Alaska Trip IV: Engineer Lake (the long post!)

During the year that we lived in Alaska we went on a short camping trip with the boys. They were about 20 months old. We backpacked about a mile in to a cabin on Engineer Lake in the Skilak Lake area. It was an arduous hike for us, being unseasoned backpackers. We carried the boys on our backs, along with our gear, food, and firewood. The uneven terrain was also a challenge. It was worth every the moment! The challenge was satisfying, as was the pristine lake and peaceful solitude. Well, peaceful apart from the active toddlers! The trip was a shining highlight of our year in Alaska.

We knew that we just had to go back during this summer's vacation. We knew it wouldn't be as difficult because we had learned that bringing firewood was unnecessary. There is an ax at the cabin. Also, the three older kids are capable of carrying some of the gear. I was looking forward to a little toughening up of our kiddos! :)

My extended family decided they would like to join us for camping as well. They stayed at the small campground (three sites) at the trail head while we hiked in. My older brother brought his boat and offered to ferry all our gear to the cabin. I quickly gave up my notion of "toughening" us all up. Plenty of time for that! Lol. 

We enjoyed our trip immensely. This time the guys fished from the bank and also from the boat. They did very well from the bank. We had a nice fish lunch and also had fish for breakfast. Yum!

I think this camping trip is what inspired Mr. Mace to take up big boy crawling. Army crawling, I would imagine, is painful in the rocks! 

We got quite a bit of rain in the evening.

Mama got a little solitude.

Grandma surprised us the next morning by hiking in to the cabin herself.

Mace caught a ride back on the last day.

Basil journaled his trip to Alaska (see blue notebook).