Camping in the Big Trees

We spent two nights camping in a tent in the middle of the big trees.
Here I am with Aunt Linda, Hilary and my Mommy at the beginning of the boy scout trail.

I always find many things to pick up when I hike around the redwoods.
There are also a lot of cameras around to make sure it is all documented.

Aunt Linda and I on my favorite trail.

In our campground was this great stump for sitting and picture posing.

We were right by the beautiful Smith River--with more rocks than I could ever
throw into the water.

There is an interpretive trail that is on the edge of the campground.
We wished it was more informative.

After we packed everything up--here we are waiting to go back home.

Final shot to memorialize our visit.
This tree was in the middle of our campsite.

Car Meets Canoe

In August, Linda and Hilary came to visit us.
To celebrate we put a canoe on our car.

It was a hot day. I just sat in the car and supervised the work.
Good job Daddy.

We brought the canoe to Howard Prairie Lake where my Daddy and Linda rowed
Oren and I around for awhile.

Oren is behind Linda--for some reason we have only his hands pictured.

It was a hot and cloudy day.
On the way home as we made our way down a windy mountain road--we
got hit with hail and lightening... very exciting.

My First Botanical Expedition

With the advent of fall and winter around the corner I thought I would share with you the flowers of mid to late spring.

My mommy and daddy took me for a walk, in late June, up to Soda Mountain which is in the Siskiyou Range close to where we live. There were lots of pretty flowers so I thought I would go ahead and document the flowers I saw so that I could share them with you.

The first flowers I saw were everywhere in the places that got a lot of sun. This is a little hard to determine exactly what Indian Paintbrush variety but I believe it is Castilleja Pruinosa.It’s a very pretty and prolific flower found in the mountains.  Not very big and it doesn’t have any smell.  Here’s what they look like when they cover a hillside

Another pretty purple flower we met on the path was Delphinium Menziesii (Menzies’ Larkspur).  I didn’t get a very clear picture of it, but what I did get I post below

The next bunch of flowers I saw I’m not entirely sure of.  As best I can tell they would be referred to as Linanthus Nuttallii (Nuttall’s Linanthus).There is a possibility that I have misidentified this one and that it is instead Phlox Hoodii (Hood’s Phlox).  With the hillsides covered with these there is a particular beauty in the simplicity of the symmetrical flowers, simple color, and profusion of blooms.
I’m really not sure of the next bunch of flowers.  I like them and that is about all I know of them.  If any of you botanists out there might know, share with the rest of us.
I believe the next flower is a Trillium.  I have no proof.  It could be an alien plant from outer space as far as I know.  It has three really large leaves and a small flower in the middle.

Different Lake with My Buddies

Oren's Grandparents took me to the lake to swim.

It was muddy and we found lots of cool things to play with in the water.

I tried to share a few of my treasures with my Mom--but she did not seem impressed.

I found my own personal sunbeam.

After the swim--we got ice cream at the lodge.

Summer ice cream and my best buddy.

Anna not at the lake

Since we do not have a big pool--Anna had to play in my little pool.

It was really hot that day!

Anna helped me cool off a little more quickly than that pool.

Later my parent's discovered that dipped cones are no less messy than just cones.

Anna at the Lake

This summer my cousin Anna came to visit--so I took her to my favorite lake.
Look at that mud!

The water was refreshing.

My Daddy came with us too and he took me on some rides.

My floaty is shaped like a fish.

Anna had one too but hers was pink.
We had a great time together.

Lake Quinault Lodge

I spent a few nights at Lake Quinault Lodge with my Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Terry.
(Roosevelt stayed there once and it was soon after that--the surrounding area became
the Olympic National Park.)

There were near by waterfalls to explore.

Big trees to look up at.

Pretty places to pose for pictures.

Signs which explained about the kinds of trees, animals, and other important facts.
(My Grandma was able to fill in the rest--she knows a lot about flora and fauna.)

The trails near the lodge were so beautiful.

There were lots of places to rest and enjoy the green beauty around us.

I am wearing my camo. sweatshirt--so you may not be able to pick me out on the
big lawn in back of the lodge--overlooking the beautiful lake.

Lake Quinault

One final picture to pose for before we headed back home.

Rain Forest

On a very hot day in July my Grandma Lynn took me on a hike in a rain forest.
However, there was no rain...

It was very green and there were lots of different fruits to eat.

There were waterfalls and little creeks to cross.

There were some beautiful views of the Olympic mountains.

Eventually we actually found a big river...there were plenty of rocks to throw into it.
I sat on the rocks and got my hands and face wet.

My Dad did too.

Once we started walking out my Daddy put me in the JEO pack and carried me all the way.

It was hot but fun!