While there was some complaining after our last (well, first) backpacking trip, I did manage to get Ben to concede that there were some positive parts and he was willing to go again with the condition that the trail be shorter.
In retrospect, I think he figured I couldn't find anything shorter.
He figured wrong.
I found one that was 5ish miles with 500 foot elevation gain (otherwise known as flat): Ipsut Falls. This is yet another campground that people used to be able to drive into. However, in the battle of NPS vs washouts, the washouts won again. Once again, fairly wide flat trail but with less elevation gain.
I invited our backpacking friends to come with us, but this time they dropped a sister and swapped out a boy. I added Josh and Caleb to the roster as part of Operation You Can't Do This Without An Adult Until You Prove You Are Competent. It was an exhausting week of school which left people a little strung out, but with enough sugar and good weather there is little you can't overcome!
The Orcats had a 9am game, but as soon as they were done our crew went to their respective homes and loaded up gear to drive up to Rainier National Park.
The trail mostly followed the Carbon River. This was quite a bit more milky looking than the Dosewallips River, so we decided to opt out of drinking from it (didn't want to overtax the filters if we didn't have to), but rivers are always scenic.
Good for contemplation.
Or to take a break and consume large quantities of jellybeans and glare at the cringe mom taking your picture.
The weather was gorgeous for our fall trip. After setting up our tents, we hiked over to the Ipsut Falls themselves - lovely and the online guides recommended getting our water there rather than the river. Our hike didn't have a lot of elevation gain, but the drive up did. Higher elevation meant that it was still huckleberry season, which Colin and Ben took full advantage of until the rest of us dragged them away.
The falls are very pretty and cold. No complaints about having to drink icy cold mountain water after a hike!
It turns out, it is easier to get pictures of Ben when there is interesting scenery around.
My backpacking friends are good company, great sources of info, and have super genius ideas. Like, let's do a camping version of "how many people can you fit in a VW bug?" and see "how many boys can you fit in the bear box?".
I mean, in hindsight, it's obvious - how could you not try this? We had boys. We had a huge bear box. How can you not? The answer is: all of them. We fit all 5 of them.
And then we told them to get out and use hand sanitizer because EWW!
Sometimes inconsistency is the name of the mom game.
Gradually, but sooner than expected, the sun went down. No fire allowed in the backcountry, but we did have some lanterns. Ben put ours too good use by telling ghost stories to his friends that I assume make perfect sense to the 12yo mind.
Funny story: Ben opted to share a tent this time. You might think that is a super gutsy move considering that I forgot to bring a tent last time, but I didn't make that mistake twice. BUT, when Ben said he would share a tent with me, I told him that is fine but he just needs to be ready because I am a cuddler. (No, I am not a cuddler.) The look on his face was priceless.
He ended up putting our water bottles in between our sleeping bags. He claims it was just the best place for them not to fall over, but I suspect he may have been a little worried.
After a chilly night there came a chilly morning. We roused the boys (some of them ::ahem:: requiring more rousing than others ::ahem:: teenagers) and ate before breaking camp. Rain was in the forecast for the afternoon which is a terrific motivation to get up and out of the park.
If the walk up was easy, the walk down was easier (with one exception). The views of the foggy mountains were lovely.
We decided to take a little side trail on the way down. Ben and Colin opted out so we left our packs with them. That turned out to be a fantastic plan, because this trail went UP. More elevation gain in 0.3 miles than the whole rest of the trip combined.
It was the Old Mine Trail and at the top was a mineshaft (blocked off). Neat little side trip, but I would have not wanted to make that hike every day to go to work.
Then it was back to the cars and home again.
The trip was a success. Ben thawed to the idea and had fun with his friends. Josh and Caleb seemed to have a good time (teens can be difficult to read), but the consensus is they need more experience before heading out on their own. Well, that was the adult consensus. They haven't chimed in yet with their opinion.
