Camping with Kent

Last summer, Kent went camping with us a lot. Unfortunately we were not able to have nearly as many adventures together this season due to our busy and conflicting work schedules. This last weekend we all managed to find time and trek back up to Derby Mesa again. This time we were definitely prepared with the new additions to our camping gear: a croquet set, a borrowed chainsaw, and Kent's belated birthday guns (as shown to the right).


The leaves were still hanging on for us so we still could enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. Besides having cattle wander by sporadically and whipping Moses and Aspen into a mad cow frenzy, it was quite peaceful and enjoyable. We managed to accomplish everything we had set out to do: extreme croquet, shooting, an impromptu boat race, tomahawk practice, and chainsawing and splitting tons of firewood to fuel the heat for the Dutch oven. For four hours we braised short ribs and ox tails to make a delicious stew to enjoy once the sun went down. Tyler brought veal stock from work to make it extra tasty. We were all so tuckered out from the activities (and a little hungover from the night before)  that we barely were able to stay awake sitting around the fire.

Like most weekends, this one had to come to an end. At least we were able to make it out for one last hurrah before the snow starts to fall and stick.

Here's the visual documentation for those of you who are interested.

Shit happens

The last five mornings I've hiked the North Trail loop by my house. It's a little more than five miles long, and it is the perfect way to start my day. (The view from the top is actually the banner for this blog.)

Since I started this routine, I've enjoyed the tranquility of nature in the quiet mornings. After it rained one night, the top section of the trail was filled with snails slowly scurrying as if they were on there own personal intertrail highway. Two days ago Tyler and I saw a buck bounding away from us through the trees — its antlers spanned more than four feet. And yesterday I saw three hawks circling up from below, catching the wind to carry them higher and higher in search of prey over the Vail Valley.

Today after I reached the top, I was curious to find out what amazing nature scene would be waiting for me this morning. More amazing changes in the fall foliage? A late blooming wild flower? Another deer to cross my path? My thoughts were excited with all the possibilities.

As I made my way down the last half of the trail, Moses and Aspen sprinted ahead of me and took off into the bushes. Usually this is a failed attempt to catch the quick chipmunks that run around taunting the dogs at every bend in the trail. This time they didn't return immediately, and I started yelling for them to come back.

My nature scene wasn't what I had hoped for today. Instead of some awe inspiring sight, I realized that today I'd only see what the animals had left behind: their excrement. And Moses was covered in it. Not only had he managed to "get all up in that," he had it in his ears, all around his collar and he couldn't have been happier than a farm animal cliche.

I tried not to let the setback kill my excercise buzz, but when you have to wrestle a no longer Great Dane into a bath tub by yourself and wash a thick layer of crap off the canine, it's not a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

But at least the aspens and my Aspen are awesome this time of year...

Derby Mesa

Fall is approaching quickly this year. I can hardly believe how fast the summer flew by. We haven't gone camping nearly as often as last year, but in the last few weeks we've definitely made up for our lost time.

Tyler took me out to Derby Mesa this weekend. He'd made an exploratory trip out there during the off season, and wanted to show me a few of the cool campsites he'd discovered. The leaves are starting to turn out there, so we want to get back within the next couple weeks.

Our new favorite activity while camping is using our Dutch oven. I don't know why it took us so long to buy one, but now we can't imagine a trip without it. Tyler said that he'd have been very sad to have lived before the Iron Age. It's the best camp cooking tool available —last week we baked corn bread, and this time we made stew with Deschutes Brewery's Obsidian Stout. By the way, our new life goal is camp and cook with different micro brews and equipment and get paid to do it — how feasible do you think this is?
 
It wasn't all eating and drinking — Moses is attempting to be the largest Frisbee dog ever. We practiced with him while we were waiting for ourstew to cook. The only problem is he's very selective of when he wants to attack the flying disc. Usually he actively pursues the Frisbee for about 10 minutes, and then he needs a break. It's funny because we always assumed that Aspen would love to jump and catch a disc or two, not our large moose-calf-like-dog.

Finally, as per usual, here's more visual documentation of the trip.