Reason 873 I love Washington: The best hiking around!

One of the things I most wanted to do before I started work was to go hiking! The original plan was to go to Olympic National Forest. It was cool and threatening rain and mom decided that it might be too far to drive for just a couple hours in the forest. Well by now I am becoming an expert in Plans B-F. So-o, we decided to go local...Denny Creek is just about 45 minutes from us.

We opted for the Franklin Falls route. It's just a mile each way to and from the waterfall, but it was enough to be rich with the smells of firs, balsam, cedar, and the occasional pine. The air was cool, crisp even, and we were glad for our jackets! We realized early on that we could actually see our breath on the last day of August!!! It was quite the switch for me coming from such a humid land!

 Noah had to test the water. Decision: too cold for wading! 

Check out that old growth! SO BIG! 

Chaco love! 

Franklin Falls!

lunch on a rock! Nothing tastes better than a good ol' PB&J when you've been hiking!

With suckers for a special treat!

Hot cocoa for the hikers!

And for a great finish to a great day:

Roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire!