Simple Vegan Kimchi

Before yogurt companies were bringing awareness of probiotics as advertised in their products, I was tearing up some kimchi as a young girl...and embarrassed by it.  It used to be one of those things you'd have to excuse yourself:  "Excuse me, I ate kimchi; I smell a little garlicky."  In grade school there would be other little kids that would say to the Asians and Islanders, "That stuff stinks," or "Eww, you eat rotten cabbage?"  You know, all the while the best things to eat were pizza and fries.  Ha!  What a turn of the century.  Now rotten tea and rotten cabbage have properly taken (reclaimed) their place in the food industry, and the McDonald's of the 90's has taken theirs.

I actually took a break from eating kimchi after I turned vegan in 2006.  I'd eat it sparingly from the health food store, as a vegan option.  Then I added fish back into my diet and ate it from the Asian stores made fresh with fish sauce.  I later questioned if they knew all the ingredients in their fish sauce (because many already-jarred ones are NOT kosher, using shrimp on top of the fermented anchovies), and so I determined it was time to stop playing 20 questions (and language barrier at times) with the Asian stores, and make my own.

It is extremely easy to make.  Though I do question if 2-3 days is sufficient to ferment, as I've seen in most other recipes.  Perhaps it is to the 1st stage, but there are 3 stages of full fermentation.  The final is essential for preservation, but also very acidic (which is what preserves -- think of citric acid in jarring...).  Some may not prefer a vinegary kimchi.  Me?  I love vinegar.  So I made a double batch with the intentions of keeping half (hopefully) until the 3rd fermentation stage (3 weeks).

Another issue I am finding is in how to store while it ferments.  Some say keep the jar tightly sealed.  Some I see do not even have all the cabbage under brine.  Some drain the brine the cabbage soaked in while it was prepping and never add any back in (mainly those that do not have cabbage sitting under brine).  I guess that is where this 2 day fermentation comes in.  Maybe all that gas buildup is fermenting that cabbage quickly and you must eat it quickly then, or it will otherwise truly rot?  I don't know.  All I know is that my recipe I'm sharing with you is taking my experience with sauerkraut into consideration, which I did successfully ferment to the 3rd stage without any signs of mold.

Ingredients:  
Napa cabbage (at least)
Daikon (optional)
Green onions

Base (per one cabbage):
Himalayan or sea salt
Ginger essential oil (7 drops)
Turmeric essential oil (5 drops)
Korean red pepper flakes (3 T)
Paprika (2 T)
Sugar source (I use raw agave, but you can use regular sugar -- 2 T)

Brine soak:
water
Himalayan or sea salt (note -- I've read that table salt's added iodine will actually prohibit fermentation)

Step 1
Cut the cabbage in half, lengthwise.  Cut the halves in half, lengthwise.  Chop these sections widthwise in a few sections.

Step 2
Soak cut cabbage in brine soak all day or all night, making sure that there is enough liquid to submerge cabbage.  It will try to float, therefore you will have to stir it halfway through.  Every vegetable has a compound in the cellular walls that needs to be broken down to allow for fermentation.  With sauerkraut you literally break it down as you smash the cabbage using salt to draw the moisture out for a self-made brine.  Yet in kimchi, the cabbage is different and you can't exactly beat it down.  Since you aren't, you have to let it soak for a bit to break it down.

Step 3
Mix your base ingredients into a separate container.  The measurements I gave are very general.  Feel free to adjust according to your taste.

Step 4
Drain cabbage from brine, reserving the brine in case you need it.  Massage base ingredients into cabbage with your hands.  I used my bare hands, though I know some will use gloves due to the peppers.  You should accumulate some brine in your massage.  If you are not, then add more salt and keep massaging.

Step 5 
Jar the kimchi with the liquid attained through massage.  If it doesn't cover the kimchi then add the brine reserve (from your soak).  To ensure kimchi does not mold (which would be hard to do in just a 2- day ferment, but do this if you want a longer ferment), drizzle a layer of olive oil on the top of of your ferment and lay a single large piece of cabbage on the top.  The oil makes a barrier for the oxygen and the piece of cabbage keeps the ferment from floating above the brine.  Seal FINGER TIGHT.  The gas must release.  In order to not mess with it much as save yourself from burping the kimchi, keep the lid barely finger tight, this will allow enough pressure within the jar to keep oxygen out but not enough of a seal to prevent off gas.  This is the method I adopted from my sauerkraut.

