Camping Event Horizon

There are some who might say we reached the "camping event horizon" this year. This is a phrase coined by one of the guys who has camped with us for 20 plus years; it defines the point where the camping is better than living at home. But we did find ourselves coming back, so perhaps we'll have to try again next year.

I mentioned on Thursday that we had a shower par excellence, soft large towels to enjoy that shower, and the internet for part of the week. That would sum up the comforts of home. What we had that you can only get in the woods, however, included mountain temperatures ranging from the high 30's to the high 80's (but even in the hot part of the day if you stayed in the shade with a breeze it was not unpleasant), the beautiful vistas of pine trees surrounding our camp, a gazillion stars at night easily visible from the line at the outhouse, and a plethora of wildlife, including wild turkeys, deer, elk, and coyotes. The first night we were there, at about 3 a.m. we heard what sounded like extremely loud sirens. The Mister surmised it might be kids screaming and playing, and I thought it was the Forest Service warning us of forest fire and telling us to pack up, but after a minute or so we could hear the individual howls of the coyotes in the pack. They sounded very close that night; we heard them again a couple of other nights, but farther away.

We were not allowed to have campfires, but we made do with propane stoves and lanterns - although a lantern hanging in the middle of the camp circle at night doesn't do much to warm your hands and feet - and we were grateful that the forest was still open.

This family tradition has been a source of refreshment for many years; The Mister loves to fix, repair and make contraptions that are useful, and I love to cook, even for 50 people using Coleman stoves. Bias For Action makes some of his best homemade ice cream at Ditch Camp -this year saw peaches and blueberry additions! - and he and his family usually catch enough fresh fish for everyone to have a taste. With every camper helping in the prior preparations as well as the maintenance of camp and the cleanup afterward, it isn't so overwhelming that you don't want to do it again.

A first-time participant remarked to me, "You must be doing something right if the teens and 20-somethings move heaven and earth and to make this event, even for only a couple of days."

I agree.