Backpack #4

This past Friday and Saturday, I went on my 4th backpacking trip with the kids - again taking the three oldest. I have been inviting other dads and kids along, but I ended up being the only adult along to fend off the mountain lions, black bears, and other wild imaginations.





The 2.2 mile trail traversed a canyon wall amid oak and pine trees above a scenic river. I had never seen acorns quite this color before!



We camped on a large bar (sandbar) where L found these two heart-shaped rocks. She thought her teacher would like them, so we captured a photo of her with the rocks. This way we were able to "leave what you find" (Leave No Trace principle), and we avoided her filling her pack with every beautiful rock she found.



The photo above is special as it marks the place where I lost our digital camera on the hike in. Night was falling, so we took off our packs to get out our headlamps for the last half-mile or so. I forgot that I had taken off the camera case and must have kicked the camera case (with camera) off the path when putting my backpack back on. In camp the next day we realized the camera was missing. This spot was the only place I could think of having removed the camera case from my neck, but the case was not there when we hiked out. I prayed for help, and A remembered asking me what I had kicked after putting on my backpack the previous night. We wondered if instead of a rock, as I had presumed, it was the camera case and started looking down the steep bank along the trail. Thankfully, the strap of the camera case had attached to a small plant only about 6 feet down the hill where I could safely get to it. We offered thanks and cheerfully hiked homeward.



There really were big kitties and bears nearby! We didn't meet any though.