Time?  If I were judging based upon what I know of sauerkraut, I'd say give it a week, or at least 5 days.  Then again, I see many recipes that say 2-3 days.  I mean, if you are going to have kimchi, have kimchi and take it nice and fermented!  That is my suggestion.  Again, half of my jars are going for 3 weeks or more.  

I made these 5 jars from 2 heads of Napa cabbage.  I figured with the ingredients I used, these 5 jars costs me $5 total -- that's $1 a jar.  I just came from the Asian store where these sizes sold around $5 (the smaller one) to $8 (my larger one listed) a jar.  Yep, totally worth it.

Putrid Pete's Peak (P3)

This one had been teasing us since the first week we started hiking this season.  Pictures of its grade (you gain over 3,000 ft in a little over 2 miiles) and the absolute need for scrambling to summit caused us to hold off on it for a bit.  It is a teaser, that's for sure.  It is only a 4.8 mile RT hike, so it definitely calls you, though it is important to be aware that it isn't a walk in the park, no even just a strenuous hike, but one that calls for some care and a certain level of comfort in certain environments in order to keep it a safe and successful summit.

We made it to the trail head at 9:30ish, though didn't start until ten.  To get there, you will take exit 45 from I-90 E, take a left and follow the road, staying left when it forks into another forest road, until you reach the parking lot.  The road has some serious pot holes.  The trail is a branch off of the Ira Spring Trail, so it will need a Northwest Forest Pass to enter [the Ira Spring Trail].  You cannot bypass this as there is a sign at the beginning of the gravel road saying, signifying that point and beyond needs a pass (some 2 miles from the trailhead).  If you do not have a pass, nor purchased an epass, there is a pay station where you place your payment (no cards).

Entering the Ira Spring Trail, you will continue until it makes its first swithback.  Here, there is a clear boot path straight ahead.  You will take this to the summit.  The trail has a couple of forks that lead to other areas, so always take the right/up trail.  At the 11th switchback, there is a fork where both trails lead up, so that is why it is helpful to know take the trail that goes up and right.  The boot path starts becoming a bit more faint as you continue.  As you exit the elevating forest hike, the elevation only gets more dramatic.  You will eventually leave the forest behind and make it to the ridge you must mostly scramble on to summit.

Beginning the ridge ascent

It was a very dry day and the terrain was questionable.  I wondered if moisture, or even snow, would have made me a little less nervous.  The scrambling area often calls for all fours as you are dealing with loose dirt and very steep grades.  That ridge to summit, alone, took us an hour and 45 minutes.  Alas, we made it, and I was so nervous by that point that I stayed tucked into the side of the rock face and stayed put, trying to shake it off before the descent down.  What made me nervous was not the partial rock climbing/scrambling, but climbing loose dirt.  The rock was excellent and you could crab crawl it down with just your feet it offered so much to be gripped; but dirt...you cannot climb loose dirt!  Or can you?!  Apparently you can.  Everyone else was without fear, but this is the first one that my mothering instincts found me...nervous.  To be truthful, I was so nervous I thought I would be sick, a feeling I have never had in climbing.  Hiking with children is different.  I did not get sick, and often chose to put my focus on Brant's feet as he held my hand during sketchy parts.

Some of the ridge's climb until the loose dirt climb

A look at some of the grade on a good section of the loose dirt parts.  You can see the trees below are just that -- directly below.  It's steep!

The last push is a true scramble.

It took us 4 hours to summit.  Yes, 4 hours to go 2.4 miles.  That should give you an idea of the type of hike this is.  I read a report from a while back of a man who took his father and his 6 year old son.  It took them 5 hours to summit.  Hence, if it is to be a family hike, it is a lengthy one.  The north view offers Spider Lake below, the east is Mt. Defiance, the west is West Defiance, and the south is McClellan Butte on the other side of the highway.  We spent 30 minutes at the summit and then began the descent.  It took us 2 hours and 45 minutes to safely arrive back down to the parking lot.  Phew, a good serving accomplished.  I'm a bit apprehensive when I have all my treasures with me, and P3 is just not for everyone.  I read that before, and I will repeat what others have said -- P3 is not for everyone.  We made it safely, but lack of caution, time, and strategy could put you in a precarious situation.  Brant and I both agree that this was about a 9/10 for us (10 being the most dangerous and/or difficult hike we'd do AS A FAMILY -- our rating solo is entirely different), really bordering on that ten.

