Monday, June 30, 2008

Into the woods

This past weekend was our annual anniversary camping trip. Matt & I were married in the woods, honeymooned in the woods, and it seems fitting that we seem to always spend the weekend of our anniversary camping.
This was Eden's first camping trip, and if I'm counting right--Owen's 5th or 6th.
We had planned on taking the camper (borrowed from our friends) up the Poudre Canyon to our usual camping site. We had planned on leaving early on Saturday. Here's to the best laid plans...
Problem #1: Owen woke up with a cold. We decided the family really still needed to go, so we continued getting ready.
Problem #2: The lights wouldn't work with the camper/truck, so pulling said camper would be illegal. We decided to tent camp instead.
Problem #3: Our tent is a two-person, and has a hole--hmmmm....yep the kids are small enough, but the hole...if it rained we'd be up a creek (no pun intended). My dad had left us a bit of cash last fall & I had put it aside for a new tent. So, we did a bit o' research on the net & headed to REI for a new tent. Just our luck--it was the annual garage sale. We got a great deal on a great tent & we were off.
For some unknown reason, at some point on Saturday morning we decided to be spontaneous & go somewhere new. I left it to Matt to be the guide.
Problem #4: The campsite was closed due to snow. Big bummer.
We pulled over close to some trail heads so that I could feed Eden, and we could decide on plan B. Owen & Matt took a walk while I fed Eden. They returned shortly, Matt grinning, Owen crying. Matt & Owen had found a beautiful site within the Nat'l Forest about 100 yards off the road. Being that it's the Nat'l Forest it has up sides (free) and downsides (no toilets--must use bush). Oh--Owen was crying because he didn't want to come back to the truck, he wanted to stay in the woods. We decided to do it--mind you, I had prepared for car-camping, not backpacking. I hadn't exactly "packed light." We strapped Eden on my back & began hauling gear down to the site.
We had a great time, despite all problems and can't wait to go back. (This time with a lot less "stuff.") It was stinkin' cold Saturday night, and after attempting to sleep with two children in our sleeping bags we've decided the next camp purchase will be their own sleeping bags.
Here are a few highlights in pictures:









1 comment:

Rose said...

WOW! You guys are brave to camp like that with two little ones! It looks like you had a blast! The pictures are so cute!