Fresh legs=smiling faces.

Off to a running start!

First obstacle successfully navigated.

Leader of the pack.

Appreciating small wonders.

Training for when pine cone hurling is added to the 2032 Olympics.

Scenic juice break.

Warm-weather boy enjoying the remnants of winter (not shown: his sudden turn of attitude about 30' later when he slipped going downhill back to the trail).

He was inordinately proud of wet toes. I guess we need to invest in wool socks before the next one.

Getting portaged past the last major snag.

After that we got to camp, so to keep him busy while tents were set up and such, we directed him to collect pine cones to throw on the fire. This is what we came back to.

Mama's tikka masala is spicy!

Patiently waiting for dessert.

Anything can be a toy.

Tuckered out.

On the trail again.

Scenic Gusher break.
(This was his high point of the trip. Every time I go backpacking I always buy Gushers, he always sees them and asks for them, and every time I tell him "When you go backpacking you can have Gushers." I'm a man of my word, and he earned them.)

No caption needed.

All puddles need rocks thrown into them.

Tired legs=smiling faces.

Distance was just a tic under 2 miles each way which we covered in about an hour and a half, and except for getting lifted over a couple big fallen snags and a small (for us, big for him) creek crossing he walked the whole thing, with a backpack full of water, snacks, and toys, and never once did a smile leave his face.