August Shenanigans

I'm going to try and attempt a few quick blogs to update you on our fall and winter. We stayed busy, enjoying Alaska! 

We went on a beautiful backpacking trip in August. The hike goes straight up for an elevation gain of about 1000ft, then levels off and you hike around two gorgeous lakes. Above is the second lake, Crescent Lake. The cabin we stayed at was on the opposite side, about three or three and half more miles from where this picture was taken. Little did we know the trail isn't maintained in the summer. We were swarmed by bugs, dwarfed by gigantic cow parsnip bushes that were over our heads, traversing on muddy, slippery rocks we couldn't see, during berry season when all the bears could very well be hidden in the bushes in front of us looking for the little tastey jems. We ate a few of the berries ourselves, but the rest of the hike took us hours even though it was only a couple miles. Exhausting! So we didn't stop for much berry picking. But still one of the most beautiful hikes we did all summer. 

Once we got to the cabin, exhausted both mentally and physically, we were in dire need of some nourishment. As we started boiling the water, we realized *gasp* we forgot utensils! We only had one pocket knife, which you can't eat pasta with very well! Thankfully, some campers left a newish-looking toothbrush holder behind. After some short pondering, shown above, Tyler cut the cylinders in half  and we sanitized them in boiling water. 

The little spoons fit quite well in the pan for their little sanitizing boil bath!

And viola! Look how well those little spoons worked for the pasta! After that last bit of mental energy was spent, we quickly passed out hard in recovery from our day's trek. It's about 9:30pm in the picture, even though that Alaskan summer light's still pouring in the window. 

The next morning, I watched the sunriset and made Gretel this beautiful fireweed necklace. It, of course, didn't last long. Before long, I saw her on the opposite ridge at least a mile away rustling through the bushes looking for something to chase. At least I could see her turn around and rush back the minute I called for her!