BecAndKyle.com

The Tree was closed for a five-day weekend, so we went on a four-day, three-night backpacking trip in the Three Sisters Wilderness:

Here I am at the start of the trip, while I was still clean:

I took a lot of breaks and had a lot of snacks:

Our first night, we stayed at Teddy Lake:

I did a lot of log walking:

and swimming:

The morning was cool

and calm:

Morning coffee by the lake:

After breakfast, we were off to Snowshoe Lake.

We passed several lakes along the way, including Muskrat Lake:

When we got to Snowshoe Lake, it was time for more swimming:

The view from our campsite:

We headed back to Teddy Lake for our third night. I was in charge of route finding:

Somehow, we made it there anyway. We did lots more swimming and some world’s-strongest-man training:

Wombat made the trip with us as well:

He enjoyed swimming:

and eating our camp food:

Due to wombat’s voracious appetite (or was it mine?), we were running low on food for the trip out, so I resorted to eating peanut butter with a spoon:

We stopped at Cultus Lake for one last swim, where I did some excellent going under water:

Oh no, it’s not Obi Wan Kenobi, it’s me, Emmett, wearing my jedi robe and doing lightsaber training:

Check out the awesome Star Wars crown Ms. Heather made me:

I’m like a farmer. I grew cherry tomatoes,

carrots (longest one was ~2 inches – probably shouldn’t have picked them yet),

and blackberries.

I’ve been busy with some projects too. I’m making a potholder for Chef Matt at the Tree,

made some colorful, glittery slime,

rode my bike on the big bumps pump track at Phil’s,

and had my birthday party.

Meera and Om (her little brother) came over. We threw water balloons (primarily at the Bigs),

and made tie dye t-shirts.

We ate OK too. Orange, jicama, and avocado salad,

watermelon, green apple, and mint salad,

portobello mushroom and veggie burgers (Meera is a vegetarian),

and a rocket cake! Ask Mom about the $20 frosting she made :).

We drove 3500 miles and through five different states over the past three weeks. Get ready for a lot of pictures.

First stop – Yellow Pine Campground in Eastern Oregon. Route planning:

Good log walking logs at Yellow Pine:

The instant I’d finished I heard a ga-Zump! I looked. I saw something pop out of the stump of the tree I’d chopped down. It was sort of a man. Describe him…That’s hard. I don’t know if I can. He was shortish, and oldish, and brownish and mossy. And he spoke with a voice that was sharpish and bossy.

Tree face:

Day two took us to the Pettit Campground near Magic Mountain, Idaho.

We were the only people in the entire campground, it was right next to a great mountain bike trail, and we had our first campfire!

And s’mores:

Roadside lunch, heading toward Utah:

Campsite near Ogden, UT:

Finally! We made it to my home state, Colorado!

Campsite in the North Fruita Desert:

I got in a quick sunset ride after dinner:

The evening’s entertainment was wildfire TV:

The next morning we headed to the 18 Road trails in Fruita:

My favorite trail was Kessel Run, which, I am proud to say, I did in well under 18 parsecs.

That night we headed to Grand Mesa,

where we went for a hike and saw wildflowers,

and a partly-dried-out lake,

which I tried to fill in with rocks:

‘Bout time. We finally made it to the cabin. I’ve been around for five years, and this is the first time you bring me here?!

We were only here for three days, and we worked almost the whole time:

But we did find time for a bit of fun too. Lunch on the beach at Lake Dillon:

And, a hike up Pennsylvania Mountain behind the cabin:

I almost made it to 12,500′, almost to the top. I wanted to keep going, but the Bigs thought they knew better. Next year.

After a too-short stay at the cabin, we headed to Wyoming. Our campsite near the Happy Jack Trails:

The mountain biking was excellent. I saw beaver lodges and rode through streams (over and over again).

Campsite pinecone art:

Campsite visitors:

Next stop: next to a stream, somewhere in Idaho:

I splashed back and forth through the stream 476 times:

I wore my raincoat, so I wouldn’t get wet. Didn’t work.

Up next, Ketchum, Idaho. Our campsite for the next five days:

Lots of purple thistle. Apparently considered an invasive weed, but pretty:

Riding my favorite trail at Galena Lodge, the Lodge Loop:

It’s my Birthday! The Bigs brought one of my presents on the trip for me to open. Thanks, Nan and Pop!

Post-bike-ride birthday ice cream in the park:

Birthday dinner was pasta with red sauce:

Hammock Man:

Hike to Titus Lake near Galena Pass:

Campsite construction:

Getting clean:

Last time we were in Ketchum, I really wanted a Smokey Bear stuffie, and the Bigs really wanted to get him for me, but I was such a little … No, wait, I’m not supposed to use that word. I mean, my behavior was so absolutely abhorrent, it was not to be. This year, however, was a whole different story, and a whole different Emmett. Smokey:

Smokey was a little tired out, so I let him nap with me:

Our penultimate stop was McCall, Idaho for some great mountain biking and a bit of kickin’ it by Payette Lake:

One final night at Yellow Pine on the way home, and one final campfire. I wanted s’mores, but the Bigs informed me that we had eaten through all of our graham crackers. I said, “okay, let’s problem solve this,” and that is just what we did. S’mores on chocolate chip cookies, a taste sensation:

This week we decided to go on an overnight backpacking trip to a lake.

