Warm weather today, Hunter, PJ and I took Holly up to Todd Lake for a short hike around the lake.
Originally we had planned to rent a yurt at Tumalo state park near Bend and have a bunch of boys overnight camp with us, but as with most things it was disrupted by COVID-19. The Yurt was cancelled due to not enough staff to satisfy cleaning requirements so we chose to take a smaller group on an overnight backpacking trip! I chose a trip to an area near the mountain 3-finger Jack. It would be an 8 mile loop with about half the mileage each day, give or take but more uphill on the first day and mostly downhill on the second day.
Here is the group getting ready, doing gear checks and loading up at our house.
It took about 1:45 hours to get to Jack lack trailhead up in the high country above Sisters. Here is the excited crew as we get started and through the first few miles as we approach the mountain.
The next phase was to climb above tree line and crest the west saddle, and then drop off trail down the other side of the saddle. As we got on the slopes of the mountain the terrain changes, and got a lot more steep!
Fun Glissading down the snow slop on the south side of the saddle
We set up camp in an amazing remote alpine setting. Complete with towering cliffs and bubbling stream. I cooked a cake on a backpacking stove to celebrate Noah's birthday.
We saw a heard of goats, had a campfire and tree lights to celebrate before going to bed. While the sky's threatened a storm, we didn't have more than a few drop of rain.
The next morning rose glorious and sunny.
We then hiked cross country for 1-2 miles through some really pretty country until we hooked up with a main trail to finish out a couple of hours back to the main trailhead.
A great overnight adventure to celebrate Noah turning 13!
Not only did Noah become a teenager today but he he his braces off too. He had them on for the first time in 2015 and off in 2017. He then got them back on in 2018 and got them off for the final time just in time for his birthday. 🎉 😬
We love Noah and we are proud of the young man he is becoming! He has more energy than anyone we know and driven to do almost anything. Noah loves his family and friends fiercely. We are excited to watch him journey into his teenage years.
Noah 2015 Noah 2018Noah 2020Photo album put together for Noah by Papa ❤️Noah’s man giftCake by- “Abbie-CAKES”
Hunter has volunteered at our local Juniper Swim and Fitness as a junior lifeguard for the past 3 summers. He had his first ever interview on Friday, and got the job as a lifeguard. Hunter is also doing yard work one day a week in the neighbor. We couldn't be more proud of him and his hard work. We celebrated after his interview with a delicious drink from his favorite place, Dutch Brothers. ⛑ 💦
We love little crater campground on Paulina lake. We have been going to this area for years now and the kids know how to get around on their own because its so familiar. This year we will camp there 3 times! Our annual family trip is always late august but Kelly picked up a great site that just happened to be open in June and we will go again in September with a few other families we know.
As is typical in the mountains the weather can change dramatically. While cooler than Bend since we are up high, the weather on Friday (June 26) on arrival was in the mid 80's! By our departure Sunday June 28, we had snow flurries:) The fun of the mountains! Jasper Lovejoy came with us this weekend as Hunter was camping with Jack Lovejoy.
Pictures from the first day. (note the green color in the lake is pine pollen washing up on shore)
Abbie practicing starting a fire with a ferro rod.
Noah and Jasper riding bikes into the lake at dusk.
Saturday after a breakfast of egg bites in the Dutch oven, I took Abbie, Jasper and Noah up to the lake overlook hike. PJ stayed back to hang with Kelly.
Sunday unfortunately was not nice to wake up to, so after trying to keep warm with a mornings fire we packed up and headed out as it started to snow.
This is our third summer going to Black Butte and it’s now an annual tradition to go and celebrate the start of summer.
We did a day outing to Sahalie & Koosah falls with a great riverside hike in between the two.
We did a fun early summer Sunday family hike with the Lovejoy's to the Paulina lake hot springs.
Built a picnic table for the front yard
Early garden harvest has started with radishes.
Wait for it...
Even though school didn’t end they way we thought it would we still celebrated with his small class. We are excited for high school and we are proud of the young man you are becoming, Hunter.
