About a month ago, just after Rowen was born, our good friends Mike, Nora, and Bridger invited us on a co-family backpacking trip to the Washington coast. We accepted under the pretense of low miles, shared loads, and sunny weather. However, and not surprisingly, during the planning/packing phase the would be epic of carrying 4 days of provisions, and 3 children amongst 4 adults was deemed unnecessary to enjoy a wilderness outing as families. We opted for a milder car-camping and day hiking destination on the east side of the cascades and the sunshine and mountains of the Upper Methow Valley.
None of us had been through the North Cascades and over Washington Pass and we were not disappointed. As the thick trees, lakes, and forests dropped into the mountains shadows into the open meadows, rocky crags, and open forests of the eastern side of the mountains we knew we had "settled" for a great location.
The trip had a relaxing a mild flavor with great hikes, meals, and lots of time hanging out. Our first full day of the trip Shannon, Nora, and Bridger did a long loop hike up into the upper valley and discovered a open meadows and abandoned cabins. And the next day Aurora, Mike, Shannon, and I climbed Goat Peak and arrived at a fire-lookout opening a view across the valley and deep into the Cascades
Mostly though we had a great time just camping out with the kids. Aurora and Bridger spent lots of time along the river thowing rocks, playing in the dirt, and livin' in the out-o-doors.
