1 Out on a splendid Mother's Day weekend hike up Mt. Walker on the western side of the Hood Canal.
2 It's a 5.5 mile hike (if you include both viewpoints at the top) and 2000' elev.
3 The kids - Ben especially - were tired before they even started. It was a warm, lazy Saturday and they'd had a nice farm breakfast before driving over. Ben still has a cold so he was pretty logey and ready to take a doze when we arrived.
4 But the fresh air and scenic views pepped us all up pretty quickly.
5 And Sam found this new friend!
6 He was so brave picking it up! Daddy was saying "If we don't know what it is we shouldn't pick it up."
7 Daddy carried Eagle up the trail for Benji :)
8 Sam says - no more pictures!
9 But it's funny face time!
10 Lunch time!
11 They were tired but they really did a great job. Just an hour and a half to walk up the steep 20% grade.
12 Looking out at Mt. Baker, a dormant volcano.
13 Then over to the south viewpoint.
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18 From here you can see all the way to Seattle, Rainier, and Mt. St. Helens!
19 Eagle loved the view, too!
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21 Walking back down, now. Then to JJs for clam chowder and ice cream at Mora. Such a nice day! Thank you, gentlemen!
22 Here we are, hiking away! Ben looks like Dick Proenekke here (see "Alone in the Wildnerness" films if you haven't already.)
23 But I had researched snakes from Hawaii knowing I wouldn't have time to consult my smart phone if the moment presented itself. So I was pretty sure it was ok. Sam just grabbed it like he used to grab lizards!
24 The view from the top. None of the pictures really do it justice.
