I believe summer officially started five days ago and it has already exceeded my expectations.  Summer used to have a different meaning to me.  I used to look forward to flip flops, lighting bugs, tan skin and lemonade.  Now… since living in the Northwest over a decade I’ve let go of the idea of breaking my flip flops out of the box.  You just have to accept that our summers here means you slip out of your snowshoes into your hiking boots.  Summers here means I don’t have to worry about avalanche risk for a few months in the back country.  At least that’s what it’s become to me and I love it!

The longer I live here the more I can’t live without getting out of the city and seeing a great  mountain view.  I love that I have access to all of this with just an hours drive from my house.  Summer has just started and the options are endless of where the trail will lead us next.