Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Waptus River

Friday and Saturday.

This was the first backpacking trip for my youngest daughter.  We got to walk in the woods, play in the water, pick a quart of huckelberries, cook on the fire, chase chipmunks and sleep under the stars.  Pretty much checked all the boxes on the to do list for her and her sister.

2-3 miles, 200-300' elev gain.  Perfect kids hike.

Rocks to scamper up.

Nice tree for only being 2nd growth

Waptus river. Loud falls.  Noel the wonder dog.

Jiffypop before bed.

Camp

Huckelberries are ripe!

Those falls again.

Ready to go home.

On another note:

Thursday I went climbing at Frenchman Coulee Sunshine Wall with friends.  This climb has some vulgar, sexual name that I will not include here (lots of the climbs here do).  Its a 5.8 and was a very fun and LONG climb.  All hand and foot jams.  Climbed it toprope.  Most fun climb I have ever done. 105-ish feet vert I think.  A nice, dry 88 degree evening.  MAN was I thirsty after!

Cheers!

-Jeff

What a great trip with the girls! Two of my five neices and one of my four nephews are old enough to start going on short trips like this. I am really looking forward to doing some trips with my brothers and their kids.

That looks like a really fun climb, I hope to get out and do some canyoneering and light climbing this fall. It's been too freaking hot here lately. 

How old are the girls?  I just took my family on a 3 day 2 night hike on the AT from Carver's Gap to 19E.  My 8 year old loved most of it.

Nice job Jeff! I don’t know many kids that young that would sleep out of doors like that…very cool.

Ocala,

So everything went well on the trip?

The girls are in kindergarten and 2nd grade.

Camp was next to a little, and very cold creek that was more fun to them than a playground jungle gym.  It was about shin deep so they spent the day making dams, chasing water striders and talking to the many horse packers that passed by.  We live in the sagebrush so it was hilarious when the wind blew through the trees and they thought it was the creek running loudly.  At first I didn't get it but then I realized that they had hardly ever heard wind in the tall timber. 

Then, of course the stars were blazing and, since we live in town, it was an extra special treat. 

Ya, they enjoyed it.

-Jeff

Patman

Everything went well especially considering we are pretty green hikers. On the last day, shortly after cresting Hump Mountain my wife twisted her ankle.  She took some ibuprofen and hiked with a limp the last 4.5-5 miles.  Once we got off the trail and into a restaurant it began to swell.  It's still a bit sore. 

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