Ozette Lake, Cape Alava, Point of the Arches, Shi Shi Beach

I remember 6 years ago meeting a guy at work that had just returned from the Olympic National Park and told me about his backpacking experience on the coast.  At that time, the idea of planning a trip to carry all gear for 3 days seemed impossible to me.  I couldn't even imagine how that all worked.  Finally, this past weekend, WE DID IT!  Olympic National Park has 73 miles of wilderness coastline that is not easily accessible and therefore very preserved for those that want to work at getting out there and experiencing it.  We are grateful to President Roosevelt who began the series of events to preserve this beautiful location. Troy took video and I took pictures.  Enjoy all this detail!

Video 1 = 15 minutes and there is sporadic voice and funny commentary
http://youtu.be/Oi0oqdiJScE

Video 2 = 15 minutes as well
http://youtu.be/FtWfJZYK49E

All the pictures are located in our 3 facebook public albums.

Album 1 - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150297375549446.358188.508919445&l=cd7558af25&type=1

 Album 2 - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150297427644446.358206.508919445&l=57b116affa&type=1

Album 3 - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150297453329446.358218.508919445&l=3519b16522&type=1

Summary of animals: River Otter, Steller's Sea Lion, Bald Eagle, Northern Spotted Owl, SanderBlack Oyster Catcher, Red Tailed Hawk, Glaucous Winged Gull, American Crow, Black-Tailed Deer, Olympic Chipmunk, Cascades Frog, Common Garter Snake, Banana Slug, Black Beetle, Nudibranch, Blood Star, Bat Star, Leather Star, Sunflower Star, Decorator Crabs, Sand Flees, Sand Shrimp, and I am sure more that I am forgetting.  Next time I am going to snap way more photos of birds.

 Day 1
6:30AM - Depart Maple Valley with our packs.  Troy = 42lbs, Nick = 39lbs, Scheris = 40lbs, Alyssa = 34lbs
7:30 - Stop and visit my barista sister in Gig Harbor
9:45 - Arrive at Port Angeles WIC to pick up permit and bear cannisters $29
12:00 - Lunch at Taco Time
1:15 - Buy Makah Indian Reservation Recreation permit $10
2:00 - Drop off vehicle 1 at Donna's parking $10/night = $30
3:15 - Leave Ozette Lake parking lot and began our 5.7 mile hike
4:14 - Low tide and a ranger gave us some unexpected news, it was time to put our hike into high gear
5:00 - Reached Cape Alava - westernmost point of the lower 48 states, viewed Ozette Island, Tskawahyah Island, Boldelteh Islands, and other sea spires.  Shipwreck of the Bark Austria 1/21/1887
7:00 - Forded the Ozette River at about 3 ft tide, and found our campsite - had the entire area all to our selves
10:00 - Constellation viewing

Ozette Island

Just 1 rock/island of the multiple miles of Flattery Rock National Wildlife Refuge, also part of the Washington Islands Wilderness and the Olympic National Park

Day 2
5:04AM: -0.6 low tide, but we decided to sleep-in and not begin hiking yet (later to be regretted)
9:00 - hung out with the two river otters and sea lion
11:31: 6.5 ft high tide, time to get ready and head out
12:15 PM: left our campsite with the intention that we wanted to be at the Point of the Arches at low tide, we had 5 hours to travel 6 miles - no problem (we thought)
12:52: first headland
2:10: Seafield Creek
3:20: Lunched while waiting on tide to lower more
5:10: 1.9 ft low tide
Father and Son Rocks came into view
5:50: Cove
6:15: Point of the Arches
6:20:Shi Shi beach, found our campsite
10:00: constellation viewing

This is not my photo, but it is shows the Point of the Arches, with Shi Shi on the left and we came from the right.

