Camp Elk

This year me and my dad went on our third backpacking trip together. We chose a small hike since other activity's were going on in the morning. 

It was about 1 mile long and was suppose to be fairly easy. When we got to the parking lot it was cold, so we put on our coats and layers. 

When we started the hike it was easy, it was easy up to about a quarter way in, then it got hard. We heard a weird water like sound. It was beautiful and calming until we found out that it was a large river that we would have to cross. 

I did not have water shoes so I would not have to cross. My dad put on his water shoes and carried his backpack over then he came back for me. 

Once we got over the river we discovered a beaver dam that had made a slushy wet area, and of course we had to cross that too. The route was to wet that evening so we decided to find our way on a new path. It might have even been better to just stay on the slushy wet path instead. We had been searching for a camp spot for quite some time now. We walked  and walked and then we heard something it was an elk hollering across the landscape. 

We stopped and watched and slowly more and more elk appeared. As we continued to listen to the elk we saw a spot ahead of us. It was not the best spot but it was the best we were gonna get. 

We set up camp and then sat by the fire. It was at the fire where we decided to name out camp, Camp Elk. My dad taught me that willow doesn't burn so we used willow to roast marshmallows, my favorite. After sitting for a while we went into the tent and watched a episode of Back road Bounty and went to bed. 

In the morning, the air was freezing cold. We stayed in the tent for a long time until finally we forced ourselves to get out so we could go to the bathroom. We ate breakfast in our tent. It was oatmeal. Then we got out for good, and went fishing by the river that was close to our camp. We caught a few fish and found some Indian chippings. 

I also made my dad eye shadow out of crushed rocks. Surprisingly he wore it! After we had had enough fishing for the time, we went back to camp to eat some lunch. It was mostly snacks, but it was good. Then we packed up and walked back through the crazy trail. We saw two pairs of shoes that we had seen on the way in and that was our way of knowing we were close to the end. 

When we were back to the car we drove to Laramie to eat dinner with Bailee at Mcalasters. After a hour or so we drove home. It was an amazing adventure that I'll never forget, even with all the big rivers, and all the big beaver dams.