Arriving in Newhalem

On Thursday we drove to Newhalem and met up with the Grants. We met up with Jean and Ashley too later that evening.

We made a stop at the National Park visitor center (right next to our campground) before setting up tent. We didn’t put the rainfly on our tent and every single night we had the most beautiful views of the trees, stars, and dark night sky. It was glorious.

After we were all set up, we went on a little hike with the Grants to see some ancient Native American sites.

When we were at Point Defiance Zoo, the kids all lined up on the benches and called out for cotton candy. They found a bench on the trail and did the same thing. They all thought it was so funny!
Julie made us chili and baked potatoes for dinner. It was delicious.

After dinner Abe tried to get Clarissa asleep while I took the other kids with the Grants to look at the lit up waterfalls behind the Newhalem power plant (which is shockingly beautiful!).

I was taking one handed pictures because the other was holding Ammon firmly so he wouldn’t throw himself into the waterfall.

In this next shot, I was holding Ammon so he is not in the picture. I could only take one because I was terrified that if I let Ammon’s hand go, he would dart into the dark woods behind. So I snapped this shot, readjusted my grip on Ammon, and marched on.

After the falls, we went back to the tent and everyone slept quickly and well. Our tent ceiling and walls are almost all mesh under the rain fly. Since there was no rain fly, I spent a lot of time reveling in the open air, the night sounds, and the gorgeous view of lacey pines and sky above me.