July 2018 - Warm Springs Girls Camp

Our July campout was a co-op with Stephanie and the Rexburg 6th Ward Young Women. 

Warm Springs Cabin Camping

With Stephanie as Camp Director, Jeff came along as hired muscle and enjoyed time with Eleanor
leading the "Flower Walk",

Marsh Cinquefoil

"Square is Spruce, Flat is Fir, Pines in Pairs"

keeping the bears away on the hike,

Ellie's Mandarb

helping with campfire stories,

Using the "Think System"

and songs...

Take me home, country roads...

and making sure the water flowed.

Running (filtered) water

June 2018 - Wade Lake Campout

Eleanor and I headed up to Wade Lake in Montana.

Montana, Give My Child a Home...

Rocks were skipped...

Hammocks were hung

The beautiful blue lake was glassy calm on our arrival, and we setup our hammock anticipating an idyllic night.

Blue Skies, nothing but blue skies...

Dinner was dutch oven pizzas, followed by a nature hike up to the ridge between Wade and Cliff lakes.

Chef Eleanor

An Erratic

Nature Walk

Cliff Lake Overlook

Eleanor Finds a Friend

Midway through the night a cloudburst wakened one of us and so a tent was quickly pitched and a sleepwalking Eleanor and her gear were stowed before getting too wet.

Any Port in a Storm...

Our Favorite Breakfast

The next morning we had "Christmas Morning" hash for breakfast. Then after packing up camp we took a canoe to the end of Wade Lake to explore the outflow spring beyond the natural dam at the north end of the Lake.

Storm's a brewin'

Wade Lake Terminus

After fighting the wind on our way up, it was an easier paddle back to the docks, followed by our scenic drive home.

April 2018 - Sealander Park

Eleanor and Lydia had a great time at Sealander Park. 

Ellie and Lydia in the "Cave"

We cooked up some tasty Indian Food for dinner (including homemade Naan bread). 

Num Nums

Butter Chicken and Naan

The next morning we checked out some of the critters at the Idaho Falls Zoo.

Ellie and her peacock friends

Ellie and her Otter Buddy

Say "Cheese"

March 2018 - Kelly Mountain Ski Hut

With weird winter weather we wondered if we would actually be able to make it up to the Kelly Mountain Ski Hut, but we were #blessed with warm wonderful sunshine on the trek in and a winter squall on our way out.

Mountain Momma

Eleanor and I stayed plenty busy singing John Denver songs whilst skiing uphill to the Y-junction and then along the road back to the hut.  

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy...

Once encamped we had a great meal of Ramen-o-rama™, followed by a surprise showing of one of our favorite shows - Mythbusters.  It was only appropriate that we watched the "Cabin Fever" episode :).

See the sunlight through the pines...

With the help of our little wood burning stove we stayed snug all night and in the morning awoke to lightly falling snow that quickly turned into quite the squall.  We were glad to be heading downhill on our way out, but the wind in our faces made for a tricky descent!

Shadows from the starlight are softer than a lullaby..

February 2018 - Green Canyon Hot Springs

February is a great month to bring along a one pot Dutch Oven meal, start some coals and let dinner cook while soaking in the hot pool.  And such it was for us.  A local Boy Scout troop had taken our designated campsite, but we quickly adjusted to a new spot and got our tent up while the charcoal heated up.  After a nice dip in the hot water at Green Canyon, we brought our dinner inside for a wonderful meal: Sausage Bomb, potatoes and (not quite) Summer Squash.

That a Bacon Bob-omb!

After a night of light snowfall we awoke to a much quieter campground.  The boy scouts had broken camp at dawn.  Our Hilleberg tent kept us cozy, and Ellie had no trouble sleeping through the departure of our neighbors.  

The Hilleberg Winter Cocoon

We had a delicious breakfast of Huevos Rancheros before striking camp and heading home.

Chef Eleanor in her kitchen

Happy Campers

January 2018 - YW Planning at Hancock Cabin

After a year of camping the girls decided to stay inside for a change.  Ellie was happy to join her comrades indoors at the cabin, so...

No Camping pictures :(

December 2017 - Harriman State Park

Another winter wonderland year at Harriman State Park Yurts.  David and Grace joined us for a wonderful night of gaming (Salem!) and the next day spent kicking a trail up to the Railroad Ranch along the river and back.  Stephanie, Oliver and Charlotte kept warm in the second yurt, and did join us for the witch trials and the ski tour.  While at the ranch parking area we admired the kiosk signs illustrated and installed by Grace's grandfather.

Cleaning up our mess before the witch trials can begin

Ski Prep

Snowgazing