For Labor Day, we headed back to Stanley, Idaho for our annual Stanley camping trip with the Pillings (assuming two years in a row makes it a tradition.) This year we were unable to get a camping spot at Redfish Lake so we headed about 18 miles south to Alturas Lake. It turned out to be a great location and the dirt was equally dirty for the kids to rummage in...constantly. The picture below is a panoramic I took just a few feet from our campground.
Lake Alturas is about 20 miles south of Stanley and 40 miles north of Sun Valley. Because of the fire in Sun Valley a lot of campers were locals from Sun Valley escaping the smoke.
When camping there is nothing better than an early morning refresher in the lake. The water was cold but seemed mild compared to Redfish Lake. Above Wade and his son Max and I are preparing for the plunge into the water.
When the water is this cold, head first is the only option.
Alex hanging out. After we set up camp, the ladies went to Stanley and left Wade and I with the kids for a couple of hours. Fortunately we had set up all of the tents because the rain came down pretty hard for an hour or so.
The kids seeking refuge in the tent from the rain.
Ayden trying to stay warm. Last year the temperature dropped to the mid thirties at night and this year the temperature stayed around 45 degrees at night. Can you believe this global warming??? By the way, fires are banned in Idaho for the time being so staying warm was a little more difficult than usual. As a pyromaniac, camping just wasn't the same without FIRE.
The guardian of the camp!!! Those of you who know River understand how effective he is at keeping danger at bay. At one point while playing card games Wade felt something brush against his leg which turned out to be a fox. The fox hung out in our campground both nights rummaging through our stuff (I am most certain the fact that Jenni and Wade were feeding the scoundrel marshmallows had nothing to do with his wanting to hang out in our campground). The first night the fox kept tormenting River by stealing his food. River would whine so I after getting out of bed for the 2nd time I threw a rock at the fox so he would leave River alone. It was actually kind of fun because I was wearing my head lamp and his eyes would glow bright orange which made for a fun target (I'm cruel). River really is a pathetic guard dog. He didn't scare the fox away and the fox actually managed to steal his food and eat it in front of him.
Jenni inspecting my work. Man she thinks I'm sexy.
Alex and Jenni hanging out at the "beach".
Alex loved lounging with the moms in the chairs. Wade is in the background taking his 2nd of 3 naps on the day. After the beach I rode 50 miles on my road bike (round trip) to Redfish lake and back just to get one more decent ride in before LOTOJA.
When camping with kids, you have to be able to live with the very dirty faces. No matter how many times they got a baby-wipe-bath, they would be dirty in a matter of seconds. Ayden was unrecognizable at times.
Nicki, Max and Ayden with their dirty little faces.
Just imagine having hands so dirty that touching your face causes you to look like this. Now imagine sticking those dirty fingers in your mouth...pretty disgusting, yet funny.
On the way out of town we stopped and bought ice cream from the granola-hippie-mountain biker bums (I have to admit that I am somewhat jealous of the life style). This is how Alex chose to eat her chocolate ice cream cone. The result:
Give me a kiss!!! Man I love that girl. 
5 comments:
with kids that dirty, you have to call yourselves granola, hippie, bums. Ayden looked like a gremlin in some of those. I love it. It looks so beautiful there.
Hillary, where we were is a far cry from your stomping ground in Manhatten. However, I do find steel, masonry and concrete structures beautiful. As far as the kids, you could write "wash me" on their faces.
Okay...if I didn't know you I would assume Ayden belonged to the pillings! You need to stick her in some picts with you guys!!! Looks like fun, glad i didn't have to clean those kids up!!! Just teasing!
Wow. It's beautiful up there. I was kind of sad we didn't get out camping this year, but then I see those dirty faces....(although cute) and maybe I'm okay with it. Glad you guys had a good time.
Jeni, it is gorgeous there! I am jealous.
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