Overnight backpacking trip: Snow Lake and Gem Lake (Part Two)

As we approached Gem Lake the clouds started to roll in, within minutes the lake was completely fogged in. I am never as acutely aware of nature as when I am hiking. The dew on the plants leaves, the clouds passing by, the new growth on the trees these are the things which consume my thoughts.

Overnight backpacking trip: Snow Lake to Gem Lake (Part One)

On the weekends we like to get out of town, it needn't be far, just a forty minute drive right up into the mountains. Sometimes, especially in the Summer we turn our hiking trips into overnighter adventures. Backcountry camping means early mornings on the trail, spectacular star filled nighttime skies and a great reminder that we can survive and be completely content on far less. The weekend was perfection, well, until I was bit on my eyelid and the whole right side of my face started to swell and my eye was stuck shut....but that my friends is another story.

Camping on the beach

There is something magical about camping on the beach. I think it is a combination of beautiful vistas, killer sunsets and a constant hum of waves crashing. Whenever I am camping on the beach, I think about how wonderful it would be to live on the coast.

Summer must: Beach camping

Hole in the Wall in the distance

I love camping, in particular on the beach. All you have to be concerned about are your basic needs: food, fire, water and shelter. We spent time collecting driftwood to build our fire, rocks to create my rainbow and the majority of our days exploring tide pools and watching the tide roll in and out. Being outdoors anchors me, it makes me feel alive and connected to this beautiful planet. Cameron and I are able to connect in a way no five star hotel allows. In the simple moments of filtering water, making food or playing card games we bond. We forge memories and create traditions. My favorite part of our relationship is how we genuinely love spending time with one another and camping on the beach is the perfect backdrop to do so.

Quality family time

About this time of year I always start to reflect on the waning Summer and all the activities I still want to do before it ends. Although, we always find ways to stay busy on the weekends; I have felt like we have not camped enough this Summer. Record warm temperatures encouraged a last minute camping trip this past weekend.  We set out Friday night as the sun was contemplating setting and made it to our spot with headlamps lighting our way. Our tent is simple enough to set up and it was still a balmy seventy plus degrees out. We decided to keep our rain flap off which allowed us to gaze up at the stars in the night. There are moments like this in life which although are not perfect (ie. sleeping in a tent is not the most comfortable thing) you still have an overwhelming gratitude and contentment for your life.

Breakfast with a view....... lakeside at Talapus Lake.

Have you ever taken the time to notice what is underfoot while hiking? These "pencil shaving" mushrooms fascinated me our entire hike. Since children naturally like to explore I look forward to learning more about such things so I can teach my child about nature on our hikes.

Arriving early in the morning at Ollalie Lake and finding we are the only ones there. Score!!

Cameron checking out the fish in the water. The entire time we were in this spot two dragonflies darted to and fro.

Nature is always so picture perfect.

I am feeling so blessed during this pregnancy. My energy level is up, my appetite is fairly normal and I am still able to do all the things I enjoy. I really could not ask for anything more.

Just as the trail traffic started to pick up, we were heading down the trail and back to our car. Aaahh the joys of camping and getting an early start.

Summer camp

I had the opportunity to go up to Girls Camp with our church this year. It was a rare opportunity for us as women (both young and old) to gather and enjoy one another's company. We enjoyed the sunshine, crafted it up a bit and did what we ladies do best....chat and chat.

On our hike.

Athina and I with our homemade journals and roasting sticks.

Making breakfast al fresco.

Our theme for Girl's camp this year.

Archery time.

I would not have enjoyed myself as much without these two amazing women.

Time to teamwork.

Rain, rain, sometimes won't go away....

Usually we luck out with good weather when we are hiking or camping, but every now and then Mother Nature likes to show us who is boss.

At 3 am I awoke to a pitter patter on our tent's rain flap. By the time it was a reasonable hour our tent was beginning to fail. Time for a more waterproof tent.

Cold, rainy mornings outside are perfect for hot cocoa.

Rain drops on leaves are always fun to photograph.

Not even rain can keep us inside on a beautiful ferry ride.

Rialto Beach was intense. We forged through a small river (there was no other way around it), were soaked all the way through our clothes and were not up for snapping a single photo of the drown rats we were.

Looking at these photos I am glad we stopped to have Cameron dig out my camera. The beach looks so mysterious and vacant.

Wreckage from the tsunami is coming ashore and we are convinced this is some of it.

Going To The Sun

There are all sorts of travelers out there, spend five minutes in any airport or gas station and you will encounter all of them. There are the over packers, the under packers, the schedule packers and those who go on vacation to do nothing at all. I am the type of person who comes back from vacation emotionally recharged, but physically exhausted. When on vacation I seem to need more food than usual, I enjoy waking up at the crack of dawn and my guidebook becomes my bosom buddy for the week. I pour over it each night, while driving in the car, waiting for my meals etc. I have an unquenchable thirst for finding out more about whatever place we are visiting. I think it is safe that if it were ever necessary I could be an excellent tour guide.

We arrived at West Glacier by early afternoon. We set up our tent and then were off for a late afternoon of hiking up to Apgar Lookout.

We were a little nervous to be hiking in Grizzly territory without anyone else on the trail, but we made sure to be loud just in case we rounded the corner and into a bear.

I made sure to document all hints of Autumn.

The next morning I rousted Cameron out of bed at the crack of dawn and down to Lake McDonald. I wanted to capture the "sweet light" of the morning and he was a good sport to stand around in the thirty degree weather.

The gorgeous light soon gave way to daylight. The lake was still spectacular with the morning mist coming off it.

After spending the morning freezing our buns off we treated ourselves to breakfast at Eddie's. It felt like such a luxury to camp and yet have the option to dine out. Glamping people, I tell you it is fabulous.

I never order a drink, so hot chocolate with whipped cream was an exciting splurge.

After breakfast we set out on The Going To The Sun Road. We were lucky to beat the crowds and easily snag a spot in the parking lot at Logan's Pass.

The Going To The Sun Road is a 52 mile road that stretches the entire width of Glacier National Park. Logan's Pass is approximately a little more than half way and also happens to be where the Continental Divide is located.