BEAR VALLEY, ELK CREEK GUARD STATION.

For the past several summers, my dad has been working in the backcountry. This means Mom and Dad spend entire summers camping in some of THE most beautiful, remote places! This summer was a busy one for Dad as he had several backcountry jobs! This is all VERY exciting for me because I get to show up for four or five days and camp in LUXURY! The MANsion, Mom's cooking, splendid fresh-air-mountain adventures and THE best company a girl could ask for! I feel so spoiled! The first outpost I was able to join up with Mom, Dad and the crew was in Bear Valley. Although I have passed through the area, I had never had the opportunity to camp there. All the stories I had hard about Bear Valley being beautiful were absolutely true -- all the open meadows are simply gorgeous. Next year, I will be back for wildflower season!

*** CAMP ***

EVEN DAISY LIVES IN LUXURY IN THE MANSION!

DAD BUILT HER THIS HIDEY-HOLE AND SINCE NEITHER LONG NOR LONGER WILL GO IN THERE, IT IS HER OWN PRIVATE RETREAT!

THIS IS THE VERY FIRST THING I NOTICED WHEN I PULLED INTO CAMP!

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CREW CAMP IS JUST BEHIND THE SIGN!

THEIR DRINKING WATER ALSO CAME FROM THIS FAUCET!

APPARENTLY GOVERNMENT SIGNS AREN'T ALL THAT SERIOUS!

THE CREW AS WORKING ON RE-ROOFING SOME OF THE FOREST SERVICE BUILDINGS AT THE ELK CREEK GUARD STATION.

MY DADDY, HARD AT WORK WHILE I WAS VACATIONING :)

THE FIRE CREWS QUICKLY LEFT THE COMPLEX TO MAN FIRES THAT WERE STARTED BY A BIG ELECTRICAL STORM THAT ROLLED THROUGH ON NIGHT WHILE I WAS THERE. THIS PARTICULAR FIRE LITERALLY BURNED ALL SUMMER!

ME AND SMOKEY (A CHERISHED CHILDHOOD ICON)!

THE CREEK BEHIND CAMP

MY OLD DOG LOVES THE WATER!

(but he doesn't swim well!)

*** DAGGER FALLS ***

THE WEEK BEFORE I ARRIVED IN BEAR VALLEY, MOM AND DAD HAD SPEND AN EVENING AT DAGGER FALLS AND ACTUALLY SEEN SALMON JUMPING UP THE FALLS! I WAS SO JEALOUS!!! THERE WASN'T A FISH TO BE SEEN THE NIGHT WE WERE THERE BUT THE FALLS ARE SPECTACULAR NONETHELESS!

DAD AND I STANDING ABOVE DAGGER FALLS

JUST BELOW DAGGER FALLS IS THE BOUNDARY CREEK BOAT LAUNCH, THE PUT IN FOR WHITEWATER RAFTING TRIPS DOWN THE INFAMOUS MIDDLE FORK OF THE SALMON RIVER. THIS WEEK-LONG FLOAT IS DEFINITELY ON MY BUCKET LIST! SOMEDAY! SOMEDAY! :)

IN THE MEANTIME, THIS WAS AS CLOSE TO BEING ON A RAFT ON THE MIDDLE FORK AS I COULD GET!

I AM, APPARENTLY, VERY SERIOUS ABOUT MY OAR WORK!

***BEAR VALLEY MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT***

THE DRIVE TO BEAR VALLEY MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT WAS BREATH-TAKING! THE VIEWS WERE AMAZING. THE ROAD, A MERE FOUR MILES, WAS EASILY ONE OF THE MOST RUGGED ROADS I HAVE BEEN ON! MY LITTLE NISSAN ATE UP EVERY INCH OF IT THOUGH! THAT BABY KNOWS HOW TO ADVENTURE!

A SMOKEY SUNSET

THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND STEEL LOOKOUT TOWER I HAVE SEEN!

VERY COOL!

DAD AND I DECIDED WE HAD TO CLIMB THE TOWER!

(keep in mind, neither of us "do" heights well)!

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MY MOM IS DOING!

IT LOOKS LIKE SHE "SPLATTED" THOUGH!

MADE IT TO THE TOP!

(the hatch was nailed shut so we couldn't actually make it into the cab).

I SUPER LOVE LOOKOUTS!

***THE CROOKED GOVERNMENT OUTHOUSE***

DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE OUTHOUSES I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED!

