Greenwater Lakes

Said like this: "pear-uh-dice."

For the Krops, summer has "backpacking trip" in its very definition. Every summer - no ifs, ands, 

or buts about it. But with our summer being as packed as it is this year, we could only squeeze in 

a single backpacking trip, and it finally happened this weekend. 

That bearded dude is just some hobo we picked up. Just kidding. Meet my cousin Matt.
He day hiked up to the lake with us. 

We were pretty excited. Emphasis on the "excited" part. Particularly for me. If you 

haven't noticed by now, my family is a pretty outdoorsy one, and that's rubbed off on me 

in a variety of ways. {My dream degree would be in Geology, I could live off Mountain 

House dehydrated backpacking food for my entire life, & my husband is gonna have to fight

 hard to get out of taking me National Park-hopping for our honeymoon - skip those overrated 

tropical beaches.} Backpacking is one of my most favorite favorite favorite 

summer things we Krops do together.

I love having everything you need on your back, with nothing but this ^^ for you to run around

in. It's a feeling that, for me at least, just cannot be beat. 

Let's compare Merritt's & my trail snacks, shall we? And the dumbest thing - he can stay toothpick skinny
no matter how many of those things he eats. Life just isn't fair, my friends.

I love living simply and I love living out of a pack. 

Most organized, easy-to-navigate lil' closet you'll ever find! [:

I love feeling awesome and getting to use the term "base camp" instead of "home."

I love being out in places that have stayed the way they are supposed to be. There's a different feeling

there, and I can't get enough of it. And I especially love being there with my favorite people! My family.

As aforementioned, I LOVE THAT FOOD. [: Dinner in a cup. No better way to have it!

I love curling up somewhere and watching the world go by, or perhaps reading a 

book {or in this case catching up on my missionary letters}.

I love waking up to chilly mornings and coming face to face with this.

On mornings such as these, hot oatmeal is your best friend, lemme tell ya.

I love the day hikes, where the recipe for a good day is as simple as boots, bottle, and camera {Certain members of my family might laugh at this... Our day hike to Noble Knob didn't go quite as expected this time, but let's choose to dwell on the positive, shall we? [: Yes.} 

I love the trailside lunch breaks, finding new ways to mix the traditional wheat crackers, cucumber slices, 

salmon spread, and cheese, and fighting over the last piece of beef jerky. 

I love the perfect beauty of tiny things that most people pass by.

I love the smell of sun on heather bushes and pine trees. Find me a candle of

that scent and I'll buy a lifetime supply of 'em, right then and there.

I love Earth and the way it makes me pause and thank my Heavenly
Father for life again and again and again.

{Yeah. We stood on top of that a year ago.}

I love big treeeees! 

I love the hike back home that always seems shorter because your mind's on other things.
{Like warm showers and real toilets!}

I love my Grandpa, who started the backpacking flame in
my mom when she was a youngin'. 

And I love these people. {Not photographed: lil bro. But I love him too.}
Living proof that a family that backpacks together, stays together. [:

My life is good.