[Kasey³]

Mommy said we were going out to pick yummy huckleberries.  But Mommy I said, “I’m hungry now” So she gave me peanut butter bagel, which I ate in the car and got all over my arms and shirt.  I like peanut butter.   

Our first stop was for coffee and donuts.  I like donuts.   

Next stop was the US border where we ran into Mommy’s friend Vida, then onward to Jenjen’s store where Janet got into our car.  Mommy and Janet were so busy talking about hiking, they were ignoring me so I kept interrupting so they didn’t forget I was there.   

Ryan∞ got to ride in Mommy’s backpack.  No fair!  I asked to ride in it first!    I had to walk but I got to wear my pink shoes.  Mommy tried to put me in comfortable shoes but all my shoes that are not pink hurt my feet.

The trail to Lake Ann is really steep so Mommy held my hand the whole way.  It wasn’t too long before we had our first taste of huckleberries.  They were yummmmmy.   

Mommy told me names of all the flowers and plants.  I was pretending to be a thistle and pricked her.  Buster, Janet, uhm jenjen and uhm…what’s the other girl’s name? Were far ahead, we had to catch up.

At the bottom I got Smarties with my lunch.  Mmmmm I like Smarties.    I sat in the bushes and helped Janet pick berries.  Janet sounded like a sheep nom nom nom

Ryan∞ started getting cranky so mommy put him in the pack and we started hiking back.  I led the way.  I’m a good leader.  I jumped from rock to rock to rock to rock.  I only stopped to eat more berries.

Mommy told me after the hike I could have chocolate milk.  It was a long hike.  I wish it wasn’t so long.  Mommy kept nagging me to stay on the inside of the trail, I told her I didn’t know it was so steep when I fell down it a couple of times.

I got too tired to walk so mommy put me on her shoulders for the last part, Ryan∞ was funny, he kept tickling my back and making silly noises.  When we got to the book at the top where we put our names mommy said we were there, but we weren’t because we kept walking.  Mommy picked me up again and I hung off the front of her like a monkey.

When we got to the car I kept asking mommy for chocolate milk.  First we had to go to jenjen’s store.  I kept asking  “are we there yet?” we FINALLY made it and I got my chocolate milk, it was deeeeeelicious.  I love chocolate milk.   

As we drove home I said to mommy “Thank you for taking me hiking to the border, I had fun berry picking.  I love huckleberries, do you know that mom?”

(My daddy was hiking so mommy did not have her camera.  Mommy’s friends took pictures of me and my stinky boy brother because we are so cute.  Hopefully they can share some.)

[seawallrunner]

   

what a sweet well-written report ! I am glad that you could join us Kasey !!

[Scrooge]

Good thing mommy packs all that camera gear, most of the time.         

[Karen²]

[Tazz]

That is an awesome report!   Just great!  kasey is a funny girl...

[jenjen]

You wrote an awesome trip report, Kasey!  Buster and I thank you for letting us come along with you - we had a great time. 

[seawallrunner]

oh there was some good eating to be had !!

we barely hit the trail and already we stopped:

pleasantly picking

pick pick

picking and sharing

making our way down into the valley...

descending

descending some more

must stop and pick some more...

we are all picking

everyone picks

we made it as far out as the stream crossing

relaxing

buster and jen

watching for reflections in the water.

I took a lovely family picture

family portrait

I must say that while rushing to Lake Ann, one typically misses the quiet beauty of this little valley. I know that I have. There is a gentle grace to the headwaters of Swift Creek. Look at the gentle trail:

into the valley

forest fires are raging nearby, and in BC and elsewhere in WA state. The air quality was good, but the haze filtered everything we saw.

the view behind

the view ahead

the beautiful flowers and huckleberries along the way

blueberries !! red leaves! yellow larches are not far behind.

flowers fade and yellow, leaves turn red. soon, the larches will turn yellow too. I cannot wait.

and finally say hello to the majestic trees along the way

on the return trip back to the trailhead

I have a fondness for backlit trees

I was sad to go home on Sunday, and look forward to seeing these views - soon - shrouded in snow

[jenjen]

(this is from Buster...)
I love hiking with kids!  They have all sorts of goodies they get sloppy with - and sometimes they even just hand the goodies over.  That's the best of all.

The reflections in the stream were just awesome.  Always moving, and I can't quite get them.  I will one of these days, I'll get me one of those moving lights!

Hiking back out with Kasey was super cool.  She's a real trooper.  I kept showing her where to go, and she just marched right along.