Lake Quinault

Last week we headed to the Olympic Mountains to Lake Quinaualt. The Quinault Rain Forest is one of four rich temperate rain forest canopies that lie within the west side of Washington’s Olympic Mountains. The Quinault Rain Forest completely surrounds Lake Quinault and reaches to it shoreline. It was beautiful. 

We stayed at a campground on the south shore road, but not on lake. We choose a more remote campground and found ourselves at a campground with 30 sites and only about 5 campers. It was nice. We were able to be far enough from everyone where if our kids were crying, I didn't feel like we were disturbing anyone else.

We stayed two nights. On our full day their we did about a 5 miles hike through the rainforest. It was beautiful, but hot. I had checked the weather and thought it was suppose to be in the low 60s. So when I got everyone dressed I put long sleeves on us all, not thick, just a covering...but it was WAY to hot. We were all dying by the end of the hike, probably why it is recommended to dress in layers while hiking. When we had the covering of the rainforest over our heads our clothes were perfect, but anytime we saw the sun we were HOT. It was in the low 80s. Apparently, I need a new weatherman. 

It was nice to be out and about with just our family of four. We had fun cooking at the campfire, soup, hotdogs, ziploc bag omelets, hillbilly trash breakfast, and my favorite smores.

On Wednesday morning however Kyle went out to the car to get some food and discovered we had a visitor. Thankfully, it wasn't a deer, elk, cougar, or bear, but a much smaller visitor, a mouse! Eww...a mouse was in our car rummaging through our food. Kyle tore the car apart looking for the little fellow, but no luck. We still have to put the plastic pieces back as now all our electrically wiring is exposed. Really with all the food our kids drop in car a family of mice could survive for some time in there. I am hoping he escaped and isn't still in there. This was definately not a highlight of our camping trip.

We did get to try out a new tent. I told Kyle for our family of four I thought we needed something bigger than our ultralight backpacking tent for two. He went all our and bought the biggest tent he could find. We weren't really happy with it and will be returning it (thank you REI). It gave us PLENTY of room, but wasn't really made well and wouldn't stand a chance in any sort of a rain storm. But it got our through this camping trip nicely. 

Camping with young kids isn't the most relaxing thing. Anyone have some tips??? The whole sleeping thing is just complicated. No crib to trap little Ryker in and Gunnar thinks if he can see us he needs to be talking to us. The first night was really rough, luckily the second night everyone slept better. Kyle was hoping the boys would sleep in their own section of the tent...didn't happen, sorry Kyle. 

Kyle would love to do some more back country camping like we used to do when it was just the two of us. But, for now, I think we are just going to work on mastering the campground camping with the car to hold all the necessary supplies. I think if we do back country camping with the two young kids we might need a pack mule.  

Kyle and the boys in front of the tent's garage.

 Gunnar loved throwing rocks and sticks in the creek. He got many spankings trying to sneak down to the water without Kyle or I.

 Purifying some water.

 The boys inside the tent.

 Kyle and Gunnar on the hike. Gunnar was so nervous while Kyle was crossing the log.

 Me and Ryker.

 Ahh...a break. I love taking breaks during hikes.

 I had to carry Gunnar too, he got jealous of me carrying only Ryker.

 My family after the hike.

 Boys playing in the tent. Its so big, I had a blanket laid out just for their playing area.

 Gunnar mastered drinking out of the milk carton while we were camping...Kyle is so proud.

On our way back to Fort Lewis, we drove about 30 minutes out of the way to Raymond, WA. Kyle's uncle, aunt, and cousins live there. His Aunt Tina and cousin Levi were able to see us along with some of Aunt Tina's family, but everyone else was working. I have never meet this part of the family, so it was fun to see them even for a short, sunrise visit. I should get to meet the rest of them in September when Kyle's cousin Micheal gets married.