Phoebe's First Camping Trip

Last week we took Phoebe camping for the first time. We tried making this happen two weeks earlier, but when we tried to leave and Phoebe was screaming and Jon and I were grumpy and traffic was horrible, we decided to put the trip on hold. We're so glad we did! Two weeks later, my mom was able to come out with us, bringing a bigger tent for us to use and being super helpful with Phoebe, and Jon was able to get a Friday off so we had more time to have fun. It was meant to be.

We went camping in the Olympic National Forest at Big Creek Campground. We picked this place because it was first come, first serve and because it's an area we haven't explored before. The campground also had several hikes that one could do straight from the site, which we liked.

Mom, Phoebe, and I left Thursday around noon without Jon to go and get things set-up. After popping up the tents we decided to do the 4 mile hike around Big Creek while we waited for Jon to show up. It was a beautiful hike with some fun quirks, including a troll under one of the bridges. Phoebe was great and slept the whole time in the carrier.

When we got back Jon had arrived and it started raining. The rain stuck around for the rest of our two night stay on and off. We didn't let it bother us, though, and spent the rest of the evening feeling a little bit soggy around the campfire.

The next day we woke up and made breakfast in my mom's van's trunk to keep out of the rain. By the time we finished the rain died down and we left to do the same 4 mile hike around Big Creek, this time Jon carrying Phoebe.

In the middle of the hike we took a 2 mile detour and hiked to an overlook near Mt. Eleanor. We got to the outlook and couldn't see anything because of all the fog, but our lunch was still yummy!

When we got back from the hike we spent the rest of the day driving to look at nearby Lake Cushman and burning logs in the fire pit. The next morning we woke up, packed up, and left.

This camping trip was one of the best things I've done all year! Sometimes you don't realize how much you love something until you don't have it, and with being pregnant and taking care of a newborn, I haven't had my fill of the outdoors this year like I have in years past. Hiking and camping and tall trees and fresh air and tall mountains are such a big part of who I am. I feel closer to God and a calm peace when I'm out there which rejuvenates me. Luckily, it seems like Phoebe is a happy camper and we'll be able to go waltzing out around in the woods next year a whole lot!