It was such a heartwarming joy to see the kids completely engaged in the experience. When they got to camp, they'd wander off and play amongst the rocks and streams while Dad set up the tent and started dinner. No concerns for anything but being in the moment; no helicopter parenting, just letting kids be kids. We're lucky to live in a state that has comparatively few hazards such as snakes, poisonous spiders, and aggressive megafauna. Sure, there are cougars, but they're uncommon in many areas of the state and very, very rarely attack humans.

When we did the Copper Ridge Loop in North Cascades NP in '17, a dad with two small kids, age 6 and 7, kept pace with us for 3 days. The loop is 34 miles with 8,600ft elevation gain. The kids carried packs, too, but only like their sleep bag and clothes. Respect.

Historical opening dates for the WA passes:
https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/roads-bridges/mountain-pass-closure-and-opening-dates

Exactly...and OP didn't even visit during....shhhhh...Summer....

2008 for me. I've been to every state but Maine, and Washington is ideal for me. As an avid backpacker, I can't ask for more from a single state. If it's raining west of the crest -- drive an extra hour east and find sun for my adventures. Ocean? Just a few hours west. Desert? Two hours east.

But the lack of a sales tax in OR has a lot going for it, too. Our local sales tax in King County is over 9% on non-grocery items.

While not the same circumstances, I have six old driver's licenses, only one has a hole punched in it. I've moved a few times and each time it I move or it expires, I get a new one. Even the expired one didn't get a hole punch.

That is cool, similar to the '12' flown before Superbowl XLVIII

I know a 747-8 pilot for Atlas and hope she gets a chance to fly her soon and share pics.

We usually carry firewood or at least firelogs with us. If you have a rugged wagon, you can pull a load of firewood with you.

April is a good time to go, hopefully before it warms up enough for the rattlers to emerge. I've backpacked there like 5 times, but in different locations; there is so much space in all directions to camp and get a private spot; you don't need to be right at Ancient or Dusty Lake and the crowds.

I saw a cop in North Bend last evening with its lights out when it was raining and the sun was nearly down, if not already -- hard to tell with all the clouds and mountains.

I've said this many times, but cars need to have either fully-automatic headlights or an obvious warning light on the dash when headlights should be on. Too many people see their dashboard lights on with some puny DRLs and think they're good to go, when in fact their headlights and taillights are out. Only when they get into a completely dark area might they notice they can't see sh*t.

Paradise lives up to its name on a bluebird day after a big dump of snow.

Maybe this is why I see so many shopping carts in the liquor area/aisle full of random mixes of liquor? Often, the bottles in there are covered in dust, as if they've been around for years...

Hey Congrats! Great pic. We got married at Picture Lake near Artist Point.

Curious -- re: elopement -- did you actually 'secretly get married without parental consent'? I see a lot of people saying they 'eloped' but they simply didn't have a conventional marriage. I mean no disrespect regardless!

Oh interesting! We're at <0.25" in North Bend since mid-July.

Yeah, that's Cathedral Peak in that picture, shot from Amphitheater.

For sure. We've had almost no rain in North Bend since mid-July. While not unprecedented, it's unusual and will magnify the post-wildfire environment and dynamics throughout the region.

What a great story. Sounds like you may have tried the true summit of Amphitheater, which looked a lot more technical than point 8252 that we walked up.

It's a remote gem. Humbled to have it to ourselves.

Yah people suck, even that remote. That trail is a mess and needs TLC. The Tungsten side was clear and a joy after we went up the Chewuch route.

Thirtymile TH. Take the Tungsten Creek side if you want the direct route. Chewuch side is burnt and mess.

We camped two nights, Oct 4-5, 2022; hiked down the Tungsten Creek valley. Didn't see anyone for 3 days.