As I prepared for our hike up to Stevens Lake, Barbie was packed to be a part of our journey. The plan was for April and I to document things along the trail with the help of our Barbie Dolls.
So, along with healthy snacks, kleenix, lipbalm, water bottle, and cell phone to use as a camera, Barbie got put in my backpack as well to come along on the hike.
Here we are with Barbie Elliott and Barbie Moore at the beginning of the hike. Barbie Elliott went into April's husband's backpack. and Barbie Moore went into my backpack. And off we went.
After huffing and puffing up the trail for a while, and plodding along the trail, we came to the realization that our Barbies were not getting the full benefit of this adventure. So April got her Barbie out of the backpack, and I got my Barbie our of my backpack, and our whole experience was transformed. Suddenly we were "in flow".
If you are not familiar with this term, here is a short explaination:
Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does. Proposed by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, this positive psychology concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields.[1]
According to Csikszentmihalyi, flow is completely focused motivation. It is a single-minded immersion and represents perhaps the ultimate experience in harnessing the emotions in the service of performing and learning. In flow, the emotions are not just contained and channeled, but positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand. The hallmark of flow is a feeling of spontaneous joy, even rapture, while performing a task[2] although flow is also described (below) as a deep focus on nothing but the activity – not even oneself or one's emotions.
Our Barbies helped us experience flow.
As you see, Barbie Moore has a special hiking outfit purchased just for this occasion, with pink hiking boots.
Barbie Moore soon transformed into "Botanist Barbie", and would point out the potential poisonous berries on our trail to Barbie Elliott, who at the beginning of the adventure was called "Model Barbie", but her name changed along the way. That will be explained later.
Here is Barbie Elliott...aka "Model Barbie", also sporting a cute hiking outfit and pink hiking boots.
"Watch out for these red berries, Barbie Elliott. They might be poisonous", says Barbie Moore, aka "Botanist Barbie".
Barbie is showing the intricate designs the dried pitch makes on the bark of the tree.
"Ooo, nature can be so pretty and mysterious."
Here the Barbies are showing their daredevil ways.
"I just love the forest."
Look at what fun can be had on this fallen tree.
"I like checking out rock formations on the trail," said Barbie. "I almost became 'Geologist Barbie', but "Botanist Barbie" won out."
Barbie searching for Mr. Woodpecker.
Peek a Boo!! I see you Barbie!!
"Uh-oh!! Here is another potentially poisonous berry!!"
"Oh, and these red berries look particularly dangerous!!"
Here they are posing as two "Fire Mitigation Barbies". Yes, Barbies like to play, too!!
Where is Barbie??? Oh, I see her now!!
"No, no, no! Do not eat this berry!!"
Barbie admiring the beautiful landscape.
Rock climbing.
The Barbies were perplexed by this find. They weren't quite sure why this pipe was out in nature.
Botanist Barbie pointing out some fungi.
"Could someone please give me a hand?"
Barbie using some dried Bear Grass as a funny wig!! She is so silly!!
Anyone bring some items to make Smores?
Tree Hugger Barbie.
Botanist Barbie finds lots more berries.
These berries are okay for birds, but not sure about people!!
These orange berries are pretty, but don't eat them!
I love these mountain asters.
OMG!!! This fireweed is the exact color of my lipstick!!
These blue flowers are SO PRETTY!!!
Yay!! These thimbleberries are edible! Yum, yum, yum!!
Modeling Barbie in action.
Barbie being attacked by a giant flower.
Barbie admiring the waterfall.
So, at this point, Barbie pointed the way the trail was suppose to go. But somehow, Barbie's instincts and our instincts failed us. Instead of following marked trail, we started climbing up. Barbie Elliott became "Trailblazer Barbie", and led the way through the talus.
Barbie explains that "Talus" is
a slope formed by an accumulation of rock debris, as at the base of a cliff.
Climbing higher in the rocks.
Botanist Barbie needed a break.
Barbie looking down on the Talus slope she just climbed up, with the help of "Trailblazer Barbie".
Okay, we reconnected with the trail.
Yum, the best berry of all to eat....huckleberries!!!
Oh, look, Botanist Barbie found a mushroom.
Barbie is admiring the beauty of Lower Stevens Lake, and the fact we finally reached our destination.
Molly is not amused by the fact that Barbie wants a drink of her coffee.
Barbie is very curious, and wants to know what is in Kai's backpack.
Barbie thinks this has been a glorious day!!
Climbing the rock.
More rock climbing.
Enjoying her time on the shore of Lower Stevens Lake.
Life is wonderful in Barbie's World!!
Molly and Kai posing with Barbie.
Barbie gets some kissed from Paul and I.
Barbie really wanted to go fly fishing, but we forgot her pole.
Here is Barbie and I on the actual trail across the talus slope on our way back down.
We are almost at the end of the trail, Barbie!!
Here is Barbie Moore, at the end of the trail.
April and I agreed. Bringing our Barbies along definitely made the experience much more enjoyable.
We look forward to having more adventures with our Barbies in the future.
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