Spruce Railroad Trail to Devils Punchbowl

Our first hike this summer was Spruce Railroad Trail to Devils Punchbowl over on Lake Crescent.  I felt so prepared by buying a pass online, but it was not needed for this hike.

We went right after the last day of school and while some of the kids were happy to go some weren't. 

I'll admit it was hot outside and this hike was not really in the shade. I think this is probably more a bike trail than hike but we made the best of it.

The actual Devils punchbowl area was crowded with people jumping off a rock into the water. It was a little too crowded for us so we found our own area to swim.

The water was absolutely freezing but Calista was determined to go all the way in. I think we all ended up in the water in the end except for Scarlett. 

Hiking Mt. Kokuzo

For Veteren's day we decided to hike Mt. Kokuzo.  A few of us had done this hike before but we went on the easier trail and so this time we decided to try the more challenging route.

I'd say it was a good level for our family.  Just challenging enough for the kids to stop complaining about having to go on a hike and start focusing on not falling off the cliff edge.  I'm serious.  Every time we go on a hike, the kids stop complaining once things start to get hard.  I think once they start to actually focus on what we are doing the complaining stops.

I love being outside in nature.  We are in a pocket of great weather.  It is going to be pretty cold soon, but for now things are perfect outside for hiking.

Like usual, we lost the path at one point and had to scramble around on the side of the mountain until we found it.

These pictures made me realize I need a new camera phone.  There is a huge difference between the pictures Bob's phone takes on his phone and the pictures my iphone 7 takes.  See if you can spot the difference in the post.

This hike has a great view at the top.

The worst thing about this hike is the drive up to the trailhead.  Near the hike the road becomes steep, small, and windy.  It wasn't a problem for me this time because I knew what was coming. I also didn't mind because no cars came down while we were trying to go up.  The first time I did it there was a slow car in front of me so I had to match their pace.  Then there were a few cars trying to go down so some people had to back up and off the road.  It was a little scary.  

Mt. Nokogiri

We took the family over to Chiba and hiked Mt. Nokogiri.  Most people just drive up to the top and park but much to my kids disappointment not us.  I love to hike.

The top had some pretty cook statues and buddahs around.

It even had the largest stone buddah cut out of a mountain in Japan.  Maybe the world.  Ok, I made up that last bit, but where in the world would they have one bigger then they do in Japan?  I doubt America has one this big.

Mt Ogusu Hike

Last Saturday we needed out of the house and so we went to Mt Ogusu for one of our favorite hikes.  Where we live there is some debate here as to weather hiking should be allowed.  Some people seem to think that we cannot leave our house for any reason.  A neighbor even went as far as to yell at my kids for being outside on the street in front of our house.   Its a little frustrating.  I personally think there was no danger or risk in us going on a hike, so we did.  Being outside in nature has many benefits, including health benefits and I'm glad we were able to get out.

In fact I tried to take the kids to two different beaches on Friday but the parking for both was blocked off.  What is the danger of us walking around the beach together as a family?  

Anyway, Calista had fun looking in the gutter water.

She was really the only one who wanted to pose for pictures.  The other kids were busy working on a movie.  They took many videos and have a whole storyline planned out.  I'm sure I'll post it on here when they finish.  They really spend hours a day taking videos for movies.

 Calista couldn't let me take a picture of Beatrix without her.

Just behind the fence in the next picture is a staircase that leads up to a great lookout spot but unfortunately it was closed up.

There is an alternate entrance to this hike.  I figure about 90% of the hike would be different if we start at the other point, but the ending place is the same.  Sometime we will try the other way.  I'm worried to try it for now though because that one has a real parking lot that may or may not be blocked off.  For this entrance we just park on the side of the road in the driveway of an abandoned house.