Good rock

Just about the summit, view west

Summit views east to Mt. Defiance

Summit view northeast

Lake below and behind

Each time we go on a hike, we take opportunity to learn something more permanent.  We always look for the spiritual application as we walk and go higher as a family.  Some things that I reflected on during this hike:  1) There is a portion within the tree line that the grade is the same as that of the exposed area, yet you don't get nervous within the trees.  The exposed ascent didn't change so much as the surroundings did.  This showed me how much we allow our surroundings to influence our confidence, and on the flip side how sometimes having a shorter sight is the better way to go.  Once I saw the full picture (top to bottom), I got nervous; whereas in the same grade, howbeit in the trees where I could only see just a portion, I wasn't nervous.  Spiritually, sometimes I think if we see the full picture we'd cower like a little puppy with its tale in between its legs.  It is often times for our best that we can only see just a portion.  2) When the ground below me was shifting (the loose dirt), Brant literally held my hand while leading me.  I kept my eyes on his feet only and it calmed me.  I stepped where he stepped.  I must remember that when the ground is shifting sand, that Yeshua holds my hand and to keep my eyes on His feet and walk His footsteps.  Take it one step at a time, but making sure that one step is a step He takes.  3) The rock is my friend.  That is what someone told me on one of my first mountain hikes.  In rock climbing, your instinct is to push your butt out, but the correct thing to do is draw yourself close to the rock.  If you fall, you fall back on to the mountain/rock.  Your center of gravity is to always be rock-bound.  On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.  When I got to the top, the first thing I did was hike myself in the cleft of the rock.  I felt safe there.  It reminded of the hymnal, and sang it:  "Rock of ages, cleft for me.  Let me hide myself in thee."

We didn't realize this until after we were already back on I-90, but there is a registry under a flat rock slab on the summit.  It has a picture of Pete Schoenig, the summit's namesake.  He was from Seattle and is known for the K2 belay that saved some climbers back in the 50's.  I have pictures of us on the summit, but that registry calls.  A good reason to go back.  I'm sure I'll see P3 again, just maybe not with the children...at this age.

Machine Free Cloth Diapering (Hand Wash Method)

Why in the world would anybody be interested in washing diapers by hand?  Well, there are some of us that temporarily use laundering facilities.  Honestly, when you can buy a case of diapers at Walmart for $20 and compare that to the amount you spend to wash a load of cloth diapers at a mat, it really does have you wonder if you are cloth diapering for cost-efficiency or if the health nutty earth moms' exploitation of cloth diapering turned it into a trend for you.

I am a health nutty hippy mom myself, but I am also more so of the camp that refuses to let go of the budget-friendliness of cloth diapering.  I just can't spend $30 a diaper that I would actually use, and in the same sense I just can't spend $30 a week on cleaning diapers!  Even when we did own a washing machine before cloth diapering, I would limit its usage, and so adding diapers into the load adds amounts of time I'd have to use it and my head would be counting the costs.  Simply, I had to learn to successfully hand wash my diapers.

Since I've been doing it in this way for nearing a month and we have had zero stink, zero stains, and zero infections, I figured what we are doing is very doable and so here is the way our house makes the most of cloth diapering, keeping it eco-friendly and budget-friendly.  This method is essentially equipment-free cleansing, it does not require a plunger or other device, just your hand.  Truly, a hand washing and agitation method.

Prepping
Since dry time without a dryer took a tad longer than...a dryer, I had to invest in a few more prefolds for my PUL covers, so I wouldn't run out of diapers while awaiting ones to dry.  This meant I had to put a well known non-machine prep method to the test:  boiling.  I purchased both bamboo and unbleached cotton prefolds.  The instructions for prep mentioned natural oils in the material that need to be broken down.  Logically, I just thought what it was essentially saying is that you need a degreaser -- a sulfate.  Now, we don't own any chemical sulfates in our house, but our dishsoap does use a plant-based one.  So, I boiled the diapers in dishsoap water for 30 minutes, let them cool down, rinse really well (to get as much soap out as I could), then I did a second boil in straight water to release the remainder of the dishsoap out of them.  Ta-da.  Prepped diapers.  I know they prepped correctly because those bamboo ones have lasted a minimum of 4 hours between changing.