Day 3
5:30AM: alarm clock
5:50: -1.0 low tide - explore tidepools, waited for sunrise
6:29: sunrise
2:00PM: Hike to Willoughby Lake - bush wacking, not a maintained trail
5:00: begin tidepool exploration
6:01:1.2 low tide

Day 4
5:30AM: alarm clock, head over to get ready for lowest tide yet
6:32: Sunrise
6:34: -1.2 low tide - explore tidepools
8:00: Returned to campsite, ate, packed up
9:30:Departed Shi Shi

I loved this hike and would do it over again.  We picked up on some learnings that we would apply to make this hike a bit smarter next time around. Next time we will take a tide pool field guide so we can identify more living creatures!  It was so amazing. 

7th Grade Home School

We are nearly to 7th grade, just a few more weeks! Some of you have asked about our homeschool agenda this year.... so here are some details.

Well.... once again, I do need to give credit to Mary and Christy who continually coach me through this journey.   With 5 and 9 kids, they have years of experience that is now saving me time and money!   

DECISION

We enrolled in the private Liahona Prepatory Academy that has a Distance Program from Pleasant Grove, UT, because our friends have participated in this school for the past few years.  This is a step away from the public WA school system we used the last two years called WAVA, which was great by the way! 

We wanted a program to educate while integrating the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ and provide a challenging academic framework by infusing secular knowledge with LDS Doctrine and values.  This would be for the benefit of our student so she can understand all knowledge in the context of eternity!  

We wanted to her to see how academic subjects become relevant to our duty to God and our fellow man.

The English teacher at this school produces the highest scoring kids in the state of Utah.

For example:  English concepts can easily be taught incorporating gospel text, “Jesus Commanded The Multitude” instead of just ‘See Jane Run’ or how about the making of the United States of America and the necessary components to setting up the foundation for the gospel to be restored in the 1800’s!

This program allows our child to use her unique talents, gifts, and learning style.

ACCREDITATION

Determine if we wanted to use the accredited route or non-accredited route, we are choosing non.  The reason is that the only goal here is to get her to be able to pass the community college running start compass exam when she is a sophmore. Once she does so, she is admitted into community college and off she goes, never needing to look back or prove how the information got into her big brain! 

We will use the subjects of Science, History, and English, from Liahona.  We will use Khan Academy to assist Troy with teaching her alegebra. We will also do art, music, PE, and Spanish this year!  It is a full load.

The school year is 32 weeks of instruction.
The tuition for this program is $1125.00 annually. 

PARTNER

We were introduced to the Quilcene SchoolDistrict Homeschool Exploration Program (HEP), here in Washington State.  We found that this public school system can be a partner to us if we register our student through them as a part time student.  There are varying degrees.  We chose to do .80 as opposed to 100% status.  This means that because our student is registered, they get the $ from the state toward their district and my local Tahoma District does not.  In return, Quilcene has a completely supportive staff to be sure that parents are held accountable for their Student’s Learning Plan (SLP), provide field trips, and give a $1500 annual allocation back to us for supplies/costs.      

For example:  While we can’t submit reimbursement for the religious curriculum or texts, we can submit for our private piano lessons, math book, spanish book, art supplies, & swim club costs. 

They also have field trips, we have two scheduled right now, Sept 9th to the Puyallup Fair Rodeo and to a Bowl & Skate Day in Lynwood.  So, the nice part of our combo this year is that we have two schools for Alyssa to feel a part of.   With Liahona, Alyssa get to attend Youth Conference in October following General Conference up at Aspen Grove.   I am also trying to organize a field trip to the RCECC, in Renton, which I visited in May as part of my police academy.

So.. we are thrilled to begin our new year.  If you remember last year.. it is nearly time to unveil her 7th grade school theme and present her star!  I can't wait.. it is waiting patiently in its hiding spot. We start home school on Monday, September 5.  Quilcene starts on Tuesday and the first week of Liahona's classes will be available by video on September 12.

It is so fun learning the material with her!  I am so glad we took a chance 2 years ago, thank you Cathy for introducing me to your sister.