In these troubled times, it pays to have a guidebook.

For example, when choosing a hike for an afternoon outing, it might be helpful to read these words, describing a trail I chose, somewhat at random:

Goat Peak #958C — 2.8 miles

A very steep, long climb with no water, this trail is for the endurance hiker. At the summit of Goat Peak there are views from Glacier Peak to Mt. Adams and everything in between. Slippery when wet, with an elevation gain of 2600 feet, the trail is closed to horses. The trailhead is at Hells Crossing.

I’ve been called a number of things, but ‘endurance hiker’ is not one of them.

We stopped for a quick picture at Chinook Pass, on our way to the east side of Mt. Rainier.

The boys and I attended the our church’s annual Men and Boys Campout, which I wrote about last year. This year, we brought along two other boys, and had a nice time. The weekend event is pretty unstructured (purposefully), so we camped, whittled, rode horses, built forts, played in the river, poked sticks in the fire and hiked to Goat’s Peak.

Our hatchet figured prominently in many of these activities.

I guess the trail’s origin at Hell’s Crossing should have been a clue. I sought advice from the event organizer, a semi-retired pastor who administrates at our church and heads up Men’s Ministries.

Everyone who wanted to (and even some who didn’t) got a chance to ride.

“It’s a little steep,” Dale cautioned me, “but not too bad. I used to hike up there quite often,” he assured me breezily.

I probably should have remembered that Dale used to train with runners competing for a place on the U.S. Olympic team.

No horses were injured in the filming of this blog.

As we set off up the trail, my heart sank. Leading the way, Joshua strode out as though the incline were a minor annoyance; I found myself gasping for breath after taking only 50 steps.

“Tell … ya … what,” I huffed, long pauses between each word. “How ’bout you guys take one of these whistles, and give a blast if you need help. I’ll keep one as well, and you boys wait for me from time to time.”

A relatively flat part of the trail …

David charitably kept me company, providing me an excuse for going so slow. Every 20 minutes or so, I’d catch up with the rest of the boys, who were usually lying around on rocks, chafing at the bit to be off. “What took you so long, Dad? We had time to build a lean-to and whittle a staff … “, Daniel asked, reproachfully.

“David … has … short … legs … “, I wheezed, hoping to pacify him with a true, but irrelevant fact.

“Is that the peak? Or maybe that one over there?

Eventually (after several tries) we reached what we thought was the top of Goat Peak. For a long time, the trail slithered up a ridge and across several saddles, so we were never entirely sure. We later discovered the trail was part of a larger, 27-mile path, which had duped many a hiker before us into miles of extra climbing. Based on the topographical map I checked, the vertical rise was as much as 3000 feet to where we called it a day.

I declared this the top, by the authority vested in me …

The older boys laughed and skipped down the trail to the parking lot, while I plodded downward with David. Due to a knee injury I sustained as a parachutist in the Army, I can’t really go very fast downhill, so they were snacking and guzzling root beer at the car for a good while before David and I arrived.

David didn’t seem to mind that I was so slow.

That night, knee throbbing, I hobbled from the car to the campsite, while the boys sprinted around, playing tag. “This whole ‘aging’ thing is not very well managed,” I mused, remembering my own youth. I used to squander my energy playing Ultimate Frisbee and such, never realizing how briefly that strength would be available to me.

We never were sure, even from the road, which peak we had climbed. Maybe this one?

Maybe my current ‘exercise plan’ (mostly involves moving my computer mouse) has something to do with my lack of physical prowess?

Um, that river is glacier-fed, isn’t it?

Nah, probably not.

Tim
Project 366, Day 222

Okay, obviously I am blogging but I’m not really blogging. At least not “Tim and Kathy Style” with a plethora of pictures accompanied by wordy paragraphs that may or may not have anything to do with the photos.

Rachel and I went away for our Passport 2 Purity weekend. It was wonderful! We had a fantastic time and loved every minute. Tim found us a great deal on a beautiful hotel and we ate out, went shopping (several times) and enjoyed a movie. Just a lovely mother/daughter weekend.

Not to mention all the discussions on dating, sex and purity.

Yikes!

More on that later (maybe).

Meanwhile, and here’s where some gorgeous photos would be included, Tim took the boys off on their annual father/son/men’s camping trip. They had such a great time last year that this time they expanded the group to include a family whose father is currently deployed. Tim, and five young men (ranging in age from 7 to 14), tents, food and sleeping bags in hand spent the weekend at Mount Rainier.

Let’s see feather beds at the Hyatt or sleeping bags in a tent? Hmmm. Which would you choose?

Pictures coming, I promise.

