Sealion Lake, Wisconsin Sept. 2007

This was the last time we got out of the inland northwest. It was a wonderful time at the lake and a fun road trip back in the old 87 Nissan. We got pulled over for speeding in a small town in Montana. Didn't get a ticket, instead got two coupons for free ice cream cones at McDonalds.

Trestle Creek / Lightning Creek, North Idaho Summer 2007

This isn't much of a travel from our house, we pass it everyday on a way into town, but it's a lot of fun to go back up that old dirt road in the "Townie". We did a camping trip one weekend, but mostly day hikes. Kyle and myself, Jen, did a couple great hikes. One was a through hike that took us right back to Hope.

Rock Creek Mine, Montana August 2008 (Pictures)

Erik and I went on this extreme backpacking trip for our anniversary. I say extreme because after a large group joined us at the only campsite, we packed up our stuff and started bushwhacking to find a more private spot. Privacy came sooner than flat ground however and it was dark before we finally found a place to lie down. After awakening to the loud sound of a grunting animal and checking the food bag to make sure it was okay, we managed to get some sleep. We summitted a really steep mountain the next day and then hiked out, again having a rough time bushwhacking on the steep mountain side with our packs. We survived, but Erik did get a good gash on his leg after falling through some brush.

We hiked back up later for a day hike with Kate and saw a bear on the other side of the lake where we had been bushwhacking.

Wallowa Mountains, Northeastern Oregon Oct. 21-22 2005
This is the weekend where I proposed to Jennifer. We had a great time but all in all it was a physically demanding Backpacking trip.... The Larchs were all a bright gold and the weather couldn't have been better.... We ended up summitting Eagle Cap Mountain on a day hike and the view was pretty spectacular....

Oregon Coast, September 2005
Jennifer and I spent the weekend in Portand with our friend Katie Dickeson. We had a great time spending the day at the Arboretum. The following day, we headed to the Coast and which is where the above picture is from....I tried my hand at skim boarding and though I caught a few nice rides, I paid the sandpiper for them....