Trip Update 6-21-08
Greetings from beautiful Washington!!! It's hard to believe that we are already on day five of our Pacific Northwest adventure! Kyle and I (Meghan) have an amazing group of kids that are full of laughter and fun. The group has already started to bond! Airport day went surprisingly smooth and stress free. After lunch we started our travels to Anacortes where we took a ferry to Lopez Island. If given the opportunity, everyone needs to see this amazing place! That evening the kids had there first lesson setting up tents and learning the seven leave no trace principles. Wills is our Moondance alumnus who is and has been a huge help answering the plethora of questions.
The next morning we met up with the wonderful Outdoor Adventure group!
Our guides for the next couple days were Kathy, Bucky and Kelix. They started the group off with the proper technique to how to pack their dry bags. We then headed to the edge of the island where Kathy explained how the different parts of the boat and how to safely get in and out the kayak. The kids were so excited about the 12 mile venture to Jones Island. The sun greeted us right as we stared paddling. The scenery was breathtaking. We saw numerous bald eagles, seals and views of the elusive mountains surrounding us. Later that evening we landed on Jones Island where Adam and Christian helped Kathy make an extraordinary meal! Those boys were such a great help! They also played a big part in surprising Grace and the group with dessert for her fifteenth birthday! She expressed of all her birthdays that this was one wins of the most eventful and unusual!
Our next day was filled with exploration. After out scrumptious breakfast Bucky took the kids out to the beach were he taught the kids about the vast sea life. Fred face was priceless when he discovered a huge crab along with many other creatures. Rachel was right in there with the boys picking up all the beautiful starfish and loving it.
Next, we went on a refreshing day hike where Kathy taught the kids about the trees and plants that we past. To conclude the day we all did an evening paddling around the island which was incredible!
Early the next morning we set off back to Lopez Island. Paul and I were in a kayak and I was absolutely amazed at his paddling skills! He seized the moment and padded hard for 12 miles! We all returned safely back at Lopez were we stuffed ourselves with another amazing meal. Thank you outdoor adventures! Kyle and I are so blessed with a wonderful group! We are so excited about our backpacking trip in the North Cascades! Our journey continues!
Meghan and Kyle
Trip Update 6-28-08
Hello to everyone from the Pacific Northwest! We have just made it out of the Backcountry, or as the kids like to call it, "The Wild". The group spent the last 6 days backpacking through the beautiful Ross Lake wilderness in North Cascades National Park, and now we are back to civilization for a short jaunt before heading down to the Deschutes River in Oregon.
The Backpacking was excellent! We started our backpacking section with a ferry ride up Ross Lake to our trailhead. It was a cool afternoon, and we started hiking around 3:00 PM to our first campsite at Hozomeen Lake. Hozomeen was gorgeous, and the kids slept outside that night under the stars overlooking the lake. The next 2 days saw us backpacking to different campsites and arriving to Lightning Creek the day before our summit bid up Desolation Peak. Day 3 we got to bed early in anticipation of our big hike.
On Day 4, we summitted Desolation Peak. The hike was challenging, but the kids had fun and managed to find time to slide down some snow on their bellies. Grace got some excellent video footage of Christian and Fred sliding around like bobsledders. Day 5 the group had a nice leisurely hike to our last campsite of the trip, and Day 6 we hiked to our pickup point for the ferry that took us out in the early afternoon.
The Backpacking section of our trip was truly a success. We did not have one day of rain, we summitted Desolation Peak, and everyone made it out safe and sound. The first day on the trail was a hard one as to be expected, but by day 6 everyone had put on some strong hiking legs. Once out of the backcountry, the kids all got to chow down on some ice cream and fresh strawberries. That really put a smile on their face.
Wills led the group on the first day and proved to be one of the strongest hikers in the group. Right off to bat, Fred showed an affinity for using the Whisper Light Stoves and was soon the resident expert among the group.
Christian did a good job of establishing a group personality and including everyone. Adam was always the first one packed in the morning as well as the first to the kitchen for mealtime. On our 7 mile hike up Desolation Peak, Rachel and Paul led the group to the summit and safely back to camp just in time for a big pasta dinner.
Everyone is doing well and looking forward to the rock climbing in Oregon for the last 3 days of the trip. Meghan and I think that the group is coming together and being very cooperative with the expectations that we have for them. Tomorrow we will be shoving off for a two day trip down the Deschutes River, and we will type up another online update soon thereafter. More fun awaits!
Kyle and Meghan
Trip Update 7-2-08
Hello from Oregon!!!
We just finished our exciting two day adventure down the Deschutes River! The outfitters from Orion made our time extra special with their amazing food, personalities and experience! The kids started their day bright and early Sunday morning packing all the dry bags so we could set off on our next adventure! The weather was sunny and beautiful. The refreshing river water cooled us down as we rafted 35 miles down the river.
The next 48 hours was filled with laughter as we jumped in, out and across the boats to see who we could get in the water! I've never seen all the kids smile so much!
Oregon is absolutely amazing! The scenery here is filled with mountains, osprey, bald eagles and tetras like rock formations. As you might have concluded everyone absolutely loved this aspect of the trip! They kids were pretty upset when our rafting time was done but all pitched in to help the Orion guides take the boats out of the water. Kyle and I have been so impressed with the group's attitude and willingness to help. Every day we are discovering more about each other and growing closer and closer. I can't believe there are only six days left! Time flies when you're having fun! Before I sign off the kids had some shout outs for all their wonderful Parents and loved ones.
Grace: Hey mom, dad and Harris! I am having a blast! Rafting has been the best part so far but we have not done rock climbing yet. Love you and see you soon!
Chris; Hey Guys, so far the trip has been a lot of fun! White water rafting has been the best so far. Though I hope rock climbing will be fun!
Paul; Hello mom and dad, this trip is fun hiking was cool but white water rafting was the best! When I was backpacking I climbed Desolation Peak and hiked 14 miles that day! Well, rock climbing is next! Hope it's cool! Be good to Daisy!
Fred: Hi parents! I hiked for about 36 miles and went rafting! I really liked the rafting part the most.
Adam: Hey mom and dad, I have had a lot of fun. I hiked and white water rafted! White water rafting has been the best so far! Love you!
I will be rock climbing soon! See you soon!
Wills: Hey family! I'm just fine! My group is great and we have capable leaders. I've backpacked, sea kayaked, white water rafted and start rock climbing tomorrow! Hope everything is well!
Rachel; Hey mom, dad and Ali!!! I am having loads of fun!!! So far we have sea kayaked, backpacked and white water rafted!!! My favorite part so far is white water rafting! Love you and see you in a week!
XOXO!
Well, tomorrow we begin climbing at smith rock! Just in a couple days we will be climbing monkeys face! We are all so excited! Once again, thank you parents for sharing your precious children with us! Kyle and I adore them and are cherishing every minute with them! Hope all is well at home! Till next time!
Meghan and Kyle
