Every summer we try to go backpacking at least once. This year, we finally got to go over Labor Day Weekend. We went into Vanity Lakes and explored 5 small lakes - I think we caught fish in four of them. James' sister Kathleen came into town on her way to college, so we picked her up at the airport and then took her out in the woods for four days.
Friday: Jessi James Kathleen & Kathy at the trailhead.
Hallie, Jed, Hannah and Stella hiked in a few hours earlier with Opa and had a great campsite picked out. 
Saturday: Top Row: Jed, Kathy, KathleenBottom Row: Stella, Gil, Hannah, Hallie, James, Jessi
Saturday: Hannah stayed for the entire weekend and was always ready to go fishing!
Saturday: Opa rescuing Hannah's lure.
Saturday: Kathleen fishing.
Sunday: James and I hiked to the ridge way way way way above our campsite for an incredible view of the lower lakes. Our campsite was on the far right lake (it looks dark blue/green) near the log jam (a light tan spot at the upper left edge of the lake).
James checking his compass at the top of the ridge.
Fireweed. James' mom makes jelly using the blossoms of this flower. They blossom from the bottom in the Spring and by Fall only the tops have flowers. So hopefully Sharon gets to pick them when they have lots of blooms!
Sunday: James & Jessi on the ridge above the upper lake.We had very interesting weather. Friday was beautiful and warm and perfect for hiking. James' watch has a temperature feature, and he checked the air tempurature in our tent each morning. Saturday morning: 62 degrees. Beautiful day with high fluffy white clouds.
Sunday morning: 52 degrees and it rained until about 10:00 a.m. complete with thunder and lightening. James 'toasted' Hannah's socks to help dry them out after our soggy morning.
Monday morning: 37 degrees and SNOWING! 4" at our campsite as we packed up camp.
Jessi & Hannah.
Kathleen and James
Gil & Kathy
Monday: Gil Hannah Kathy Jessi James & Kathleen. James got "first tracks" all the way down the mountain. We even had to brush off the suburban windows before driving away. We finished the weekend by a visit to Kirkham Hot Springs - perfect for soaking out cold toes and tired shoulders!