The Nielsens: Malachite Lake

For Memorial Weekend (and as our May backpacking trip), we headed out to spend a couple of nights at Malachite Lake up in the Stevens Pass area. The hike itself was relatively flat and easy in the beginning, then switched to having close to 30 switch-backs (!). Those seemed never-ending. We left Friday after Peter got off of work. We made the mistake of not stopping for a quick bite to eat before starting the hike, so we were all exhausted and famished by the time we made it to the lake. Our time out in the woods was fun, though I know Peter was really disappointed. He wanted us to spend our first night out at one lake, and then pack up gear and hike to another lake for the other night. I don't like doing that....once I'm unpacked and settled, I want to stay that way. So I know he was bummed about that. He really wants to get out and go some distance, so I know on our upcoming June hike that we'll have a longer hike. The hike out wasn't too bad, though I did slip a few times on wet rocks, one time causing me to fall flat on my butt (I felt that one for a few days, ouch!). The drive home was long....on our way up to the trail head we had gotten a flat tire, so we had to drive slow home with having the spare on. Clean up was a breeze, and we ordered some Chinese food for delivery (boys are starting to love this new tradition).

Peter fixing the flat tire before we head out on our hike

Pics of us and the beautiful view while on our hike

(Peter didn't like this bridge crossing. He and I each held one of the boys' hands going over it)

Our very first glimpse of the lake!!

Boys relaxing while Peter and I finish setting up camp

Our first morning, up and about

Home Sweet Home for the next few days

Log jam we crossed to go view the other side of the lake

(I don't like these, they scare me for some reason. Took a while for me to cross over)

Our view of our campsite from the other side of the lake

Peter playing around with his underwater feature

Peter contemplating if he should jump IN to the lake....

.....why yes, yes he will!

Took him a few minutes to get the guts to go in

Mission Complete!

Right after Peter got out of the water, Kristjan brought to our attention his hands hiving up! We took him back to camp, gave him some benedryl, and monitored him. Then, later in the day, his legs started to hive up. Peter and I were trying to think what could be causing it (wasn't food and there wasn't any stinging nettle around). The ONLY thing we could think of was the cold water from the lake. That's the only thing both of those body parts touched. Crazy if that's what it is!

[side note: he had the very same reaction a few weeks back when playing on our water slide. The area of skin his bathing suit covered started hiving up, which is the part his body came in contact with the water]