Mama's Birthday Camping Trip
My October birthday fell on a Saturday this year so we planned to celebrate
the start of my 37th year by camping in Mt. Rainier National Park.
Our planned Friday afternoon departure was unfortunately delayed by vehicle troubles when the van alternator failed leaving our van and camper stalled at Nana's (we had stopped by for a quick visit) and blocking in several of her neighbors for half an hour or so. Luckily Stark is a handy sort of guy and after jumping the battery with just enough juice to drive our long-load up to guest parking he spent several hours late into the evening doing a parking-lot alternator swap out.
With the van running again we went home to regroup and headed out early the next morning.
Luckily, we secured the absolutely very last travel trailer sized camp spot at the Longmire campground and went to work establishing our basecamp.
Della helping daddy secure the trailer
Exploring our camp spot (running off some long drive stored energy)
The goal of the trip was to visit the Grove of Patriarchs a beautiful grove of old-growth trees within the park. The loop hike is just over 1 mile and we figured it would make a perfect Della-sized hike.
Although dirt trails lead you to the grove, most of the hike is on elevated pathways
which make a nice running platform for young kids
Mama & Della under the BIG trees
Della being Della and jamming rocks into the railing bolt holes
More BIG trees
Looking for the fairies who live in the woods as evidenced by the teeny tiny mushrooms
Handsome Huck
Ready - Set - Jump
Otherwise known as 'long-walk-back' distractions
My distractions didn't work and we carried Della for the last bit - uphill of course
We didn't complain as it won't be long before our baby girl will be too big to carry
They do love their Daddy!
Back at the camp trailer we learned that Huck likes to eat his dinner standing on the table
... that the dinning area makes a great reading nook
That Huck is quite the little handsome fellow when outfitted in
early morning cold weather walking gear
Quite a crowd gathered to watch the activities
It was interesting to see the pilots fly-by-sight leaning out the bubble windows
This particular helicopter and crew had just returned from a summer of fighting wildfires.
Note the fuel truck staged nearby.
The helicopter would land and refuel between each load which made us think that weight limits were near capacity as the helicopter was already completely gutted (including a missing back ramp)!
Huck ... watching the helicopter take off
Della and Daddy enjoying the view and the very last of mama's birthday cupcakes
It's nice to have a comfy bed to play on!
And then home we went ...
already planning our next adventure to "sleep on the mountain" as Della puts it.
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