{"id":1310,"date":"2014-07-11T03:35:19","date_gmt":"2014-07-11T03:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/family.manandyak.com\/?p=1310"},"modified":"2014-07-11T03:35:19","modified_gmt":"2014-07-11T03:35:19","slug":"pamelia-lake-hike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/family.manandyak.com\/?p=1310","title":{"rendered":"Pamelia Lake Hike"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was 15 I went backpacking at Pamelia Lake on Memorial Day Weekend, and I always remembered how surreal the forest was, for it was filled with beautiful blooming rhododendrons beneath a canopy of evergreens. \u00a0I’ve never seen anything quite like it. \u00a0Now that we live in Oregon again, a repeat of this trip was high on my list.<\/p>\n

Josef and I struck out around 11, nicely timed so that he would nap the whole way. \u00a0Upon arrival we stretched our legs a bit and explored the creek running by the trail head, before having a nice feast at the picnic table. \u00a0Josef was pretty thrilled to be out in the woods, and he took off walking down the trail of his own volition, before lunch was even finished! \u00a0He made it a respectable distance before I hoisted him into the backpack.<\/p>\n

Alas, we were a little too early for the rhodies, or maybe summer weather came unseasonably early back in ol’ ’94. \u00a0It was still a gorgeous hike, following a rushing creek. \u00a0We stopped about half way to hang out for an hour and explore a bit, and of course eat more snacks. \u00a0Josef is quite the foodie.<\/p>\n

Another mile or two brought us up to Pamelia Lake, which was very serene and beautiful. \u00a0We explored the shore, saw some geese, some ducks, some ants, and checked out the various campsites. \u00a0Josef seemed perfectly content, and I took a lot of joy in hearing him say “big trees!” and “beautiful!” \u00a0He polished off every last tomato, cucumber, almond, and dried apricot we brought.<\/p>\n

Time went quickly and before I knew it it was almost 6, so we headed back down. \u00a0Of course there was further feasting down at the trail head, and then I got him in his pajamas and we headed home at about 8. \u00a0I must say I was mightily pleased that my little companion happily spent 7 hours in the woods with his papa. \u00a0This bodes well for further adventures!<\/p>\n