This blog has a post for all three backpacking days July 15-July 17
July 15:Day one-I hate backpacking. There is nothing good about it. Who wants to do a whole bunch of walking just to have to sleep on a mattress you blew up and with just a sleeping bag and no shower. This moring the alarm went off at 7 and I got out of bed about 45 minutes later for my shower. I made to sure to wash my hair really well as it would be the last time for two day. I went down to the hotels restaurant where my mom and sister already were. Shortly after my dad joined us. We all got French toast. We also all ordered a side of sausage. We paid four dollars for one side of sausage. And we all got one. Take a guess of how much sausage they gave us each. One pattie. Not nearly enough as our next seven meal would consist of beef jerky and trail mix. Then we got in the car and went to the visitor center. You have no idea how much I was telling my self that maybe this time would be fun and it really wouldn’t be that hard. After we got our permit we drove to the trailhead. We then ran into a little hiccup the parking lot was full. We put Fred in the no parking zone and started to pack our bags just kind of hoping someone would be finishing there hike so we could take there spot. A couple did end up finishing and we got there spot. I then finshed stuffing the tent into my bag and grabbing a few last minute things. I then picked up my bag. OH MAN WAS IT HEAVY. I did all the buckles and got my hiking poles. Then we started walking. At first it was not to bad. Relatively flat with a gradual up. The trail was much more crowded then I thought it would be. At around mile 5 we stopped for lunch. It felt SO GOOD to take that bag off. This was the first time I took it off in in about threeish hours I think. I honestly had no concept of time because I don’t have my watch and my phone was in my pocket the whole time. The next 3 miles we did quickly. It was pretty flat with a but if up. The last two miles is where it got me. I was exasted and this is where they stopped getting the trees off the trail so we had to deal with going under and over those. With only 1.5 miles left we got to the thousand foot climb it was over 10 switch backs and each one was a bit over a tenth of a mile long. We made it to the top after what I think was about an hour. And right on cue with half a mile left in the hike it started to rain. My mom and sister went ahead to the campsites and my dad and I were about 5 minutes behind them. When we got to the campsite zoe and my mom had already finisles setting up there tent. We started building ours. My mom was putting the last steak in our tent when I heard “moose moose” there were 2 huge moose 20 feet away from our tent. They had the biggest antlers and they were not going anywhere. They were very big and scary. They stayed for like and hour o think. Then I went into my tent and relaxed for a bit. A bit later we all went out for dinner. Before leaving the lent I changed onto my white and gray pj party pants. For dinner my parents had bought a thing of salami . Best camping dinner ever. When we were cleaning up two deer came out they were right by us and I think we were more scared them them they were just going in circles around us. Then I went in the tent I am tenting with my dad tonight we watched a show and played a game and no it is 9 and we are going to bed. I am tired from all the up today and am hopeful tomorrow will be easier.
July 16: Day 2-OH. MY. GOD. The pain I am feeling right now. This morning we were supposed to get up at 7 and leave by 8:30 but we did not get up until 8 and we did not leave until 10. There was a deer right by are camp this morning and it watched us get ready. We finished packing up and put are bags on. It had gotten much heavier as I was going from having a 0 water to 3 liters of water. My dad did have a third of the tent though because it had rained last night and the rain fly was all wet so he hung it on the back of his pack. The hike did not prove any easier ad we had gone up over 600 feet in the first mile. Today we had to go up 2000 feet easy compared to 3300 feet we did yesterday. We were going up to the edge of a ridge and when we got to the top I got the first bit of service I had had in over 24 hours. Once we got to the top there were three options one led us closer to the campsite for the night and the other two led to the top of mountains. Our plan had been to climb both mountains then go on the the campsite. But as we looked around in the sky it was very clear storms were coming. The they were coming fast. We made the choice that we had to start to get lower. We had 100 more feet of elevation left today and we booked it to the top of the final hill. With about 50 feet to the top the rain started. And it just kept getting harder. At this point we started going down but had a long time to treeline and the rain was getting harder. We tried to push on but the rain was really coming down and the thunder and lightning was starting also we made the quick decision to go off to the side if the trail and set up a tent. Zoe said her tent was to far down to get out and that ment I had to get mine. I opened my pack and grabbed my rain coat. Yeah we all had rain coats but none us were wearing them yet. The tent was up quickly and we got in. The inside pf the tent was just a socked as the outside. And we were all FREEZZING and wet. We were huddled up in the center of the tent making sure we were not touching the metal rods outside our tent. There were two waves in the storm. After the first one my dad went out quickly and got us more rain coats and sweaters in any attempt to stop the shivering and goosebumps we all had. We ended up being at the tip of this mountain in a tent in a storm for over an hour just kind of waiting for it to stop. When we got out we booked it there was more rain on the way and we still had a long way down to go. We did manage to stop at one point for a quick snack because it was past 2:30and we had nit eaten anything since breakfast. Before we started moving my mom also took the rest of the tent to hang it on the outside of her pack to let it dry. We did make it below tree line before we started getting drizzled on and 5 miles later we were at the campsite. We quickly set up our tent in hopes it would air out and dry before bed. Then my dad rested my mom and sister went down to the river. And I redid my hair and relaxed. We had dinner and watched a show in our tents. Now it is a bit past 9 and time for bed!
Julu 17: Day 3-Today I actually had to wake up when the alarm went off for the first time in way to long. At 7 we had to start packing up we had a big day ahead of us. I for sure was ready for the 9 miles of the day to be done and for a nice shower and clean clothes. We were able to get packed up within a reasonable amount of time. For breakfast I had a beef stick. I know I know luxurious and I bet you are SO SO SO jealous.l right now. By 8:30 we were on the trail but not for long because 2 minutes later we stopped again to filer water for the day. Then we were on the trail again. Honestly the next four hours were kind of a blur all I know is that we finished the hike and I qas in a good mood for most of the time. We we finished I threw my bag on the ground and just sat and relaxed knowing we were done ( for today atleast). Then I just kind of aat kn the ground until be were ready to go we went back to the BBQ restaurant. I got another grilled cheese then we drove through rocky mountain and to Estes park. We all took a shower. Then just relaxed in a real bed for a bit. At about 6 we left and got some pizza and a calzon. Weate it well listening to cowboy Brad. Where we are now. I was promised ice cream so we are getting that later.
