banff: Johnston Canyon and Downtown Banff

    We got a much earlier start our second day to visit Johnston Canyon. We arrived to an empty P1 lot at about 8am and made our breakfast and coffee. The trail was congested but the crowds thinned after passing the lower falls. At the lower falls, we were initially unsure about waiting in the line but happy we did for the up close view of the waterfall. We continued to the upper falls, which were amazing minus the fact that one of us dropped the camera lens cover – giving perspective to how tall the falls were. We decided against the 3.1 km hike to the Ink Pots since we were already cutting it close to naptime. Hiking back, we saw the line for the lower falls was about five times longer. When we departed at about 11:30am, both the P1 and P2 lots were full and cars were lining the road.

    After Johnston Canyon, we headed to Banff and had a picnic lunch in Central Park. We relaxed while A napped in her small day tent. We then headed to the roaring Bow Falls, where A enjoyed watching rafts embark on the river. From there, we went to Banff Centre to swim and take our shower since Two Jack Main campground does not have showers. Taking advantage of being clean, we headed back into town to walk around and get dinner at Bear Street Tavern. We indulged in forest mushroom pizza and pork belly mac and cheese. One of us even got to enjoy a reasonably priced stein of double IPA.

    Our tips for the day are to hike Johnston Canyon early, plan downtime in Central Park if you have kids, and plan to shower at Banff Centre if staying at a campground without showers. You can also shower at the hot springs.

    Hiking Johnston Canyon
    Johnston Canyon
    Welcome to Banff
    Bow Falls

    Day 3 in Banff: Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway

    We finally made it to Moraine Lake on our last full day in Banff. We got up and headed out before breakfast and arrived at Moraine Lake at 8:30am. The road to Moraine Lake was still open but we were still lucky to get street parking. We recommend getting there by 8am to be safe. We made breakfast at one of the picnic tables and then made the short hike to the lake. By then, the clouds were clearing and we discovered the beauty of Moraine Lake. Since they closed the road at 9am, it was not crowded like Lake Louise. We took in the view, grabbed a latte, and relaxed near the canoe docks. We then headed down the lakeside trail, which A hiked most of on her own. Despite being only 1.4 km and flat, few people were on the trail. At the end, we had an amazing view of the lake from the other side. When we got back to the canoe docks, J climbed the short Rockpile Trail to get the $20 view of the lake.

    Hiking Moraine Lake
    Near Moraine Lake
    Moraine Lake

    By the time we made it back down to Lake Louise Village, A was asleep so we ventured 45 minutes north to see Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, and Peyto Lake. We only had a glimpse of each since we took turns viewing while they other stayed in the car. It was worth the drive but a longer visit of each would have been nice.

    After the Icefields Parkway, we headed back to Central Park in Banff to enjoy the playground and an early dinner in the park. We debated taking the gondola and ended up strolling around town instead. The next day we needed to get up early for the drive to Kelowna.

    Peyto Lake

    Adventures to and in Kelowna, BC

    We were excited to drive through Glacier National Park but we didn’t see any glaciers due to the smoke from the fires. We stopped for a short walk at the Giant Cedar Boardwalk and again 40 minutes later at the Enchanted Forest. Even with our stops, we arrived in Kelowna before dinner. 

    Giant Cedars Boardwalk
    Enchanted Forest
    Enchanted Forest

    The next morning we consumed assembly line pancakes at the hotel before heading to a free tour of the cultural district that was informative, interesting, and included a visit to the art museum. After the tour, we walked around and grabbed lunch at the arts center before returning to the hotel for napping, laundry, and time at the pool. In the evening, we hit up one of the local public splash parks before grabbing an eclectic dinner at Curious Cafe. After dinner, we walked down to the waterfront where A danced to piano playing and jumped to music at a concert in the park. Our last day was the drive home but we made one more stop in Hope, BC for lunch and a midday stroll. Taking a road trip with a 2 year old felt a little crazy but we had an amazing family adventure and hope to visit Banff again in the future.

    Kelowna Art Gallery
    Kelowna Bear
    Kelowna

  • Thanksgivings in Portland

    We spent Thanksgiving in Portland in 2012 and 2013. Each visit offered different experiences worth sharing. Our visit in 2012 was our first visit to Portland. We arrived on Thanksgiving and enjoyed quiet streets and an amazing Thanksgiving dinner at the Blossoming Lotus, where we parked in front of the nearby Lion and the Rose Victorian Bed & Breakfast from the Lonelyhearts episode of Grimm.

    Friday we enjoyed the parade from our room, some Black Friday shopping in the Pearl District and Nob Hill, and a visit to Deschutes. Deschutes offered amazing gluten-free beer on tap and thick-cut gluten-free grilled cheese and fries. We enjoyed Deschutes so much we went back on Saturday. Saturday also included the Farmer’s Market at Portland State University and the Saturday Market.

