It had been an unseasonably warm spring and the boys started asking about a backpacking trip. We decided to head to a spot close to home and headed to the Reynolds Creek area for our April campout. The drive to the trail head was relatively short but certainly tested the 4x4 capabilities of Sticky Charles. The hike in was perfect and the boys selected an excellent camp spot about three miles in. We set up camp and got our dinner re-hydrating (dehydrated Sky Baby Special). There were a couple of fish caught out of the creek but they were only a couple inches long. That night we enjoyed a dinner of the famous Sky Baby Special, which turned out to be an excellent backpacking dinner. We had fruit and nut cobbler for dessert and read Pat Mcmanus stories around the campfire (these were certainly more entertaining to the leaders than the boys). The following morning we did some additional hiking, ate some oatmeal, packed up and hiked out. We walked up on a rattlesnake sunning in the trail, which is always good for accelerating ones heart. He slithered away as soon as we backed up. I suspect with the early spring that place will be crawling (literally) with snakes this summer. It was a great trip and the boys were like old backpacking pros.
Loading up in Sticky.
At the trail head.
First mile, no sweat...
Second mile, better yet...
Taking a breather.
Camp site selected by the boys.
Setting up tents in the setting sun.
The creek near our camp.
Our camp site from where the boys climbed up to before dinner.
The valley.
Sky Baby Special simmering.
Climbing hills the next morning.
The old guys taking it easy before the hike out.
The quartermaster decided to clean his mess kit by throwing it in the fire. His spoon turned permanently black and his aluminum dish split down one side. Bummer.
Goodbye camp....whats that?
Hiking along the portion of the trail called China Ditch.
These were once the location of mining car tracks built up by immigrant workers.
We Made It!!
