Desolation Wilderness- again!

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Hey Zach, 

Well 2016 marked the sixth time we have completed our hike and stay in Desolation Wilderness. We have always gone over the July 4 holiday, but with so much rain this year we did not expect the trails to have snow and for it still to be in huge abundance in the upper elevations. We hiked up to about 8500 feet and stayed for three nights. That is where the water is cleanest, the air is purest and there are less critters and bugs – something I have a hard time with. Hence my only foray into camping each year.

This time we had the Campbell family with us again and their two small children who did amazing with the hike up and back, no issues or complaints. They are such troopers. This year your Uncle Gregg got sick on the hike up so he and Auntie Kim had to turn right around and go back down the mountain. He was really bummed as he has always been the leader of these trips and was the one that actually convinced me to start doing them. Other than that we had a fabulous time with no other issues and as you can see from the photos there was lots of snow and great fishing for the boys. I spoke with Uncle Gregg on the way home and he was doing much better.

We decided to have a permit party early next year where we can all create and taste-test different ideas for meals and drinks. We will also bring along new equipment to try it out before we take the plunge and secure our wilderness permits for yet another year. All in all it was a really good time but I think we will go later in the summer next year to avoid some of them mosquitoes we caught this time around because of all the water and snow left over from winter.

I still prefer the beach but you cannot beat the scenery, the amazing views and complete isolation that forces you to unplug and get back to nature. 2017 here we come!

I hope you have had a chance to take a few trips with friends and that you are still enjoying your summer. Cody and I along with the rest of the family think of you all the time and wish you would reach out. We will continue to wait and always be here.

Love,
Mom
xox



Sent from my iPad

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