Our route took us on part of the Pacific Crest Trail. I asked if we could take it all the way to Mexico. The Bigs had some lame excuse about only having enough food for two days.

We went to South Matthieu Lake instead. Trail 4062. See:

We saw pollywogs,

flowers,

lakes,

and mountains.

3.5 miles carrying some water, swim trunks, and puppy was soooo hard.

No rest for the weary though. The Bigs said our tent is not big enough for the three of us, and there is no way puppy can stay with us too. I built him a shelter. That’s the kind of guy I am.

No, Dad, it goes here.

Puppy somehow made it into the tent – here he is enjoying the view in the morning.

Back home. Time for science. This week: foaming sandcastles.

I also did another big ride and went on another new trail. This week: part of COD.

I went to Hudson’s birthday party as well. There was a water slide,

hot dogs, and Hadley. I was in heaven.

Dad is building me a light saber. It has a way to go. I want it now. Patience you must have my young Padawan.

This week’s science experiment: elephant toothpaste!

Is it going to explode?!

Nah. Pretty cool, though!

Hadley and Hudson came over for dinner.

And Meera came over on the weekend. Two play dates in one week. Mom and Dad will never be the same.

The harvest from our cherry tree was less than impressive.

You thought the landscaping project was done, didn’t you? You must know the Bigs don’t rest…

check our our new hanging plants in the backyard:

and new planters on the front porch.

Best part is: everything is watered automatically!

Dad’s birthday was this week, so we wore funny hats:

And had carrot cake:

My latest construction project. I’m learning to use screws:

I’ve been busy redoing our sprinkler system:

It’s almost complete:

Some pictures of our updated landscaping:

I’ve also been very busy sewing a pillow:

Big week on the bike. I made it to ELV, home of the gnomes:

I’m the one on the right:

Making some brownies:

Mango “chicken” stir fry:

We like privacy. We do not like looking at neighbors’ houses. So for our first project this week, I raised our bamboo privacy wall. I think the neighbors are happy, but the Bigs said they would probably prefer a sound-proof wall. I don’t understand why.

Air traffic control:

Fourth of July preparations:

I even clean up:

The result:

Watermelon salad to go with the cupcakes:

Fourth-of-July paddleboarding:

I took a nap, so I could stay up for the fireworks. They started at 10:00! I did some sparklers while waiting:

While wearing ear protection, of course:

We planted a new tree this week. A Serbian weeping spruce. Here it is in its pot:

And here it is in its new home:

We’re redoing our irrigation system, which means a lot of trenching:

But, more importantly, it means large piles of dirt to play in:

Construction, baking, landscaping. That’s not all. I also do windows:

Oh, and, I almost forgot, I’m also a smokejumper:

We went to Steens Mountain for a few days of hiking and camping. We stayed on the Blitzen River.

We only saw one really large snake on this hike.

I like hiking this year:

The second day, we went for a hike on the Mud Creek Trail:

There was a stream crossing, so I hitched a ride:

I spent most of the hike looking for ‘chocolate’ and putting my footprints in it:

It was hot. Really, really hot:

Roasting marshmallows back at the campsite:

Frenchglen, Oregon. Social distancing since 1872:

On day three, we hiked the Pike Creek Trail. I navigated:

The last night, we camped on the Alvord Playa:

No rules there, so I got to drive:

I think I’ll be a better driver once I can see over the dashboard.

Farmer’s tan or dirt? Maybe a bit of both:

Amazing sunset/lightning storm:

In the morning, I went for a bike ride in the desert:

Dad was running, but he could not keep up. I’m the little speck in the distance:

Finally, heading back to camp:

And, this is what I looked like on the drive home:

I’m working on learning to jump rope.

Strawberries were waiting for us when we got home:

Sweet broccolini with tofu, sesame, and cilantro:

The Bigs went paddle boarding without me on Friday. Not cool.

Maybe it is because I eat all the strawberries from our berry patch before they get any:

Father’s Day breakfast on the porch:

I made Dad a concrete cup and a pine tree coaster:

Mountain biking at Phil’s:

Cleaning my bike:

We tried out some new recipes this weekend. Some were good and some were not so good.

Wheat berries with swiss chard and pomegranate molasses – I took two thank you bites to be polite:

Father’s Day dinner: mushroom risotto. The Bigs say this was good. I don’t do mushrooms.

I did LOVE the cantaloupe, arugula, and pistachio salad though:

Mom and I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookie gelato sandwiches for dessert:

They were delicious.

First strawberries of the year:

I am getting pretty good at this catching business:

Wednesday night is picnic night:

Making guacamole to top our burgers:

Making crumpets. Yes, crumpets:

Look closely. I’m actually in this photo. See if you can find me:

You probably cannot see them, but even my sunglasses are camo:

It was Pop’s birthday, so I made him a cake:

We won’t say how old he is, but happy birthday, Pop:

Sunday at the bike park:

Latest addition to the garage, a rack for my ride: