Ohanapecosh

For the past four years we have gone camping to Ohanapecosh in Mt. Rainer with some friends.  We look forward to this trip every year and has become one of our family's most fun traditions.  It is absolutely beautiful there. I would highly recommend this place to anyone!

(I actually took this picture with my lame camera.  It is so pretty there it looks like a postcard)

After the fiasco from our last camping trip this summer with rain.  Mitch was a little paranoid.  This is what I call "A fine Stuard production."  The weather turned out beautiful and warm!

The girls enjoying sitting around the camp fire

Every year the kids love to go to the Ranger Station and earn their Junior Ranger Badges.  Here they are hard at work on their books.

One of the best things about going camping here is that there is NO cell coverage or stores anywhere close by.  Everyone is unplugged and relaxed.  In this day and age that is somewhat of a small miracle. 

There is lots of time to go hiking and hiking we DID!

Lucy is being what is called a "meadow stomper"  We just could help but take a picture of her sitting among the wildflowers.

A group shot of all the kids in our group before we hiked to Silver Falls



Natalie and her hiking buddy, Doug.

We also hiked the Naches Loop where there are the most amazing views of Mt. Rainer.  It is so close it is crazy!  This hike was a little long for our kids but they did awesome.  This year was the first year that this trail wasn't covered in snow so we took advantage of it.

The bugs were hardly a problem this year but Natalie did get bit right between the eyes and on the cheek from a mosquito.  She has started to have allergic reactions when she gets mosquito bites and this time her eye swelled completely shut and the cheek completely drooped down by the second day.  This was taken on the first day!

Some of the more insane members got into the river.  It is glacier water.  It is so cold that after putting your feet in for 3 seconds it is intense pain.  To get to this rock the kids had to swim there.

There is also a spot to jump off the cliff.  Mitch, Dale and some other men jumped this year.  Cameron jumped off the rock (on the left in this picture.)  What a brave guy!  It is pretty high up and did I mention cold?

There were signs this year that said "This is bear country" and to make sure to lock up your food at night.  Laura found one of the bears in the park after she woke up from her nap.  This is NOT our bear.  Another member of our group brought theirs!  At least it is comforting to know that we are not the only insane people to buy this enormous bear from Costco.

Good- Bye Mountain Rainer!!  See you next year!!  And if you would like to join us, let us know!!