My first road trip with the car was with my new Korean student, Yoon Jung and her two friends, TaeWan and Joe. We went to Las Vegas, Zion, and Bryce Canyon and had lots of fun even though it was still snowy.
In March we celebrated the coming of spring by going to the Holi Festival at the Spanish Fork Krishna temple. I had never been before and enjoyed throwing colored powder at complete strangers (and at my friends, too.)
Soon after Yoon Jung started showing interest in the church. We attended the baptism of her friend TaeWan, and Yoon Jung said she would like to hear the missionary discussions. I was excited and made an extra effort to get conference tickets. Her Korean headphones didn't work, but she listened in English and seemed to like it.
When she completed the discussions she wasn't sure if she wanted to be baptized but after some careful thought and prayer she decided she wanted to do it. I was really happy to see and be a part of her spiritual growth and she felt really good about the decision.
She flew home a few days after her baptism and I got a new student - Selenge from Mongolia. I took her, Keiko (a Japanese student), and Luis (a Venezuelan student) up to Silver Lake for a short hike. Even in June it was still snowy so we just went around the boardwalk. We had fun but Selenge was only here a few weeks before she went back to Mongolia. 
In order to more fully enjoy the mountains here I've started my own hiking club. The name of the club is the "Mosey Mountain Club." Of course I'm the President so I get to make all the rules. I've also appointed my sister-in-law, Trista as Vice-President, and Bangkok is an honorary member for staying and protecting me instead of running to Clay and Trista on a hike when it got dark faster than expected.
Clay is also a member, but he's been working off a yellow card that I gave him on the first official Mosey Mountain Club kick-off hike. You see, my club has rules. Rule #1 All members and visitors must mosey up the mountain, and not run like it's a competition to the top.
Rule #2 All members and visitors must stop and smell the wildflowers (or if they don't smell, just enjoy them).
Rule #3 No member or visitor may encourage, in any way, another member or visitor to hike a different pace than they are already going. (That's how Clay got the yellow card.)
Rule #4 Any amount of time can be spent taking beautiful pictures (or silly pictures - see picture below).
Rule # 5 Dog Lake will not be included on the itinerary because it's the hike forever known in my mind as "the hike that never ends" and for not having a proper lake at the end, only a mosquito infested pond.
Rule # 6 Preserve and Protect the wilderness area by staying on the trail and packing out your dog poop (except under extraordinary circumstances like when Bangkok eats Flamin Hot Cheatos for breakfast)
Rule # 7 The President of the club can make up rules whenever she wants.
So even though my club only has two and a half members (Rule #7 might make some people hesitate to join) we celebrated by taking a trip to the Olympic Penninsula in Washington. I kept hearing things about the rainforest there so after getting work off Clay, Trista, and I drove up for a week. After a night in the Tri-Cities area with Trista's sister we made it up to Sol Duc where there are some hot springs, hikes, and a beautiful waterfall.
I think I was made to live in the forest because I had so much fun playing in the big trees (like, literally IN the trees).
I also loved the mossy rocks. This place looked like what you find on somebody's screensaver.
Then Trista and I had fun (and embarassed Clay) by playing "Giggling Ferns." This is a fun game where you hide in the ferns and when other tourists walk by you shake the fern and giggle.
It was so much fun wandering through the moss-covered everything and I really enjoyed not being in a desert climate.
As I was planning the trip I looked for what would be the nearest town for when we would need to stock up on camping and food supplies. I was surprised to see that the nearest town was called "Forks" and sure enough, it's the same Forks in the Twilight books (I had only read them once so I didn't remember where it took place). Of course we had to stop in and gawk at the Twihards. The city sign is the only part of the town that is in the movie, since it was actually filmed in Vancouver.
But the town still capitalizes on the vampire/werewolf frenzy. This was a corner of the supermarket and outdoor store where Bella supposedly works. 
The only campground in the area was just outside the Quilleute Reservation so of course we spent some time at First Beach. People had carved their undying love for various vampires and werewolves all over the driftwood on the beach. Is that a werewolf in the distance? 
On the way out of town we stopped at Bella's truck. I'm pretty sure that in the book she didn't have her name on the license plate.
After more of the rainforest we moved down the penninsula to a very cool but very busy campground that overlooked the ocean. We were lucky to get a spot since it wasn't the weekend. Even though it was freezing we went swimming because it's been so long since I've been in the ocean. The wind blows so much off the ocean that the trees just grow in that direction.
Then we were planning to drive down to Mount St. Helen's but at the last minute decided to see Mount Rainier National Park instead. It was foggy when we arrived so we were trying to guess which peak was Mount Rainier but the next morning it was obvious because it just towered over everything.
It was fun doing little hikes to various waterfalls and bridges and through the canyons.
We had to get one last fill of trees before heading back to the dry desert.
Did I tell you I liked the trees? It was a little bit hard coming back home and sometimes I felt like an alcoholic taking a small sip after 11 months of sobriety. This trip made me miss traveling again. We'll see if I can stay on the wagon. (Except if you were a travel-holic wouldn't you have to get OFF the wagon?)
