The Hiker Mama

Category: Hikes

  • Lake 22 Trip Report

    Lake 22 Trip Report

    Buoyed by our success last week hiking to Talapus and Olallie, we decided to join our hiking friends again this week for a trip up to Lake 22.  It had been 8 or 9 years since I was there; I didn’t enjoy the hike the first time.  I had a toddler Gabriel on my back,…

  • Talapus and Olallie Lakes, Trip Report

    Talapus and Olallie Lakes, Trip Report

    My friend Kirsten and I have been wanting to hike together for awhile, and we finally had the chance last Friday.  She invited me join her and her other friends and their dogs for a jaunt up to Talapus and Olallie Lakes.  We got super lucky with the weather; Friday was supposed to be the…

  • Lake Ann and Heather Pass Backpack – Moms Only Trip

    Lake Ann and Heather Pass Backpack – Moms Only Trip

    [Click on photos to see a larger size.] My friend Beckie and I had been talking about a moms-only backpacking trip for a few months, and our schedules finally coincided for us to get out last weekend.  There was a catch, though – each of our families only has one car, so we needed a…

  • Hike to Big Four Ice Caves

    Hike to Big Four Ice Caves

    The weather has been so wonderful this month, and we’re settling into our school routines.  We were ready by the end of last week to get out into the wilderness again for the day.  Our friends joined us for a hike to Big Four Ice Caves out on the Mountain Loop Highway. Though this is…

  • Boardman Lake Hike

    Boardman Lake Hike

    Since our hike 2 weeks ago was canceled due to thunderstorms, we rescheduled it for this week, and boy, was the weather fantastic!  We picked up my friend K and her baby R2 and carpooled to the trailhead.  After taking several long drives lately, it was nice to have a hike closer to home.  The…

  • Camping Weekend at Twin Harbors State Park

    Camping Weekend at Twin Harbors State Park

    My husband had his 25th class reunion last weekend.  Apparently no one wanted to meet in the charming town of Winlock (former egg capital of the world, and home to a giant egg statue).  The planners of the reunion decided to meet in Westport on the beach.  We thought it would be nice to stay…

  • Esmerelda Basin Hike – 7/21/12

    Esmerelda Basin Hike – 7/21/12

    Last week I sent out a big email to every parent with kids I could think of who might possibly consider hiking with us.  I had planned to take the kids to Boardman Lake on Friday, but the morning thunderstorms caused me to cancel our hike.  We went to the zoo instead.  All was not…

  • Stonerose Fossil Hunting and Camping at Klipchuck

    Stonerose Fossil Hunting and Camping at Klipchuck

    Recently we went on a wonderful weekend road trip together as a family.  Last year we had heard about a little museum and fossil digging site over in eastern Washington, and we looked forward all winter to this summer, when we could get over there and try our hand at digging for fossils. We started…

  • Tumwater Botanical Area and Tumwater Pipeline Trail

    Tumwater Botanical Area and Tumwater Pipeline Trail

    We’ve settled firmly into a weather pattern called the June Gloom here in Puget Sound, and with the end-of-the-school-year activities I’ve been going a bit crazy.  A trip to find the sunshine and flowers was in order.  My friend Jessie was able and willing to come with us again.  I checked the weather forecasts all…

  • What we’ve been up to

    What we’ve been up to

    “The days they pass so quickly now, the nights are seldom long.”  John Denver sings this in one of his songs, and I think it describes the life of a mother very well.  The days have filled with activities and outings, trips out of town and gatherings with friends.  I have several things to share…