Washing
Okay so before I even wash, I immediately rinse the diaper I just took off of baby.  Since correct cleansing without a machine is greatly dependent upon the soak, I had to rinse the diapers of urine to ensure they aren't soaking in urine, tainting the cleanse.  All I really do is run faucet water into the prefold to its max absorbency and squeeze out, flip to the other side and do the same thing.  I repeat this twice and throw into the baby's bathtub for a soak.  I use baby's bathtub because it is a water-saver.

As for the detergent -- as of this moment we had been using Trader Joe's pH balanced plant-based regular laundry detergent.  I only need 1-2 T for her baby tub.  My goal this week is to develop my own laundry soap that I can use instead; howbeit, it cannot be predominately baking/washing soda like most others, because bamboo breaks down in high pH.  I'm sure that soap invention will make its way into a post sometime -- stay tuned.  In the soapy tub, I knead each diaper for a couple of minutes like I would bread dough -- I consider it practice for my once-a-week challah making.  I then let it soak all day until after dinner.  I wring the diapers out and repeat the faucet rinse I mentioned above to get the detergent out (run water over one side to its fill, squeeze, repeat on other side, repeat each side again).

Final Rinse
From my days of being below the poverty line, as well as my days in Spain and Costa Rica -- times when I did not have a dryer -- I learned that hang drying creates stiff clothes.  So for this purpose, a fabric softener comes in handy.  Of course you would not use one on your cloth diapers, but an excellent alternative is vinegar.  Likewise, vinegar will also further sanitize.  My second soak (which lasts until I go to bed) is in vinegar/water in the tub as my final rinse soak.  I knead the diapers once again to get the vinegar in there and the remainder soap out of there.  Before I go to bed I will wring out and do the faucet rinse mentioned above.  I do not put my covers in a vinegar rinse, as I read that vinegar will break down the PUL.

Drying
This is simple.  I keep them on a rack overnight and then throw them on my car's dash in the morning and they are dry in a matter of a couple of hours.  The sun is whitening and sanitizing.  In the overcast days (which we do see in Washington), I keep them on the rack and will use the fan or throw them in front of the heater and they are dry in a little over an hour.

It really does not take up that much time to knead a diaper and wring it, etc.  Don't be intimidated by all the instructions of needing x amount of washes for a good prep or machine washing.  It wasn't too long ago that cloth diapers were the only option and not too long before that hand washing was the only option as well.  We didn't always have machines and, hey, it worked out.  I am determined that it can still work out.

Mt. Ellinor

All of last week we had intended on taking a week off of hiking.  All of last week up until Friday.  Even then, after we changed our mind we decided we really will take a break...from the Snoqualmie/Cascade area anyway.  So deciding to try the Olympics' side, the initial decision was that we would do Mt. Rose, especially since it was one of the permit-free trails.  I read on Washington Trail Association a man's recent trip report wherein he said he took his 6 year old, his 1 year old in a backpack and his wife.  Seemed like an encourager for this family.  However, when we looked at terrain pictures, it seemed like its neighbor, Ellinor, was more of our style.

Mt. Ellinor nears 6,000 ft in elevation, but don't let that scare you -- there are 2 trailheads to summit.  The lower trailhead is fee-free, and is 6.2 miles RT.  The upper trailhead requires a Northwest Forest Pass and is 3.2 miles RT.  However, before the last bend into the upper trailhead parking there is a sign that says "U.S. Fee Area" -- I am making an intelligent assumption, then, that any parking before that point (some dozens of meters) wouldn't require the pass.  Since we were pressed on time, having needed to also go grocery shopping, and since forest hiking (lower to uppper trail path, gaining elevation) is just not my thing, and also since I heard there is plenty of actual rock mountaineering/scrambling to be done on Ellinor, we decided on the upper trail and to use any free time to do some of the traversing along to Mt. Washington.

