On Saturday morning, we headed up the Poudre Canyon to begin our first camping trip as a family. This event was definiltey on my summer bucket-list, and I was so excited to commence the experience!
We camped at an elevation of 9,200 feet at Chambers Lake. A very popular campground, whose numerous sites are reserved months in advance. Like the name implies, the campground is situated along a sprawling lake nestled among the Roosevelt National Forest. A very popular fishing destination. Somehow I lucked out at just the right time (back in July when I researching campgrounds) and was able to secure site #40 for a single Saturday night. Neither Matt nor I had been to Chambers Lake before, so we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. But we had high hopes.
The temperatures dipped as we climbed the canyon higher and higher. It was about an hour and a half drive from our home to the campground. And it was about 65 degrees when we finally pulled in around 10:30am. Check-in time was officially at 2pm, so we planned on hanging out in the day-use area until we could set up our site.
Sage was easily entertained by collecting the numerous pinecones on the ground and tossing them into the lake waters. Water (of any kind) and Sage go together like peanut butter and jelly. Two magnets with an unbreakable attraction for each other. He was certainly going to love this campground!
We had a quick pre-lunch snack at a picnic table... then discovered that the previous site tenants were departing very soon. Which means we got an early check-in! Instead of waiting until 2pm, we got to set up shop around noon instead. Score!
And this was the view awaiting us! Site #40! After driving throughout the entire campground, and scoping out sites for future camping trips, we realized that we were already camping at the most beautiful location in all of Chambers Lake. What luck! Our view was breath-taking!
And then it was time to build ourselves a little nest. We started with the tent. Sage was very involved in helping set it up. He particularly enjoyed hammering the stakes into the ground.
He worked up quite an appetite with all that pounding.
Time for a watermelon break!
And then it was time for a little bit of fishing. Well to clarify...Matt was the one who fished. Sage sat along the shoreline and threw rock after rock after rock into the waters. And I lounged in a comfy camping chair (that I hauled around with me everywhere we walked) watching my boys exist is perfect peace. Both of them content as could be in this natural landscape.
And then the rain began. We knew it was going to rain. (This has been a strange Colorado summer, raining almost every afternoon.) It was a brief downpour - but enough to make us wet and cold. We huddled in the tent. Sage tried out the sleeping bag. It was tough to keep him entertained in our tight quarters. He was very anxious to get back outside.
The rain finally passed. We all changed our clothes and our shoes, and then decided to make some lunch.
Grilled cheese for everyone!
Then it was back to the lake for more fishing and water play.
And then it rained again.....
So back to the tent we went.
We changed our clothes yet another time. I thought I had overpacked for this 24 hour trip. I tend to bring way too much - even for short overnight adventures. But thank goodness I brought so much clothing. I never in my mind thought Sage would need 3 different jackets for a 1-night trip. But he did! And we would have been very uncomfortable without all the dry back-up clothing.
Then it was time for dinner. Matt built a fire and we roasted hot dogs over an open flame.
It was definitely quite chilly at this point in the afternoon. The sun was hiding behind thick clouds, and everything was wet. The fire Matt built was a much appreciated source of heat.
After dinner we went on a hunt for the perfect marshmallow roasting sticks - because it was time to indulge in smores. We found exactly what we needed on our brief hike.
Even I got to enjoy the fine delicacy of a perfectly roasted smore. I had done my research in the week prior to the trip and discovered a brand of vegetarian-friendly marshmallows available at my local Whole Foods. I haven't had a marshmallow in over 10 years. And these were superb! Just perfect. Matt confirmed for me that they were authentic in texture and flavor. What a discovery! Totally worth the $5 I spent on the bag.
Among the three layers of a classic smore, the marshmallow was Sage's favorite. So in the end, we just fed him straight mallow. He chose to forgo the chocolate and graham cracker. No problem - that meant more for me!
Soon afterwards, it was time for Sage to go to bed. He had refused to nap earlier in the day... so he was really grumpy by sunset. We read some books in the tent, laid down with Sage pretending to go to sleep ourselves, then snuck out about 30 minutes later. Finally, a bit of grown-up time for Matt and I!
Matt kept the fire going, and we sat beneath a huge bright moon, just talking, laughing, and telling stories. It was really quite lovely. Around 11 or 12 that night, we finally turned in. Exhausted and ready for some sleep. But Sage had different plans in store for us.
Around 2am Sage awoke from his slumber screaming out for water. He wanted water bad! Matt stumbled around to put his pants and shoes on as fast as possible to get the boy some water from our car. Sage was so distressed and inconsolable. After letting him chug some water, he continued to scream, his voice traveling throughout the otherwise dead-silent campground. So I wrapped a blanket around him and we went for a walk. The sight of the big bright moon quickly shook him free of his fit, and we were finally able to converse with him. Turns out the poor kid had a nightmare...about a tiger in the woods. We talked him through the experience...then it was back to bed.
Temperatures dipped down into the low 40's that night. So I had trouble sleeping. I was warm. But I was worried that Sage wasn't comfortable. He refused to wear pajamas. So he was in nothing but a t-shirt and diaper. And despite my efforts to cover him with blankets, he always managed to wiggle out of them. Over and over again. About every half an hour I was checking on his tiny little body to make sure he was maintaining a healthy temperature.
Needless to say, we were all very sleepy the next morning.
But in the morning, with warm sun beating down on the tent, everything glowing a comforting orange color, all the stress from the preceding hours just melted away. I love waking up in the woods! And I was excited to get out and do some more exploring.
And now with animation!
Sage was ready to go play too.
Matt had already woken and had started a fire for us. How lovely to be greeted by the smell of roasting pine. Matt was in good spirits that morning too. You can see him jumping for joy in the picture below!
Matt decided to get one more round of fishing in.
So just as we had done before, I lounged in my chair, and Sage nestled himself along the shoreline to toss stones in the water.
Then it was time for breakfast!
We made egg, cheese, and sausage sandwiches.
And of course...Sage helped himself to a little watermelon. He is pretty darn addicted to the stuff!
Soon it was time to pack up the car and head home.
We were sad to go, but looking forward to regaining access to the many amenities of city-life.
We'll be back, Chambers Lake!
To read more details on how camping with a two-year-old went, check out my CSU blog, where I really break down the pros and cons of our family adventure:
And to read about my recent "Mommy Day" check out this post:
