Camping Trip Fall 2008

This was a big deal for our family. It was both Caleb and Benjamin's first camping trip, and only mine and Veronica's second in our marriage. It was a great time, and I quickly remembered how much I enjoy such things. That is all I did in Scouting... camping, hiking, canoing etc. Hopefully we will get out more on family camp outs.

This one was a church trip. I think there were 6 or 7 families represented and we were all in one area, taking up 3 sites. We were actually in a small flood plain of the Colorado river, which was waaay down. Thankfully the burn ban was lifted that weekend, though it had been in affect most of the summer and fall so far. I think they reconvened the following Monday to see if they should ban again. I bet they did, it was very dry. At night, as soon as you left the warm aura of the fire, you got cold to the core. I don't know if we would have made it the whole weekend with a burn ban.

Both mornings we woke up to 29-30 degree temperatures with ice on everything. The sun would raise above the canyon opposite us on the other side of the river about 830 in the morning. The sun sure made a difference, even though at best it was 45-50 degrees still. We had a couple nice hikes, and saw some awesome spring fed pools and spring fed waterfalls. Plenty of good food too. We spent some various times in the river as well poking around at rocks and the boys got muddy. It was cold, but not very deep to be too much trouble.

Our tent is a two man hiker tent. It was a snug fit to say the least. The benefit though was it warmed up inside pretty quick with all the body heat. I think everyone slept really well. I think Veronica and I will get a bigger family tent soon and even keep the 2 man for the boys to have if they want their own dwelling on some trip.

All through our site and the surrounding area, we were invaded by armadillos. They would tank through the brush as soon as the sun was up and warm enough for them. This would last all day. I came within 2 inches of snagging one by the tail for a photo op. I hesitated at the last second and it was gone. Caleb and I tried some fishing for an hour around dusk Saturday. No luck. There seems to be a trend there... Owell. He is a good little caster; he picked up on it fast.


Low river. That water is about 6 inches deep all the way across, with the exception of a few "holes."


Benjamin's first picture! I think it's his shoe?


Prince Ben of the Hill Country enjoys some finer camp foods on his tot throne.


3 mile hike to some spring fed water falls. Veronica had cargo on the way in, I had cargo on the way out.


A couple of lumber jacks.


Where's the fire?!


Woodsmen.


Quality, but sideways picture...


Benjamin, not seeming to mind the cold water and air.


Lumber jack in motion.


Behind Caleb is one of the water falls. You'll have to take my word for it..


That was a spring fed puddle!


Just plain cool.


There's a water fall back there somewhere too.


Our site was behind us, down the hill about 30 feet, the river beyond that down another 20 foot hill and the canyon on the other side of that in the background. That was probably 200 plus feet straight up.