The Top - tough hike that was well worth it!

The Top - tough hike that was well worth it!

During the start of the summer of 2026, we were locked in to a cabin in Big Sur.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I use the word "cabin" lightly.

This was a wooden box with 2 beds.  That's it.

It started as a plan for a real camping trip (in a tent) with the Anderson's and Sarak's, but due to rain and potential land slides in the spring, everyone cancelled, except for us.

Jen wanted to get a cabin, and bump our families trip to the beginning of summer.

Eeesh.

And the plan was to take Walt.

Double "Eeesh".

Well, we did.  It was a dirty, hot, uncomfortable affair with skunks and dirt and stench.

It's one of those trips that sucks while you're going through it, as you're realizing you'll be glad you did it some day.

I was correct on both accounts.

I'll always look back on it fondly.

S'mores every night.

Uncomfortable, but stunningly beautiful hikes along the coast.

The skunks overrunning the campsite at night.

Walt just making things uncomfortable in general.  (He's still a puppy and is into everything so we had to keep him tied up so he couldn't quite make it inside the cabin.

The last hike we took was on a very hot day.  Squeak wasn't feeling great and stayed about halfway up, under a tree, with mom and Walt.

Kalea and I trudged all the way to the top and got a few pictures.

We talked about all kinds of things.  Life in general, relationships, bigotry, among other things.

I love to talk to my girls about a wide variety of things, and I think they feel comfortable with talking about almost anything with me.

Anyway, so glad we powered through this hike.  It flew by due to the great and constant conversation.

And we motored all the way back to the bottom to meet the other 3.

One for the memory banks for all time. I love my family. <3

Family Dan trips kids