Planning for an adventure, three years in the making.

Three years ago, on a trip to the wilds of Wyoming, (a place our family had visited every year we could since I was 4), a dream began. And it's finally coming true. It started as a pipe dream. I'd never been back country camping and neither had my mom. Only my dad had had experience and that was minimal. It turns out that years of tent camping had prepared us for the challenge. Last spring, I went on my very first overnight trip in the back country of the Black Hills. I'm hooked and so was the rest of my family. Now, over a year later the planning has begun. We're going to summit that mountain that started this all. Who knew packing and repacking a bear canister could be so enjoyable. It has taken me many tries but I've succeeded. Only our meals for the first night remain outside of it. This is my first time using a bear canister. Where I live the only predators around are mountain lions. They are illusive. I'm more afraid of encountering a buffalo. But bears! I'm a bit out of my element camping in bear country. I don't expect to encounter trouble but I will come prepared. So I pack and repack my bear canister. It's going to be cold at night. I know this from experience. A sleeping bag will only keep you so warm. I find gloves and a wool hat my mom knit me. And that's only the start. It's strange to be thinking about hats and gloves and down vests and jackets in August. I love to plan. To pack and repack. I always start way ahead of time. Lists are involved, I swear by them. I love the challenge of it and how good it feels to pack the car and know where everything is, that everything is there. Because once I'm buckled in I'm thinking about the adventure ahead, not about what I might have forgotten. So this week I plan, and anticipate.

Till next time friends,

E