    We arrived on Wednesday in 2013 to run the Turkey Trot on a very cold Thanksgiving morning with the Oregon Road Runners Club. The run was fun. The highlight: the run ended in the Zoo for photo ops with elephants and orangutans. The low-light: the hills were monstrous. We ran the entire first half downhill, which meant an uphill and exhausting second half. The enjoyable end at the zoo and good workout was worth a little pain.

    The rest of the day included biking to Grimm locations, lunch at La Provence & Petite Provence, shopping at Powell’s, Thanksgiving dinner at Henry’s Tavern, and the tree lighting at the Pioneer Courthouse Square. This event was loud and crowded but fun with live music, the mayor, and the 75-foot ‘holiday tree’ lit (one speaker accidentally said Christmas tree and then corrected himself).

    On Saturday, we explored Hawthorne District where we enjoyed some more good food and holiday shopping for our nephews.

  • Tiger Mountain

    This particular weekend we woke up wanting to go for a hike, but without the motivation to drive out to the Cascades. So we settled on Tiger mountain, near Issaquah, both because of proximity and because the elevation changes meet our requirements of “a hike”. The trail head lies near another two past hikes, Poo Poo Point (don’t follow our winding route!), and Anti-Aircraft Ridge. We hiked all three, including Tiger #3, during mid-Fall. We must become homebodies as the daylight wanes. We set off on the standard West Tiger #3 trail from the trailhead, speeding through the flat, broad runway just west of the nature preserve. The trail quickly thinned off and we began a brisk climb up the face of Tiger. We passed many unmarked offshoots for the Cable Trail, but stuck to the primary trail. Despite being close to Seattle, the trail was near-empty and we enjoyed long patches of solitude. There was a thick fog that hugged the middle of the mountain and we spent half the hike moving through this gray mist.

    The intersections with the Cable trail occurred more frequently near the top as both trails leveled off and began running near parallel. There was a small, abandoned camp to the right of the trails under the protection of some trees, about a hundred yards from the peak. Although banned, there is evidence that people camp here. The peak matched its description, and grew thick with evergreens. This old growth survived the logging boom, and differed mostly in denseness from the forest on the trail. The clearing provided a couple of rocks to rest and eat, and some friendly birds fluttered on the edges, flying in to eat bread from hikers.

    We looped down using a different, unmaintained trail. It starts a couple hundred feet down the cable trail on the left. It’s not marked, but clear-trodden and descends quickly. The mud underfoot and persistent moisture from the fog made it slow going. We intersected another trail that led to Poo Poo Point, but continued our steep descent. Eventually we found the Notch Trail, which was wider, more level, and drained better. We picked up speed and quickly reached the nature preserve, as well as another motivation for choosing this hike: the abandoned bus. From there we quickly made it back to the car, with plenty of time for an early dinner.

    Our loop around Tiger #3 revealed a small portion of the mountain. Supposedly, fifty miles of trails cross the face, including a trail, which we plan to do hike, that connects the three summits. The history of the mountain brings modern artifacts into the forest in odd, puzzling ways. This trail included the abandoned bus, but there are remnants of logging, mining and train crashes on other parts of the mountain. The trails will obviously clog in the warmer months, but while the winter cold and fog keep fair-weather hikers out, we’ll be back.

  • Our first overnight sail

    A Ketch and the Olympic mountains
    We cast off from Shilshole Oct 5th around noon to embark on our first overnight sail aboard Whisper. Our itinerary had us sailing to Bainbridge for lunch and continuing on to Blake Island. Blake Island appealed to us as a good first overnight, because of its isolation and lack of land access. The small marina had us worried, so we figured out how to tow the small, wet dinghy behind us using the port cleat above the transom.

    We reviewed plenty of charts and field reports the night before sailing. This is quite in contrast from our day sails, where we’re familiar with the waters and obstacles. We spent some extra effort in planning the route we would take to cross the VTS lanes the quickest, which easily added an extra hour to the trip. After that, we paid attention to the narrow channels and shallow waters surrounding Bainbridge and Blake. It’s almost unheard of to worry about depth near Shilshole, where the water quickly reaches several hundred fathoms.

    Low winds prevented us from traveling as fast as planned, but the unusually sunny day easily made up for it. The leg to Bainbridge, which was supposed to take an hour, took close to three hours. Luckily, it was three hours spent in sun and solitude. As we neared the shoal hutting from the northern entrance of Eagle Harbor, we decided to spend the night at Bainbridge.

    We spent the remainder of the evening meandering around downtown Winslow and tasting wine at Eleven Winery. We enjoyed grilled squash and veggie burgers on the boat before settling down in the V-berth for the night. The boat felt like a camper and was just about as solid. There was no rocking and we didn’t feel the tide at all.

