A New Environment

On our way to the campsite, the girls were dying to get some time to play in snow. When they got the chance, finally, they quickly realized the importance of being properly dressed.

Fogged in, but still beautiful. If only we could see the view!

We are camping a lot this summer! It feels like more than usual. Maybe it isn't. This camping trip, the weekend of June 23, was at a place we'd never been: Sawmill Flat campground, on the eastern slopes of Mt. Rainier.

It was really exciting to drive to a new environment: high alpine forest. And driving over the mountain (see the pictures, above) was amazing. It was rainy and foggy, so we couldn't see any of the spectacular vistas. But we knew they were there! If our luck changed, we'd see them on the way back to Portland. (Spoiler alert: our luck changed, and the views were indeed spectacular.)

We got there on Thursday. It was raining, but not hard. Anson and Alder showed up on Friday, in the early afternoon, and it was still raining -- but still not hard; one could shelter under the ponderosa pines and remain bone dry. On Saturday and Sunday it was beautiful and sunny. We took a short drive to an awesome cave with a stream running through it, and spent some time by the river (which was too swift to play or swim in).

And, as spoiled above, our drive back over Rainier in the clear weather was stunning.

The girls were troupers, unbothered by the rain.

Elizabeth maintains a sense of style, no matter the circumstances.

Stacking river rocks. A Pacific Northwest tradition.

Danger is their middle name.

Elizabeth loves camping for many reasons, not least of which is that some non-parent adult will allow her to drink soda.

Anson is a delight.

Entering the cave: Suzanne, brave girl, in the lead.

1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a thumb war!

A river runs through it; "it" being our campground.

I hate white bunnies!

Elizabeth and Alder have always had a special bond.

The weather was gorgeous on the drive back to Portland.

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