Backpacking Lava Lake

Last summer we took Eliana camping for the first time. So this summer we decided to attempt backpacking for the first time. We took Ellie up to Lava Lake. It's a 3 mile uphill hike with a beautiful lake at the end. It's long enough to justify backpacking, and short enough that we thought maybe it wouldn't be too hard with Eliana. And...

Sure enough, she hiked pretty much the entire way by herself!! 3 miles at 3 years... not bad! By the time she's 10 she'll be able to go hiking with Leif. =D (And I can spend the weekend scrapbooking by myself, ha ha!) So... it was a good trip! So good, in fact, that we're going to attempt a 2 night backpacking trip this weekend....

So, we didn't get too many pictures on this little trip, but we did get a few. Here's the lake we hiked to:

Isn't it beautiful? We love this particular hike.

Leif and Ellie ate breakfast down by the lake and then I read while they pumped water. Ellie was even helpful on this trip and pumped a liter of water all by herself! She also helped Leif put up the tent. She enjoyed being his little helper!