Throwing Common Sense to the Wind–Mount Rainier

Earlier this week I made a post on my blog about the new HDR function on the iPhone. The photo that I posted was taken while on a late evening stroll in Mount Rainier National Park. My wife and I have never been known to be that cautious or have any common sense between the two of us, so when most of our friends heard that we were going to do a late afternoon hike in the Paradise Valley with our 5 year old daughter and 1 year old son, they gasped. For us it was a typical Saturday. We worked in the morning around the house then packed up the kids and took a drive. We didn’t start our hike until about 5:30pm. The mission was to get to the top of the Paradise Trail, have dinner while the sun set, and then walk down in the dark. All went according to plan with the exception of the kids getting a bit cold at the top, especially the boy since he was in the back pack.

These little jaunts are especially important to me because I travel quite a bit. So spending even a few hours with the family is a must. As a photographer, when the light decides to create magic like it did that night last weekend, the camera has to come out. Heather understands, but still pushes me to keep up, we did see 5 bears on the trail, one was a sow with two cubs and Heather wasn’t looking to defend her family alone. Here comes more of that lack of common sense…she trusts the nature photographer to defend her. In order to accomplish this I do what any father/photographer would–I run…alot. I probably hiked 7 miles for the total 3.5. Oh well, my legs are not quite as sore now–I can finally walk down the stairs without moaning in complete agony. If you want to play you gotta pay or something like that.

What was super cool about this trip is that my 5 year old daughter hiked the whole trail, this was by far the most strenuous hike she has ever been on and a complete surprise to me. They grow up so fast that you can’t even imagine. We had so much fun last weekend, that we are thinking about doing it again this coming one. Only time will tell if Heather and I throw more common sense to the wind. What’s that saying? What ever does not kill you makes you stronger?