When I got engaged my father-in-law to be took it upon himself to introduce me his favorite pastime.
He bought me a pair of boots, threw a pack on my back, then drove a group of us into the Olympics for a multi-night adventure over mountain passes and into valleys where the black bears and mountain goats outnumbered the humans.
After a decade and a half of multi-day trips with the guys we decided it was time to get the next generation up the mountain.
We took the boy to the favorite spot. Some snow field crossings with ice axes, fly fishing, alpine lake swimming, and bouldering would be the perfect introduction.
Other than the “oops I left the stove at the house I’ll hike back and drive all the way back home and get it” faux pas the expedition went off without a hitch.
The boy is addicted. Next year maybe we’ll get his brother up too.