Mount Rainier - Boots on the ground

 Everything Kathryn said was right but I wanted to capture some stats and a lesson.

So from White River to Longmire it was 31 miles and +6800ft and -5900ft. Of course I didn't finish  so take a few miles off but it was a monster day.

The old gray mare ain't what she (he) used to be.

Some pics...

I'll finish you mountain. One day....one day.

Mt Rainier - Washington

 Onto Washington State! Officially the farthest most state in the CONUS from South Carolina! I couldn't believe we'd made it. It was here that me...and the kids were missing home. But Mt. Rainier was in front of us with a big goal to achieve. Beau had previously hiked the perimeter of Mt. Rainier with his good buddy, Morgan. They were unable to finish due to injuries. For those of you unaware, the trail that goes around the base of Mt. Rainier is 93 miles. And throughout this trail that are only a few places where you can get on/off the trail. Beau and his buddy had finished 2/3 of the trail. It has been eating at Beau to complete the last 30 miles. And we were here. Now was his opportunity. But who could go with him? Not me I said. He tried a buddy in Seattle with a no; tried to convince another to fly out and do and that was a no. But there was no way Beau was getting all the way there and not hiking. So off he went alone. 

All four of us woke up before the sun to drive 1.5 hours into the spot where Beau had last left off and he started his 30 mile trek as a day hike. We gave hugs, a lunch, water and his phone and said goodbye for the day with the expectation that he would call when he was finished and we would pick him up at the end.

While Beau was off hiking, the kids and I made our way east to do some exploring in the towns. We stopped at a quaint cafe and grabbed some breakfast and then on to find a fun kid activity on a very cold and misty day. We went searching for sandals and clothes, as my children were quickly outgrowing everything they owned. And finally for a surprise movie at the theater to see Space Jam to include candy, soda and popcorn. After finishing our adventures we started the drive back to Mt Rainier, anticipating a call from Beau within a couple of hours. Glad we headed back when we did as Beau called us about halfway back to our campground (1.5 hour drive) telling us he needed us to come pick him up. Sadly, that meant he had not completed his goal. 

Two hours later, we arrived at the gate to the National Park. When Beau called he said he was on a certain road and to look for him sitting on a bed of a truck... What? At the gate to the park I naturally asked the ranger where this road was and that I was here to pick up my husband. She looked at me wide-eyed and said "Well, that's a really long road, how are you going to find him?" I'll just drive until I see a man sitting on the bed of a truck and if I come back here in the dark you'll know I didn't find him. 

The kids, Titus and I set off to find dad. Caroline kept asking me how we would see him; where was Dad; are we ever going to find him? All things I couldn't answer and was simply making up very positive answers for. The longer we drove the more I was trying to remember what he was wearing that morning and where I thought he told me he was. During our search it started raining, it's dropping in temperature and the sun is going down. 

And then we finally found him! Sitting on an 18-wheeler bed wet and cold. Whew! Thank the Lord! Beau didn't finish that day, but we'll go back one day and he'll try again!

Crater Lake - Oregon

 From the coast the fam drove on to Crater Lake National Park. Boy, that was a cold day and one that none of us were prepared for. I think the kiddos were in sandals and all we brought with us were rain jackets to "keep warm". 

It truly was a beautiful place. Imagine what would look like a huge lake surrounded by trees. Mist over the water, glimpses of different shades of blue and trails that lead down to the bank from all sides. Highlights included the fact that Titus could walk around with us and Gray bought his first wallet. He had saved his money (chores from doing laundry) and felt like such a big boy. First thing he put in his wallet was the receipt they gave him after purchase. 

We stayed at a great Oregonian vineyard from Harvest Host for the evening.

Oregon Coast - 2nd Visit

 Unfortunately for mom and dad, we discovered the most amazing colors on the coast of Oregon after they left us. Beau specifically wanted to see the tidal pools on the Oregon Coast and after talking to a lady at the front desk of our campground, we simply walked across the street one early morning to go exploring. And look what we found!

Mussels galore! We were walking all over them! (Felt bad about that since they are living animals...but...)

And amazing starfish in so many beautiful colors! We'd never seen anything like it!

Oregon Coast - 1st visit

 You can tell by the title of this post that there must be an additional visit coming and you would be right! This first visit included mom and dad, which was fun. We enjoyed seeing the coastline, walking the beach, taking hikes up the steep hillsides and enjoyed rummaging through the driftwood and the rocks on the beach. 

We were also fortunate enough to come across a couple cleaning some clams at one of the campsites we were staying in and they recommended going clamming! What?!?! We can do that? For us east coasters, clams are something that just appear in the grocery store...having no idea how they actually came out of the ocean. But we quickly found out. 

What do we need? When do we go? Where do we go? What do you do with the stuff once you have it? Beau took off to research and get what we needed. And the next morning came early as we headed out to the beach, gear in hand. We were clearly the "newbies" as we were in sandals and everyone else was wisely in mud boots. Whew! It was cold!

And since they were successful, there was the cleaning!

Redwoods National Park

 One of the places I had been excited to see on this entire trip was Redwoods National Forest. Fun fact: Sequoia National Park and Redwoods National Park are both made up of Sequoia trees...there's just different species of Sequoias. But they're both huge and absolutely wonderful to walk amongst. 

Stops along the way demanded this one at the beach. I feel like my 6 year old looks 16!

One of the great things my mom found for us was a place called Trees of Mystery. It's an educational park in the midst of the redwood trees that has a ton of great activities. We enjoyed the "walk" through the tree tops, posing with Paul Bunyan and chair lift. 

 

This tree trunk is showing the monumental events in history and where they would be marked on age (rings) of the tree.

Naturally, a stop in the National Park was a must. And Junior Rangers became official here as well! One of the highlights of this park was an educational tour of the forest by this park ranger. Told us all about how these trees have to be at least 1.25 miles from the seashore, what happens and does not happen to them in a fire, how each tree when they fall to the ground goes to help feed and support new trees in the forest. We became lovers of forests and trees. Beautiful! This first picture is showing an elk rack that had grown into the tree or I should say the tree grew around the rack.