Hikes haven’t been happening nearly as much as I’d like. Kids. Life. Schedules. (Laziness.) I did manage to get Brian and the kids out to Talapus Lake one summer Saturday. Not all the kiddos. Laine wasn’t feeling the best and decided to stay home. I mean, I get that. I’d rather stay home alone if I could. I think Blaise and Laine get the house to themselves more than Brian or I do. I’m slightly jealous. And I’m fairly certain Blaise would have rather stayed behind this day but he went and had a positive attitude. Only for him to get mad at me a few days later—over something I can’t recall—and throw out, you’d make us go on a hike anyway, haha.
For being somewhat hike-lazy over summer, this was a high step count day. I hit the trail solo in the morning—well, not solo, Melvin was with me as usual. I must have been feeling active this day. I need some of that feeling again because I’m back in a lazy state.
Trail with Mel.
There are hundreds—if not thousands—of hikes in Washington. And yet I often repeat the same ones. Like this hike. The younger three and I did Talapus Lake back in 2022. I do enjoy hitting new trails but I tend to play it safe with the smallest kid in tow.
Hiking kiddos! I personally love how Maive did her makeup before we left. Blue eye shadow for the win here.
This sucker is kid-friendly and has a goal, the lake, instead of just hiking on a trail that looks like any other trail. With kids, having something to hike to always makes it easier.. It provides an end point—rather, a turning around point—and a place to chill for a bit once we get there.
The kids did pretty well; there was minimal complaining but a decent amount of stopping for water. It’s unclear if they were actually thirsty or just wanted a break. If I had to guess, it wasn’t because of thirst. Either way, we made our way to Talapus Lake, stopping for pictures on various trees and rocks. These kids are used to me taking pictures. I no longer have to ask—they pose and then ask me to take their picture.
Hiking posers.
Hikers in action.
Hike signage because I like these.
A bridge a bit before getting to the lake. I’m a sucker for a bridge.
Talapus Lake.
We packed lunches for the kiddos to enjoy once we reached the lake. It always amazes me how the kids can game for hours without even a snack, but the minute we’re on a hike, or wherever, they are dying of thirst and hunger. We stayed at the lake maybe a half-hour, taking in views while eating.
Last time we were here there were birds, nicknamed Camp Robbers, who got awfully close to us while eating. I was hoping we’d see them again but no luck. We did find an adorable little chipmunk who had it down, knowing people bring food. We may have befriended him.
Lunching.
Heading back on the trail is always smoother. It probably takes us half the time going back. And the kids are surprisingly not as thirsty, haha. We did stop for some pictures of fun trail elements. Like the penis tree we dubbed the tree below. A trail is a trail, and they all kind of look the same around here. But they are very different at the same time. Which make no sense but it does to me. Whatever.
The penis tree.
Fun trail elements.
Of course it’s not a family hike if there isn’t some kind of ice cream afterward. This time we stopped for shakes in North Bend. It’s usually frozen yogurt but we spiced it up this time. This is how spicy we get, haha. The line was long! We took one home for Laine and still ended up with an extra shake. When you’re a large family, that happens sometimes. People miscount. Or McDonand’s will take our order of seven ice cream cones in the drive-thru, only to tell us the machine isn’t working when we get to the window. Suspicious.
Photo sent to Laine to get her selection.
After hiking Talapus Lake twice, I’m not sure a third time is in order. Although, Laine has yet to go on this hike. Maybe one more time. But as the kids get older, I think other hikes are in order. Except I haven’t been taking them hiking since the failed Twin Falls hike over summer, a few weeks after this hike. It was bad.
An easy hike—not even 2.5 miles roundtrip—and we didn’t even make it to Twin Falls. The kids literally stopped like every two minutes for water. On a hike where two-year-olds were passing us. It was a warm day, but only 78 degrees, and we were in shade. Combined with Saige not feeling well, which I don’t fault her because she really wasn’t feeling well. That is on me; I should have let her stay home. Saige aside, I gave up right before we made it to the falls after all the constant stopping mixed with kids bitching and complaining. I turned around and went back to the car. We’ve only hiked once since, and it was because we were on vacation in Leavenworth. I’m not sure I’m ready to take them all again if I’m honest. They’re kids and all, and we all have bad days. But did we all have to have the same bad day?! Haha. I’ll take them again and they’ll constantly stop, and bitch and complain again.
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