BUT THE OCD TESS, REALLY WANTED TO "FIX IT!"

ON OUR OUTHOUSE HIKE, DAD SPOTTED A FROG (and we had a big laugh because there is a sign at the guard station about talks about being able to see frogs mating in the meadows. Fortunately, we didn't "interrupt" anything!) AND I SPOTTED MY VERY FIRST ELEPHANT HEAD FLOWER! I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT FIND ONE!

***GRAND JEAN***

ON THE WAY BACK HOME, WE DECIDED TO DRIVE INTO GRAND JEAN.

WHAT A FUN LITTLE AREA! I WOULD LOVE TO BRING MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS CAMPING HERE. THE RIVER IS BEAUTIFUL HERE AND THERE IS A WONDERFUL HOT SPRINGS POOL. THE KIDS AND THEIR AUNTIE WOULD HAVE A BLAST!

WE ATE DINNER AT THE SAWTOOTH LODGE

(A DELICIOUS GRILLED CHEESE FOR ME)!

AND THEN WE HAD ICE CREAM! MY MOM HAS A FOND MEMORY OF EATING ICE CREAM AT THE SAWTOOTH LODGE WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL! WHAT A NEAT NEW MEMORY WE MADE TOGETHER!

OREGON BURN CENTER, PORTLAND.

This is a post I've been putting off writing but I'm not sure why! There is so much to celebrate! I posted the picture at the left way back in June. Seeing it again still gives me the chills and makes me slightly nauseous. My life-long friend is still trapped in that plane, being burned alive. Although she was eventually pulled from the plane I wasn't sure she would survive. Seeing this picture, I wasn't sure how ANYONE could! But SHE DID! In fact, as I write this today, she has been released from the hospital and is now participating in out-patient rehab (along with her husband and surviving son, Hudson) at an army medical center in San Antonio. She has been making regular (often funny) status updates on Facebook about her progress. Yesterday she wrote: Tried on my first set of legs and feet and walked 15 feet. Minor adjustments to be made and back on again Friday. Only make feet in whole sizes so now I have size 7 so all my 7 1/2 shoes will still work. A little like walking on heavy stilts. AMAZING! SIMPLY AMAZING!! I am SO proud of Stacie! Not only did she survive, she is managing to do it with her infamous spunk and determination! She has faced so much adversity and heartache yet she has so much HOPE! She is my HERO!

In July I flew to Portland to visit Stacie, Preston and Hudson in the burn unit. What a trip! Try boarding a plane when you are off to see plane crash victims! My visit with Stacie was one of the most difficult things I have done. That day wasn't a good day for Stacie (though while there I wasn't aware it was a "bad day"). Before I left for the airport for my return flight, I sat next to my sleeping friend and said my goodbyes to her. My final goodbyes. I didn't think there was ANY way she was going to survive. Knowing that three other friends were flying to see her the next day, I called to prepare them. While refusing to discouraging them from visiting her, I wanted them to be prepared to see what I had seen. Again, seeing her in that state was beyond heartbreaking (especially since she was having such a struggle that day). However, two days later, Stacie was feeling MUCH better! She had a wonderful visit with the other girls! They laughed and cried together and I breathed a sigh of relief that they hadn't seen what I had seen. While devastated by the condition of Stacie that day, I decided to celebrate all she had left. I spent most of my time playing with little Hudson! And I quickly fell in LOVE with him!

We spent time outside watching the construction workers build the new hospital and playing with the fire truck I brought for him. He laughed and smiled and somehow seemed like a regular little boy despite all of his IVs and bandages. He was a bright shining light amid the darkness and devastation of the situation. Hudson made my whole trip worthwhile! It was a hard day but he gave me such hope! There is so much spark in that determined little smile!

Sitting bedside with Stacie, saying goodbyes that weren't necessary!

She has come SO FAR since that day!

Taxi ride from the airport in rush hour traffic! Scary!

A group of us (all lifelong friends) met for dinner one night shortly after Stacie's accident. We took this picture and sent it to her (along with some fun old pictures). In turn, each of us ended up in Portland to visit with her too!

I was able to contact the newspaper in Anchorage and obtain this photo. I presented Stacie and her family a print when I flew over. This is the man that ultimately pulled Stacie from the plane! If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be alive today. What a brave, persistent, self-sacrificing man. The absolute definition of HERO!