Kathy

I think I’m losing my touch. A week away at camp and I only took 500 or so pictures. Gasp! I’m so embarrassed. And among those photos there are only so many that are truly blog worthy. So not only are there only a handful of stellar pictures, but there are some serious gaps. For example, I spent time with several of my dear friends. Did I take a single picture of them? No. Did I hand my camera to one of the many budding photographers milling about and make sure they take a shot of me with these friends? No. Pathetic.

I went walking three nights with a friend. Is there a picture of the trail we took? Nope.
Our next door neighbor brought over a delicious dinner one night. Photo proof? Nada.
Sleepovers for Rachel and Daniel. Nothing.
A late night CIT (Counselors in Training) camp out. Don’t even think about it.

Goodness. This doesn’t look good. Well, what all did we do this week? Let’s see if I can’t round up a few pictures to document our time away.

All of the children managed to spend quite a bit of time with their friends. Sarah is especially spoiled to have some special girlfriends out at the Duckabush. Since camp is within walking distance of our place we managed to sneak friends home with us several days during the week.

There were many exotic animals at camp this year. Frankly, you just never know what creatures are going to show up to surprise the kids. On Thursday we had a long, and very informative, visit with a rather large spotted owl.

Of course, it wouldn’t be camp week if we didn’t play games. We brought an entire laundry basket full of games with us. Talk about over-packing, we didn’t play a half of them. It is good to be prepared, though, as you never know when someone might stop by for a game.

Speaking of wild animals, Buford the Bear made an appearance at camp this week. It’s always good to see him, but some people are intimidated by his size and good looks.

The camp week ended with a CIT sleepover. Although I didn’t get any pictures during the actual overnight, I did manage to snag a few shots on their return. Basic requirements for the night include: sleeping bag, pillow, goofy spirit and low need for sleep. Check, check and double check.

There’s always time for sleep later, right.

There you have it, a very small representation of our wonderful week away. I’m trying not to panic as the summer screams along at a dizzying pace. Repeat after me, “Summer is NOT over! It is NOT time for school (yet).”

Kathy

It’s always hard to pack up and leave for a vacation, there are so many details to remember and things to do, but it’s almost equally as difficult returning home.

Joshua, Stuart, Tim, Bethany and cousin, Timothy, set off the first morning of camp.

• The children are grumpy as they come down off their camp/friends/sleepovers adrenaline rush.
• The parents are tired and worn out from all the busy activities of the vacation.
• There are suitcases to pack, but they’re usually filled with dirty clothes, well worn and dirtied.
• All the cleaning and tidying up means saying goodbye. There is none of the excitement of heading off on a fun adventure.

This was Sarah’s first year as a camper. Such excitement!

All of that said, there’s something deliciously sweet about coming home, the familiar comforts (like high speed internet and a comfy computer chair) awaiting you. The answering machine has friendly messages (like requests for Sunday nursery duty) on it. The mailbox is full of credit card ads and grocery fliers.

Gilligan’s Island was one of the themes this year. Don’t they make a believable bunch castaways.

And, depending on the work you did before you left, your bedroom is either a complete mess or a welcoming haven.

Thankfully we have a big family, full of capable workers. Joshua brought three friends from our homeschool co-op with him to camp this year. They served as CIT’s with him (Counselors In Training). With our five, plus the extra three around, we had 8 children available to clean, tidy and vacuum. Many hands make light work indeed.

Several of the counselors play instruments. They had their own band this year and played several times for us.

Now feeding them all (three of whom are boys) is another story. That takes work!

We had a fabulous time and, after cleaning up the house, managed to get on home. Tim kept the boys and did the final work. It was an exhausting, satisfying, and thoroughly delightful week.

Kathy

I’m roughing it this week out in the woods which means I’m sitting on my inlaws deck stealing their internet access on an old lap top. My cell phone doesn’t work. I don’t have internet at the house (not even dial-up).

There are a few advantages. A humming bird is keeping me company while I type. Bees are flying in and out of the gorgeous foxglove just off the deck. Children are here and there playing with friends.

It’s quiet and peaceful for the moment (until dinner begins).

I have some adorable pictures of David and Sarah as they posed for me on their first day of camp. You’ll have to use your imagination. I even managed to get up early enough to snap some shots of Joshua and his group of CITs (counselors in training) before they walked off to camp.

The week is flying by (as it always does). There was a magician at camp this afternoon. He was hilarious and David was one of his assistants. That moment I even managed to capture on video.

I hope your imagination is REALLY active because there is no way I’m going to upload that in the short time I have before the mosquitoes drive me inside.

More later your absent blogger,
Kathy