I remember a mountain I knew I would have to rock climb in Germany, and having thought that taking a cable car to the highest point before I could do the rock climbing would make me less of a mountaineerer, I opted to do some of the elevation hiking to get there.  I hadn't known that the rock climbing would take as much time as it did for strategy and safety (hiking 3 miles is not the same as walking 3 miles; furthermore, rock climbing 3 miles is not the same as hiking 3 miles), and for that reason I ran out of daylight and could not summit.  I learned a lesson to reevaluate what I enjoy more, and what I consider to be an accomplishment:  I am not too proud to bypass the forestry ascent to swap for more rock climbing and ridgelining time.

The plus side from looking at the numbers and others' reports is that taking the lower ridge gives you a nice warm up with its easier ascent unto the upper trail.  The upper trail tackles the elevation very quickly.  The first half of the upper trail starts with a straightfoward and upward approach, then switchbacking until some exposure where the terrain gets rocky, but generally safe.  This starts the later half (in time anyway).  At times the rocks work like stairs -- stairs of rocks that are as vertical as they can be before rock climbing.  The rocky mountaineering often requires long legs.  Some parts to summit even require a help of pulling yourself up with your hands along the rock.  Before you reach what probably is considered the leftmost (from the trail) prominence, you will walk the avalanche chute.  After that you will be alongside the ridge until you are scrambling for your piece of the summit.

It took us 2 hours to summit, we spent an hour up there, and then 1.5 hours to descend.  We were going to try some of the ridgeline traverse to Mt. Washington, but there did remain large patches of ice, so it did not seem like a smart idea.  It offers 360 views -- to your east is the Hood Canal, the Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier in the distance; to your west is a neverending view of the Olympics; to your south is Lake Cushman; and to your north are mountains like Mt. Constance and The Brothers.  Just gorgeous.

Exiting the forestry ascent into big views

The terrain after the forestry ascent

Summit, with views to the north

After the avalanche chute

Mountain goats -- can you see them?

Summit, views to the west

View of the southermost prominence and Lake Cushman

View to the east -- Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, and Hood Canal

On the way up we were asked many times about the children and maybe some let us know of their concern a bit.  Bam interjected with a quick, "That was easy," on the descent.  Amira followed off to a group of trainees (I believe for Rainier) saying how she used to do Bavarian Alps.  Now I wouldn't agree with Bam and say it is easy.  It is difficult, as other official sites rate it, but it is short.  Definitely an interesting family hike and it is so short that you could take your time.

Using My Surplus for FREE Wipes

Prior to last week I had not even thought I would want to do cloth wipes.  I saw we were running low on wipes and figured why not give them a try.

This is the thing... I am all about spending a bit to save in the long run.  Yet, cloth diapering is one of those things that can easily turn on you.  What happened to the days when cloth diapering was the cheapest way to go?  Determined to keep it that way, I hand wash my diapers, don't do AIOs (all-in-ones), but use prefolds (which are much cheaper), and cycle through 4 wipeable covers (the old Smart Bottoms).

Keeping up with keeping it cheap and simple, cloth wipes only made sense to me if I did not have to buy some special wipe solution nor had to buy the terry or flannel for wipes.  I considered what I already own -- flannel receiving blankets (just cut them up), and terry wash cloths.  For some reason I have seen moms always have more receiving blankets and wash cloths than they need, and these happen to be the best materials you could use for wipes.  Flannel works great for urine cleanup, and the terry does well for the poopy ones.  Of course, these are not ones I already had in use for baby, but were surpluses collecting dust.

Next was the solution.  I have a stock of essential oils, and often use them on baby.  For my everyday solution I decided to go with Mountain Rose's sweet orange oil and tea tree, 7 drops a piece, in a 50 mL glass bottle filled with my Berkey's water.  That size is good enough for us; I have a bit less than half a bottle left after a week.  Note, I use glass because the essential oils are strong and it appears as if some of them causes almost a stripping reaction to plastic.  I speak through experience, having dropped a bit of oregano oil on my keyboard once and the polish came off of that area.  I also have friends that will likewise refrain from putting essential oil dilutions in plastic containers.

You could be diverse with this though.  For instance, lavender is a great diaper rash oil, so you may want to use that instead.  Tea tree is good for yeast rashes (I use as preventative for my baby) and orange oil's limonene is a known cleanser, hence why I chose these.