    On Sunday we packed up, took a short walk, enjoyed coffee at Roosters Cafe, and then left Eagle harbor. It was easier to leave than to enter, although we had to time our exit plan around the ferry. It’s fun to see the people on the ferry looking down at Whisper. I used to stand on the ferry and wonder who the people were that were sailing around. The winds were great for the return journey, quickly pushing us back to Shilshole at 5 knots.

    At the helm
    Wind in our sails
    Our dinghy

  • Twisp Pass – South Pass

    We spent Labor Day weekend in 2012 hiking the 25.4 miles Twisp Pass – South Pass route from Backpacking Washington by Craig Romano. We arrived late Saturday, which meant we were unable to pick up our back country permit in Marblemount. Labor Day is a horrible time to forget your permits, because the rangers roam the heads of trails like hungry wolves.

    A late start on Saturday put us behind in reaching the first campsite, which is about four and a half miles into the hike. This resulted in some some hiking with headlamps and fruitless hunting for an early camp. We established a campsite in a small flat clearing to the side of the trail with easy access to fresh water. There was no sign and just a light deer trail to the clearing. It was deep enough that we didn’t meet any day hikers while stepping out of our tent the next day.

    The next day we woke up with some instant coffee and oatmeal, refilled our water, and packed up camp. Our hike towards McAlester Lake started off well, meandering through several passes and meadows with wildflowers abloom. Several better campsites with water access are located along this section about eight miles southwest of South Creek Campground. One of these, Fireweed Camp, is located in the North Cascades National Park, which means different requirements for backcountry permits.

    Near Fireweed camp we took a jaunt east for an arduous 3.3 miles uphill. The description in the guides neglects to stress the steepness of this never-ending climb through wilderness and clear-cutting. After leveling off and hiking through a couple sections of clear-cut trees (at least in 2012), we came across Dagger Lake and made camp. There was another couple here that seemed much better prepared for the cool evenings, with a fire roaring and heavy down jackets. No doubt they’d been at the camp site for a few hours. This site has two advantages over the other camp sites we passed: a location for tying up pack animals and a wooden throne.

    The final day we hiked three miles to a tree trunk bridge over the merging of south and north forks of the Twisp River. We developed a false sense of being near the end of the trail when we came upon a gravel parking lot about seven miles further, approximately where Road’s End Campground should have been located. The trail indicators disappeared at the intersection of 4440 and the trail, and we followed our compass east (left) along the gravel road until we saw trail 440 on the left hand side. This picked back up the trail, and followed relatively close to the road until we came upon our car.

    Our drive to Twisp Pass took us through some scenic country (the North Cascades National Park and Winthrop), and we loved hiking the loop from Twisp to South pass. The hardest parts of this trip were not leaving enough time to pick up permits the day of our trip and not hiking enough the first day. The shortened hiking schedule forced us to pick up the slack on the second day, which in turn impacted our endurance on the final day. We love loops because there’s no backtracking, but they also remove the capability for an early return. We welcomed the return to civilization when we arrived at that first gas station and rested our blistered feet.

  • Cougar Lakes

    We spent Labor Day weekend in 2011 hiking from Chinook Pass to the Cougar Lakes and back. We followed the Cougar Lakes and Three Lakes route from Backpacking Washington by Craig Romano.

    We hiked the 10 miles to Little Cougar Lake on the first day. The trail was initially congested with day hikers but the trail is soon nearly empty with only backpackers. Many were only hiking as Dewey Lake at about 3 miles. On our way to Cougar Lakes, we met a nice older gentleman with an umbrella and a pistol. We also met a llama that was lost but luckily found by his owner.

    We were one of three tents at Little Cougar Lake and there was plenty of campsites for each group. However, we only saw one camping spot with a fire ring. We enjoyed relaxing near the water and only dared to dip our feet in given the water was freezing.

    Since the hike to the lakes was not strenuous, we took the alternative route back to the PCT in the morning. Romano described this route as a “rougher, shorter, highly scenic, more adventurous route back to the PCT.” His description did not understate the difficulty or the beauty of this alternate path. We found ourselves walking directly up the mountain along a dried spring without switchbacks. There were times we were certain we lost the path but the climb was rewarded with this view of the Cougar Lakes.

    We were ecstatic to come across the notice that we were in the Mount Rainier National Park, because we then knew we were on a trail and would make it back home.

    Once we were back on the PCT, we headed back while taking in views of Mount Rainier. We spent our second night on Dewey Lake, which was much more congested than Little Cougar Lake but not too crowded to find a good spot near the lake. Dewey Lake is beautiful, cold, and worth spending some time near before heading home. Being Dewey Lake is a shorter hike from the tail head, there were multiple families with younger children spending the weekend there.

    After a night at Dewey Lake, we had a short hike back up to the car (a short elevation climb of about 5150 ft). By the end of the hike, we were dirty, tired, and had amazing pictures to treasure.