I'm so thankful that Ben had the idea of extending the original four nights in Stanley, ID into exploring Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. What started out as a scouting trip for fall hunting turned into an eleven night road trip. Thankfully (for my sake), only four of the nights we were camping.
We decided to leave Wednesday afternoon to drive to La Grande; not only would this cut down on our drive time the next day, but it would also increase the chances that we would get to the Stanley area in time to get a decent campsite, i.e. one with a bathroom for me. (Let me clarify: I was not asking for a four-star hotel bathroom...I was only hoping for at least a toilet, a pit latrine was sufficient...I just didn't want to have to go in the woods.)
First road trip in the new truck
We saw a black bear and elk on the way over...a good omen of all the animals we would see!
We stayed at a farmhouse our first night and the kids loved petting all the animals
After at least seven hours driving, we arrived in the Stanley area and started the rounds of first come, first serve campsites. Our first three choices were full, but we snagged the last campsite at Alturas Lake. The camp host said, "Well, it's a double site and right across from the bathrooms, but it's available." It was just what we needed!
What a beautiful campsite!
The kids were very determined to fish, unfortunately for them, their parents aren't great fishers.
Their fishing looked a lot of lots of tangled line and no fish.
Ben has all the boys chop wood and I just have to look away.
One of the prettiest viewpoints ever
Great background, family in full camping attire
After stopping at the viewpoint, we went for a hike to Elk Meadows for which Ben has caught quite a bit of flack from me about. My understanding was that it was a hike by a creek and that we would mosey up for a bit, turning back if we got hot or hungry. However, almost two hot miles later (going one way into the hike), when we saw two bikers and asked how much further to the meadow and they replied, "Not far...maybe 3/4 a mile," I about lost it. I was hot and thirsty (we didn't bring much water or snacks) and I did not want to press on, only to have to return the same way that we had just came (which consequently had very little shade). We pressed on, though, and made it to a very beautiful meadow and then slogged back the way we came. Poor Ben will always be persecuted by me for the "4.5 miles in the heat of the day hike."
Elk Meadows; we did see some antelope bedded down in the distance.
Nate and Holly arrived that evening and the next morning the men all headed out to scout various areas around Stanley. Holly, Diane and I took the three youngest to Red Fish Lake. It was a beautiful place to hang out at for the morning.
Super clear water
Ben thinks this is one the prettiest vistas he's ever seen
Josh, Ellie and Hailey
Josh and Ellie braved the cold water on the tube; poor Ellie later face-planted in the water and never really warmed up again
The kids enjoyed playing in the nice, soft sand
That afternoon we just chilled around camp. Our kids took all the bottles they could find and spent hours making various "food and drinks" for us adults. They're so fun and creative.
Asking what Grandma would like from the menu
The kids also set up and played this game all by themselves
That evening, the boys were itching to go fishing again, so Ben, Nate and I took the kids to fish the Salmon River. It turned into a sunset watching party.
Josh and Ellie (aka Bonnie and Clyde)
Enjoying the sunset together
The sunset is starting
The colors were across the river first, but no beautiful mountains there
Seth watching the view
It's getting better
And better
And better!
The next day, the weather started to get cold. We all headed out on an all day adventure together. We drove a road up that I'd never like to drive on again and saw a bunch of silver mining country and miles and miles of dredged up river.
We brought guns so that the kids could do some shooting
Seth (I think...it's hard to tell from a distance with a hat on)
We found the perfect picnic and fishing spot for the afternoon
What a view!
They all want to be fly fishermen like their uncle Nate
Deedo got some fishing in too
Nate even caught a couple
Me and my Hailey girl
We spent the afternoon/evening driving around to the various lakes we wanted to see. Most the campgrounds were cleared out (we figured it was because it was Sunday night, but later surmised it was because the Idahoans believed the forecast when it said snow...as we later learned, we should we have too).
Stanley Lake
The boys still trying to fish
Another great background for a family picture
Petite Lake
The kids had a blast here making dams and waterways
Grandma and Grandpa
Gone was the sunshine around our campground (and all the campers)
After dinner the temperature dropped and the rain really started coming down. We tried to place both shelters in spots where we could warm up around the fire and not get soaked. It wasn't the most comfortable evening. And then, right as we were getting the kids ready for bed, the rain turned to snow. It ended up snowing most of the night: wet, heavy. snow. Right before coming into the tent for bed, Ben put out the guy lines for our tent, thus saving us from a caving-in (like what happened to Nate and Holly at 1 am). We heard no less than four trees crack under the weight of the snow during the night and I spent hours tensely listening to snow fall off our tent and pool around the sides (Ben, like always, was unstressed and slept). Fortunately, we were warm enough and stayed dried and besides a rather miserable pack out that next morning, it wasn't all that horrible (don't get me wrong: I wouldn't sign up for it again, but we did survive just fine).
Our cozy campsite the next morning
Nate and Holly's left-leaning tent after the cave-in
However, their cave-in did save our shelter (on the left), because Nate brushed the snow off our shelter after fixing his tent. Deedo's shelter did not share its good fate.
Ben getting ready to start the morning fire in the snow
BUT, we made it: with smiles still on our faces and a good story to tell. My smile may have been because after four nights of camping I was finally headed to a house with a shower and warm bed.
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