Deadwood Reservoir: 2015

This weekend was The 1st Annual Whitfield Family Camping Trip to Deadwood Reservoir!! I'm looking forward to repeating this vacation for years and years to come (hence, the trip's long title).  Deadwood Reservoir was THE most remarkable and beautiful (and remote!) camping spot.  The final 27 miles of the drive took us on a single-track, Forest Service road that was the rockiest road Doug said he has ever driven; the car climbed up and down and through the steep mountains.  I sat white-knuckled in the car, hoping that we didn't turn a bend and drive head on into another car! The drop offs were steep, but the views were staggering.  And then we reached the Reservoir.  It was Idaho Perfection.

(we stopped the car to take this shot on the edge of the world...)

Our weekend of camping was dirty, dusty, and sandy.  Doug caught a fish, Cameron trapped dozens of frogs, Sophie built forts out of sticks and rocks, and I stalked them all with my camera trying to capture the peace, joy, and beauty of it all! The four of us camp well together-- days are easy, fun, relaxed.  The days were warm and the nights were freezing.

We came home reeking of campfire smoke and covered in layers and layers of dirt, and we relived all of our favorite moments.  Cameron kept saying "this place is sooo awesome" and "I wonder what the frogs are doing at Deadwood Rezzevor." Sophie's sense of adventure and comfort in nature continue to amaze me.  She played her own imaginary games in the forest, getting lost in her own world and whining that our summer camping trip was over. Doug and I feel so thankful to have two children who are adaptable to new environments, who love and appreciate the outdoors, who are safe yet try new things, and who are just FUN to be around.

Doug teaching the weekend's biology lesson.

My favorite snapshot in my mind: the sweet image of my kids bundled up in pajamas and sweatshirts, wrapped in blankets and eating sugary cereal by the morning campfire while Doug shuffled between stoking the fire and cooking eggs and sausages on the camping stove.

We cannot wait to return next year!