Bloom and Sprout

Happy Trails: Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Here is Will sitting at our campsite on the last day. We were not allowed to make fires so don't let this photo of a fire ring confuse you!

Here is Will having a lunch break on the Miller River. I love a hike that is full of places to swim around each corner!

The trail was incredibly maintained by WTA with beautiful wooden walkways, switchbacks and wooden staircases one after another to finally level off at 3,000 feet, just above Lake Dorothy.

Checking out a bridge crossing Camp Robber Creek.

This is our campsite on Lake Dorothy, one of the largest of the alpine lakes. Our campsite was right on the clear lake nestled in the huckleberry bushes. As soon as we arrived we were visited by several very bold chipmunks but our food pack hung in a tree all night long without any problems.

Hanging out on Lake Dorothy. The photo below was taken at the end of our hike. We camped just below that ridge on the lake.

Will and I are back from our incredible adventure to the Alpine Lakes. It was an incredible trip albeit the LONGEST 5 mile hike I've ever had! Superlatives fall short to describe the majesty of this 1,000 -year-old forest. The smell itself was breathtaking of vanilla scented oxalis, cedar, mosses... and the beauty of huge fir and cedar trees surrounded by trillium, wild columbine, huckleberries, glacier lillies, marsh marigolds, sword ferns, and even skunk cabbages!

Camping Trip

Our trip was curtailed until tomorrow. Strange comedy of errors we've had ending with the last comedy/tragedy....
Paul took Will to the park to play last night and while he was there he tripped on some cement and abraded his knee. He was walking and playing fine until he got home and then told me that he couldn't walk. This continued and this morning he said he needed to be carried out of bed. He would not let us touch his leg, extend his leg nor would he put any weight on it. I called the Children's Hospital Resource Line (specializing in health and behavioral concerns) and she told me that I could not discount his feelings and we must go to the ER. I opted not for the ER but instead just called our pediatrician and got in to see her at 9:50. We left about an hour early which gave us time to play at the "mini" firehouse park at the firestation near the office. Will suddenly perked up for this and while he needed me to carry him to the tiny firetruck playstructure, he quickly recovered his legs and was seen jumping and even running! I felt like a fool but brought him to the Dr anyway. He waited like a saint to go see her and took a seat right beside me near the examination table. The very minute she arrived he started to explain to her about his hurt knee and what happened and how it felt, etc. She was a bit surprised I think. She said that she saw no problems and gave him a good leg workup. I carried him into the office BTW! Then she asked if he liked stickers and wanted to get some. He promptly got up and walked down the hall to her office for stickers! Then on the way out he told me that he wanted to go and get some ice cream! I'm really amazed by how he has this all worked out complete with rewards and treats, which I'm quite positive we never endeavored to introduce to him. I wonder if he read it in a book somewhere??

Wallingford Kiddies Parade with the Seafair Clowns

Trying out the wig and clown nose!

Fred put on Cole and Will's clown make-up

Cole and Will waiting around with the other clowns for the parade to begin.

Will the Clown

Cole's dad is a Seafair Clown and he gratiously invited us to join him in the parade walk down 45th St in Wallingford. Will was so excited to dress up like a clown and join his buddy Cole for some clowning around and passing out candy!

Here is Cole passing out candy with his dad Fred. You should specifically admire Fred's authentic clown shoes. These shoes, along with many of the Seafair clown shoes worn at the parade, are made by a cobbler specializing in clown shoes and start at around $3-400!