I dabble some of the solution on baby's bottom and wipe up.  Since the solution is sanitizing, if the diaper was just wet one, I have found myself to rinse and reuse a couple of times, if not dab a bit of soap and then rinse and reuse.  You could use a spray glass bottle for your solution, which would probably be easier.  I just didn't have one, and you know I'm all about using what I already have.  In this, cloth wiping has literally cost me...nothing!

Hall Point, Change Peak, Mt. Washington Loop

Well, I am going to be honest and say we had not intended on doing the loop, nor fully intended on doing Mt. Washington.  It honestly did not interest us to hike that summit.  We did, however, intended on going to Change Peak after Hall Point.  We decided on Hall Point because we were having friends come hike with us, and Hall Point is only 3 miles roundtrip.  So we figured we would lead them up there, and if they were tired they could return back with success of one point, while we would move forward with success of something new into Change Peak, letting it be their decision if they could continue on or not.

Hall Point was a breeze, and of course beautiful.  It never really was that steep to us.  It has plenty of switchbacks; and, yes, though it is a constant elevation gain, it also is only 1.5 miles to get there one way, being one of lesser miles you will find to reach a ridge out in that area.

Hall Point, looking over to Zig Zag

Retracing back to the Hall Point junction there is a sign saying Mt. Washington is 5 miles ahead.  This makes the hike there 6.5 miles.  Again, it was not our intention to get there, but knew Change Peak was along this route.  We continued on it along the creek until we could pass the creek and be on the Change Peak mountain.  This is when we encountered snow.  We continued the trail through parts of the forestry terrain as it came alongside the more stream and a sign saying "Pond Trail," until we hit another sign that said "Shortcut" and an arrow to the left.  We hit that up until we saw a clearance above us with a run off.  Hiking up this run off, we came to where it met the old log road with a sign pointing to the "Pond Trail" from where we came from.  This was a Pond Trail shortcut, rather than taking the trail all the way to the back of the mountain where it meets the logging road.

The logging road's elevation gain was very mild and whipped around the mountain to the other side where there was a junction to go right and down, or left and up.  Obviously, since we're after the summit we went left and up.  I am unsure where right and down led.  We were thinking quite possibly the Great Wall, and maybe this is the way Great Wall Trail hikers make it up to Change Peak.  Might be for another exploration day.  The road swerved around back to the original side of the mountain where we met up with the hikers and their dogs whose footsteps we had been following in the snow.  We told them about this loop we heard of and asked if they were familiar with it.  They said they were, and also have come up to Mt. Washington through the other end, which is the back end of our loop, and that it was significantly easier to exit that way.  What none of us realized up until we made it to Mt. Washington was that you actually had to summit Mt. Washington to find that trail and make the loop.  We were under the assumption that after Change Peak's saddle (slightly past Change Peak) the trail had a junction you could either go one direction to get down or the other direction to summit Mt. Washington.

Change Peak, looking over to Mt. Washington on the left, North Bend to the Puget Sound ahead

Change Peak lookout, directly before the saddle.  Mt. Washington to the left, Mts Si and Teneriffe on the right. 

When we got to that junction after the saddle we realized quickly that going left and down was leading to the back of the mountains, where Chester Morse Lake is located -- unlawful area.  We had no other choice but to go to Mt. Washington, where we saw footprints headed in the snow.  We tried to pick up the old logging road on Mt. Washington, even past the line of rocks that are keys to tell hikers this is not the way (the only other option was up to the summit, but we had tired friends with us, we unsuccessfully attempted this as a way to bypass the 3rd summit for their sakes), but quickly found out that it must have been severely washed out over a cliffside as it abruptly ends.  So we retraced back to the point where you have to summit Mt. Washington.  It should have been the only choice as we logically talked amongst ourselves even beforehand that we saw footprints going up there and none coming back, clearly telling us that the backside of this loop must be the official trail to Mt. Washington met on the other side of the summit.  Once we made it up there we were confirmed with that and took Mt. Washington's trail back to the trailhead and parking lot, walking 15 minutes to the Hall Creek parking to our car.  At the bottom, Amira awaited me with flowers she picked as she went ahead of us.

