volcano alley

One of our summer goals was to take advantage of some of the beautiful hikes near our house.  Our kiddos are finally getting old enough to log a few more miles on the trail and our expert in- house researcher knows how to navigate us to the lesser known destinations.  Read:  After entering the forest, drive two miles down an unmarked gravel road and park after the second pothole just past the tree with six branches pointing east.  

 We actually encountered neither salmon or huckleberrys but dang its a cute sign.

 The backpack was only necessary for about one mile.  We are sooooo close to having two independent hikers. 

 Tia is a trooper on our slow paced adventures...and she even found owl pellets!

Little man needed lots of encouragement (let's count to 100!, let's sing Down By The Bay (a thousand times), let's play I Spy!, etc. etc. etc., go see if you can catch up to Daddy!) 

 Sisters

 contemplating the beauty

 I could have photographed these two all day

 Gettin fancy with the bokeh

 Mountain warrier

 Mt. Jefferson

 and Helens peeked through the clouds

The pictures don't really capture the awe of climbing out of the woods and into the mountaintops but man, these views are my love language.  Like a fairy's door hinged to the King's grandest gate... a simple reminder that I am His.