Best of all-new 2014 hiking photos (so far)!

Northern Ireland- Me and my Australian mates Michael and Lucy stepping down onto the 100 foot high swaying rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede.

Now that we're back from our surfing trip, a slew of blog posts and pics from our recent international adventures and bigger climbs is on the way! But here are some all-new photos from a few of our latest hikes here in the States:

Regular Daddy-daughter hikes with Lena

A morning "speed hike" up Dog Mountain with Cindy, Jeff, Roma, me, and B.G.

Shaun's and my harrowing, painful, and nearly disastrous 18+ mile navigational challenge from Wahkeena Falls to Larch Mountain (below); There is an entire Garth's Blog post planned for our misadventure soon!

Shamus and me approaching the top of Larch Mountain, before our trail run went completely sideways

And a couple months later, a second chance:

Update: I'll still be posting the story and pics from Shawn's and my earlier adventure, but I've already returned a few weeks ago from a second extended trail run up Larch Mountain from Wahkeena.  Rest assured, it is possible to complete the trail run WITHOUT risking injury and your dog's life.

Those sections of trail are closed for good reason!




Sections of the Gales Creek trail, Reecher's Camp in the Tillamook State Forest, and beyond:

The Hamilton 4 hiking down to the Nehalem River

One of many Daddy-daughter hikes at nearby Camp Rivendale...

...followed by Lena getting her fix of the Jenkins Estate playground

Rain or shine: Drying out after returning from another soggy trail run

Dougan Falls

Click for audio of Dougan Falls

Daddy-daughter hike on sections of the Three Corner Rock trail in the Yacolt Burn State Forest, while Mommy waited in the car:

"Daddy, go hiking?"
"Yes, Lena... Daddy and Lena are hiking."

Training for our next big climb with the crew at the Circuit bouldering gym

Again, some major climbing, hiking, and traveling posts are on the way!



But looking back, this short evening hike in January was the most significant of the year:

Baby Levi's first hike with Lena at Noble Woods nature park, at only 11 days old!

More photos: Newborn baby Levi gets out

Thanks for indulging my World Vision and same-sex marriage rant/encouragement detour post (link) last week, everyone. We're lightening things back up with this follow-up to last week's Levi's First Week Alive photos!

Here are more very early Levi pics, beginning with our baby boy at five days old:

Levi's first time on the town

What kid doesn't love grocery shopping? Yeah, that would probably be most kids. But Lena and Levi didn't seem to mind marking their first day on the town together by running errands.

Sonic Burgers after WinCo

Levi's first post-hospital checkup

Following Levi's publicity tour among Kathy's co-workers, Lena masters the stairs as we leave the Portland Clinic.

Bumping into friends at Stir Crazy Kitchen

Thanks to Bryan and Ruth for the pic!

Throwback bonus trivia:  2 1/2 years ago, big sister Lena's first outing was also a fast food joint...

...at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, when baby Lena was only five days old!

Home-delivered meals from our church family

Marva was one of many friends from Aloha Church of God who prepared and dropped off delicious food at our home that week.

Visits from the grandparents

Adoring Levi and opening baby gifts with Papa and Mimi

Reading with Grandma Su-Su

Levi's first hike

11 days old, and baby Levi was already out on the trails! The nearby Noble Woods Park was where it all began, and Levi has been out in the wild plenty of times since then.


More recent hiking pics with Lena, Levi, and friends in the U.S. and overseas are coming soon!


When posting that last hiking photo on Facebook, my hypothetical question went out to everyone, "Who takes a newborn baby on a hike?"

Our friend Mary's response:  More like, "Who hikes after giving birth?!"


Good point, Mary.  Kathy is the one who endured the birthing process, nurses Levi, reads to Lena, works hard to keep the household under control while I'm at work, and does more things around the house than I could ever mention.  And this week, Kathy ended her maternity leave and returned to part-time work herself!

Before Levi's birth on January 15, we already had a loving family that included a wonderful wife/mommy and the most adorable little girl on the planet.   Baby Levi was and is the perfect addition!