Mt. Washington, view out to Mt. Rainier hiding behind the clouds.  You can see some of the base mixed into the clouds. 

Mt. Washington lookout to Chester Morse Lake below and base of Mt. Rainier in the horizon above Brant's head (rest in clouds).

Chester Morse Lake from Mt. Washington old log road that leads to nowhere.

Mt. Washington summit where the antenna thingy is located, Mt Si over the cooridor.

Mt. Washington Trail, backside of our loop

It is very amusing to me that Brant and I have been wanting to do the new mailbox route (less steep/longer distance) and McClellan Butte, but have shied from it because of the distance being too long for the children, yet when I calculate the official postings of Hall Point Trailhead to Hall Point being 1.5 miles, then from that point it is 5 miles more to Mt. Washington, and from the Mt. Washington Trailhead it is 4.25 miles to summit (the backside of our loop), plus the distance it took to walk to our car.... yeah that put us to about 11 miles.  I guess neither Mailbox's new route nor McClellan is too long for our kids.  Bam was the happiest this hike, and I mean this full hike, only complaining at one point when his feet got cold (not wet) from deep areas of snow.  Elevation is tackled at a mild to moderate rate, but your kiddos will need longevity to make this a family hike.  Nine hours total.

Hiking is an adventure, and we learn that we must remember who is bigger and therefore who is boss:  the mountain, and we are its guests.  From our separate years as hikers and our time hiking as a family, these key pointers have always helped us out in the event that it goes longer, or you get lost and have zero signal without a GPS device:  look for a road/old road and hike it; get a general direction of what is around you by knowing the mapped area and use your phone compass accordingly; when the old road does not lead to where you need to be (like that one that led to the unlawful water reserve), trust other hikers' pointers (snow was extremely helpful due to seeing footprints) -- for instance, had to trust other footprints we saw, using logic that they never came back so that must be the way to go; follow a stream, if available.  If the worst that will happen is that you must retrace your own footsteps the way you came out, then there's no reason to panic.  For this "in case of" plan, don't climb up anything that is more than 70% of your sketchiness limit, because it is amplified on the descend.

Natural Moisturizing Hand-Sanitizer

Who is the naive person that thought that hand-sanitizer was simply alcohol and aloe vera just by looking at it?  (This woman, right here).  Remember the days when you were singing the praises of the hand-sanitizer makers?  Wahoo -- not only can we cleanse our hands anywhere without water, but we can also opt out of chemical-filled detergent hand soaps in the public bathrooms and choose sanitizer instead.  Um, yeah, that was hopeful thinking.

The full ingredients from my conventional hand sanitizer reads as follows:  Ethyl alcohol (active), water, glyceryl caprylate/caprate, glyerin, isopropyl myristate, tocopheryl acetate, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, fragrance, benzophenone-4.  Whoa!  Then you have to moisturize your hands after the stripping of moisture from that sanitizer.  This means after the numerous chemicals you just put upon your hands (which are one of the easiest ways to get things in through the skin, by the way), you have to add the chemicals from the lotion/moisturizer.  Talk about overload.

Well, here is a very simple recipe that gets your hands clean, water-free, and moisturizes them with as little as two ingredients.  I use 3 ingredients in mine, but it is not needed.

The 2 main things you will need:

Coconut oil
Sanitizing essential oil(s) -- i.e. sweet orange, lemon, grapefruit, oregano, lavender, or a synergy blend such as Thieves, etc.

I opt for the cheaper citrus oils, because I am also always thinking of cost-efficiency.  In mine, I used sweet orange, which is extremely high in limonene, an ingredient often used in household cleaners.  Did I also mention cheap?  My organic sweet orange from Mountain Rose, with a lot/batch number on it, costs but dollars.  I also used oregano essential oil, which alone is anti-everything harmful.  Caution -- oregano oil is a hot oil, so be careful in handling.  Per couple of tablespoons, I only used 3 drops of oregano vs. the 7 drops of sweet orange essential oil.  I did also did test (taste) the hotness with this dilution -- nothing to note, as it is highly diluted in the coconut oil.  The coconut oil also helps remove dirt and grime (even car grease), via oil-cleansing method.  Stir it up really well in a small glass jar (like a baby food jar), and take it everywhere.