Yes, it’s been a while
since we’ve posted, and yes, this is about an older trip, but that’s how it
works when you have 2 kids and get out adventuring on the weekends, instead of
writing blogs. J
We
always look forward to the first backpacking trip of the season, perhaps more
than any other backpacking trip of year.
Our first backpacking trip of 2015 had a unique challenge in that Yadéeh
was 16 weeks pregnant. This alone was not much of an issue, since we backpacked
Glacier National Park at the
same point when she was pregnant with Atlas. While we are experienced
backpacking while pregnant, and experienced backpacking with a child, we had
never backpacked while pregnant and with a child and his gear. Luckily, as you’ve probably come to find,
Justin is a gunner and takes this challenge head on, and, Yadéeh wasn’t so
pregnant that she couldn’t still carry a backpacking backpack (that was later
in the season, and yes, we still went backpacking then, too). As usual, our
first trip of the season was over Memorial Day weekend, so we could take full
advantage of the long weekend to drive a bit further to the Gila National Forest.
Since the drive to anywhere in the Gila is quite long, we
decided to get a head start on Friday night. We drove our bus, the Darkside, so
that car camping the first night would be comfortable, and the long drive more
manageable with Atlas and three dogs. In addition to our two dogs, we were dog
sitting a friend’s dog, so she came along for the adventure as well. We left Albuquerque after work on Friday and
drove to the Water
Canyon campground. Staying here for the night helped break up, what we
thought would be, the 5.5 hour drive to the Aeroplane Mesa
trail head in the Gila. Oh how wrong we were about the amount of time it
would take…potential disaster #1. We studied the maps and possible routes to
the trailhead before we left home. However, we re-examined the maps at camp
that first night and decided on what looked like a much shorter route. Word of
advice: shorter is not always better. We
failed to consider that the shorter route involved a “rustic” forest road.
When we turned off the paved road on to the dirt road
that would eventually lead to the trailhead, we felt confident in the quality
of it, and the ability for the Darkside to make it. Atlas always loves when we
get on to the dirt roads because we let him drive, and he can move about a bit
more, without the constraints of the car seat, as long as it is a clear day and
good road conditions with light traffic. We felt good about this decision.
Along the way we saw more pronghorn antelope than we could count! As we
continued along the road, we were stopped by a herd of cattle that were being
guided across the road by a team of ranchers.
This was great to watch. None of us had seen ranchers
herd their cattle to a new location before. Watching them chase after the rogue
cows was very entertaining, and both Atlas and all three dogs got a huge kick
out of the entire process. The entire ordeal tacked on about 30 minutes to our
drive. We continued on our way, into the Gila Wilderness, which translated in
to less traveled roads, which became increasingly rocky and steep. About 20
miles past the last ranch or signs of other humans, we started up a single
lane, fairly steep grade and the Darkside just turned off! Yup, it just shut
down without warning! And so started Murphy’s law.
Since
the Darkside wouldn’t start up right away, Justin took a walk up the road to
see what he could see from the top of the hill. A sign told us that it was 15
miles to Snow
Lake. Worst case scenario, Justin could leave Yadéeh and Atlas with the
dogs and hoof it all the way there to get help. Luckily, after letting the Dark
Side rest for a bit, it started back up, but was a bit doggy and lost power up
hills. We finally made it to the campground at the trailhead! Unfortunately, it
was after 4pm, which is way too late to start a backpacking trip of about 3
miles in, with a 3-year-old who didn’t nap, and a pregnant woman.
So, car camping that night it is. Our main challenge was
water. We only had 1 5-gallon jug with us for 3 dogs and 3 people. This was our only water stash because we were
planning on filtering our water from the Gila River after backpacking to our
originally intended campsite. There was a pond, but it was not reassuring as an
option. And, it was time to use some of that water to cook dinner…on a camp
stove which would not connect to the gas can because it was stripped. Luck was
on our side yet again; while we had the misfortune of a broken camp stove, we
were fortunate that we also brought our backpacking stove. Again, Murphy’s law
hit us. The flow of the fuel through the backpacking stove left much to be
desired, and would be something to worry about for the following night’s
backpacking trip. But, one thing at a time, dinner now, stove issues later. It’s
easier to stay positive with food in your belly.
The following morning, we filled up our bladders with the
rest of the water and hit the trail. About 1.5 miles in, Yadéeh rolled her
ankle. Not the best way to start a hike! And, like before, luck had it that
after limping for a few hundred feet, it felt ok to continue, rather than turn
back. When we stopped for a snack, and to re-apply sunscreen…where’s the sunscreen??
Why, back at the bus, of course! Sunscreen chapstick applied to the face it is!
Onward and upward (or downward as the case may be). Off in the distance we were
lucky enough to see a herd of elk enjoying a mid-morning snack, as we began to
wonder when we might see the Gila River, given that our water supply was
critically low.
Justin was the first to the cliffs edge, and the first to
NOT see the river?! Are you serious?! It can’t be dry, it’s the Gila River! Oh…that
was only a feeder stream that was dry…there’s the river, and it’s running! Disaster
averted. However, it was in a canyon hundreds of feet below us. Thirsty, so
thirsty. But, we made it eventually. Yadéeh soaked her ankle to help keep the
swelling down, since resting it made it tight. Now, to find a campsite. To do
so, Atlas crossed his first river, all on his own. Such a proud parental moment
for a backpacking couple.
Once at
camp, what was the first thing Atlas decided to climb on? Yup, a blackened,
charred log. Our first reaction was to tell him to stay off it, but for what
purpose? Screw that! Get dirty, have fun, be a kid. Seeing kids out in the
wild, just being kids, playing, and not needing material possessions to do so
is one of the best experiences in the world. Atlas found a stick that became
his horse. Worried that the dogs would chew on it at night, he hid it from them
at our tent.
Dinner take-two was a success, although it took a bit
longer than it should have to heat the water. Then, off to bed. In the morning,
Justin filled Yadéeh in about his night. You thought Murphy’s law finally gave
us a break? Ha! Think again. The air mattress had a leak, so he slept directly
on the ground most of the night. That on its own wouldn’t have been too bad, if
there wasn’t a stick across his back the whole night. We had no idea how this
was possible, since we are usually good about clearing our tent area before
pitching it. Justin reached under the tent and pulled out…are you ready for it…Atlas’s
“horse”, of course!
The rest of the trip was uneventful, relatively speaking.
Yadéeh’s ankle felt much better, and Atlas did great getting back up the steep
hill. He would find rocks as paint pallets, pine needles as paint, and pretend
to paint Yadéeh as they slowly brought up the rear, like the Little Engine’s
that could, all the way up the hill. We drove home the ‘long way,’ which was SO
much easier and faster. And, stopped in Pie Town for a piece of pie, because that’s
what you do when you’re in Pie Town.
Each of the blunders could have put a damper on our mood
or motivation, but what good would that do? And, when you have a kid to keep
happy, a positive attitude is essential. Now we have a great story to tell
anyone who will listen. There were so
many things that could have resulted in us bailing on the trip, but none of
them brought us down. Laugh, love, live. That is the key to a great time, no
matter what obstacles you encounter! 