The vast majority of the day was dull. Hours upon hours of sitting in the car. We did begin listening to Kerouac’s On the Road and we all reminisced about the places across the country we’ve been as they were mentioned. We stopped for gas a few times and even ran into a Target for […]

Read More Day 38: Glacier NP to Yellowstone NP

The day started with kayaking on a subalpine lake, then we hiked two different trails. One led to an overlook of another gorgeous lake. We saw about a dozen mountain goats on our way up, just eating their lunch right along the trail. I don’t like the word cute, but there were two babies who […]

Read More Day 37: Glacier National Park

Whoa! This one is a beauty! We’re sitting in the great lounge of the lodge, having just come inside from watching a mama bear and her two cubs frolic among the wildflowers. Our day started painfully early, at just 5:00, which was only 4:00 to our bodies which have been in Pacific time zone for […]

Read More Day 36: Glacier National Park

The day was mostly spent in the car. During the ride I savored the strongest latte of the trip (five shots of espresso!), made some friendship bracelets, finished a book (Women Talking by Miriam Toews) and read about a quarter of my next one (Supermarket by Bobby Hall who is better known as Logic.) Of […]

Read More Day 35: Winthrop to Kalispell

Two things are certain. I can’t wait to return to North Cascades and I’m so tired. After a few pieces of beef jerky and a couple handfuls of trail mix, we got into our tents for the night. It was drizzling, which is a great sound to fall asleep to. In fact, Zoe said I […]

Read More Day 34: North Cascades National Park

Read More Day 33 pictures (North Cascades)

I’m so happy. I’m exhausted, sore, sweaty, dirty, hungry, but so happy. I know these adventures won’t last forever. They can’t. The girls are 13 and 11. We only have a few years until summer jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities, or studies will take priority of their summer schedules. Their childhoods are much closer to ending […]

Read More Day 33: North Cascade National Park

Last night, Zak and I stayed up too late chatting to the sweetest couple from Bellingham, Washington around the firepit at our hotel. It was really good to talk politics, travel, the world, food, and parenting with some others. They come up to Vancouver as often as we go into Chicago for the weekend. We […]

Read More Day 32: Vancouver

Two nights of backpacking in a row! I never, ever thought I’d do that! But I did! And it was so much fun. Sleep didn’t come as easily as it did the first night, and the waves were actually too loud at times during the night. I mumbled something to Ellie about turning down the […]

Read More Day 31: Olympic NP to Vancouver

Tons of pictures from Olympic.

Read More Photos from days 29 and 30