Four Peaks Camp-Out

After an insanely busy December in which I finished the year working my ass off instead of doing anything outdoors (other than cleaning up dog shit from the backyard), I finally got a chance for a short wilderness adventure. My buddy Jimbo and I took my stepson Jonah on a camp trip near Roosevelt Lake, sort of in the shadow of The Four Peaks Wilderness. This would be Jonah's very first "man-camp". He's been camping plenty of times before, just never like I camp when it's just me, which is much more minimalist compared to when I'm with my girlfriend Sarah or a big group. I was really worried Jonah would have a miserable time, especially with the overnight lows dipping into the mid-20's. One thing I've learned over the years is that first impressions are extremely important, and this trip could make or break Jonah's interest in the outdoors for the next year or two... Especially if he froze his ass off at night. 

Jonah with slingshot.

Luckily I bought him a slingshot before the trip. Wow, talk about a good investment. That slingshot never left his side. And with a nice sleeping bag (another good investment) and a wool blanket he slept soundly. So all was well with the kid.

The spot we camped in was sort of an oasis in the middle of high-desert foothills. From the outside it appeared all scrub oak (and there was a ton), but our little nook had plenty of cottonwoods and even a strong flowing stream that fed into a nice little pool that would have been a sweet swimming hole in the warmer months.

We had a fun time exploring the area, playing with the slingshot, and even got a little fishing in. I feel bad for Jonah as he has yet to catch any fish every time I take him out. I think I'll take him up to the rim this Spring for some trout fishing, which are much easier to catch than those bastard bass on Roosevelt. But Jonah had a really fun time despite getting skunked at the lake. He wants to go camping with me again. Maybe one of these days I'll take him backpacking.

Jimbo, Jonah, and I.