Away to the Mountains

After the boys' football game, we took advantage of our leap west and motored as long as we could to a hotel. It was too late to wash the uniforms, as I had hoped, but we put them in a special bag all to themselves. It turns out their uniforms don't really smell too bad, it's the shoes and football gloves that really need to go in the bag. Anyway, we were impressed with the spaciousness of hotel one, we liked the tiny cabin feel (duck your head) of hotel 2 and eventually we made our way up the mountain to the hunting cabin, our intended destination.

Once "in town," we stopped by the ranch quick to say hello and figure out plans for the next day. Buck's stepmom was already in bed at 6:30, and his dad wanted to leave at like 8 a.m. the next day. We said we'd try for 9, went to the grocery store (expensive!!!), and then tucked back in our tiny cabin. I decided to wash laundry, but for the first time ever, we had no quarters--well, between the five of us we came up with five, but needed six to wash. The vacation laundry sagas continue. We were at a campground with RV people, so Buck found a guy outside who was willing to share a coin. None left for drying though, so we got creative in our air-conditionless abode. Jerseys on the chairs, socks and shorts on the coat rack, wet laundry anywhere we could hang it :)

Buck's coffee stop took a little longer than expected, so we arrived back at the ranch a bit after 9 . . . close enough :) We packed our belongings into the truck, Buck reacquainted himself with driving a manual vehicle, and away we bumped up the non-road to the cabin.

With a quick stop at the fancy sign addition to the tiny town :)

Two hours later . . . the first job we noticed--no wood for the stove. The horse was impressed by the flatlanders' efforts :)

Buck taught Gabby, Brennen, and eventually, broken-wristed Graysen how to prep various types and cuts of wood for the various fires.

Graysen was determined to catch some fish. After getting advice from Mountain Bill, he learned he had to sneak up on the fish, rather than letting them see where he was standing. This made a huge difference and he was soon catching multiple fish each day :) Shallow water strategy.

So you're not kept waiting in suspense, despite many efforts, no elk were seen on this hunting trip. Moosen were heard. We saw a few mice and a pack rat in the cabin. Grouse were kicked up on a streamside stroll. Many moo cows and horses grazed the meadows, and an eagle or hawk screeched overhead, but those elk were elusive.

Brennen stayed back to cook our meal the first night. There was a bit of grease build-up in the base of the grill, so they were flame-broiled by no fault of his own. It was nice to have a helper in the food department :)