It was the first backpack camping trip for both Audrey and Dada. There was a mad scramble in the days before the trip as Dada scrounged backpacking gear and camping attire from Aunt Marie, from Kellie and Ethan (Jackson's parents), and from outdoor, consignment, and second-hand stores (Audrey and Kate were fascinated with all the military memorabilia and novelties hanging from the ceiling at Andy & Bax).
Audrey had a borrowed kid-sized backpack for herself, although on the hike in Dada ended up carrying it along with his own pack, as she complained it was hurting her shoulders.
Once we got to the campsite and had everything set up, we could relax a bit and do a bit of exploring. Audrey was the only girl among the group of six kids (there was a mom along for the trip), but she held her own and kept up with them. She saw some crayfish in the lake, tested out a bow and arrow Dada made for her, and relaxed in a hammock with Jackson.
It started to rain around dinner time, so after enjoying some rehydrated freeze-dried mac and cheese, we retreated to the tent for the evening. Ethan made chocolate chip cookies for everyone using a special camping oven. A scout troop came in around 9 at night in the rain, and their commotion made it a bit hard to sleep, as did someone chopping wood at 2 in the morning.
The rain never let up, and in the morning the dads decided it was best to pack it in and head home early (we were planning on staying two nights). The other family headed out first, and Audrey and Jackson had breakfast while their dads packed up all of the soggy gear. It was cold and wet and miserable, and the kids were understandably not very pleased with the predicament. Just as we started to walk out of the campsite, it started to snow, which the dads took as a confirmation that leaving was the right choice.
The hike back down was wet and muddy, and Audrey was consequently in a sour mood. Nonetheless, this time she did carry her backpack the whole way back, a distance of a bit under two miles. Once back in the car and warmed up and headed back to Portland, her mood improved, and improved some more after a hearty breakfast of pancakes and bacon at the Radio Room. She went home for a bath and a nap, then headed over to pick up Kate, who was staying with Honey and Honey Grandpa while Mama was out of town.
Later on Audrey said she would go backpacking again, "but when it's sunny."
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