3/26-29/2008: White Mountain Wilderness, NM

Wednesday- We left Dimmitt a little after noon. We didn't make it to the Southfork Campground until nearly 5:00. As the campground was still closed for the season we parked by the gate and walked about a half mile. We set up camp just beyon the campground at a previously used site near the creek. Dinner was pizza on the Outback Oven and dried fruit. The older kids and I spent the night by the campfire while Jen and Zane spent the night in the tent.
At the trailhead.

Pizza in the woods!

The boys taught the girls how to pump their own water.

Sleeping under the stars.

Thursday- I woke up early and started the fire. The temperature was a balmy 45 degrees and the winds were gusting from the south. We cooked oatmeal for breakfast and took down camp. The seven of us walked about a mile up the trail to the meadows formed where Bluefront Canyon comes in. We set up camp.

Wyatt and I headed off trail to climb a small promomtory overlooking the canyon (about a 700 ft. climb). He had a great time conquering this "mountain". We cooked bean and chicken burritos for dinner and turned in. Once again, the older kids spent the night by the fire and Jen and Zane slept in the tent.

King of the mountain!

Friday- The morning dawned clear and cool with a low of 26 degrees and frozen water bottles. The kids took longer to roll out of their sleeping bags than they did the previous morning. We fixed pancakes for breakfast and packed up for a day hike. We hiked a short distance up the trail to a good spot to play in the creek. Several hours were spent climbing, throwing rocks and playing in the creek

We had freeze dried chicken teriyaki for dinner. The temperature had dropped to 31 degrees as we were settling down for dinner. I had us all move into the tent for warmth as I was afraid it might get down into the teens.

South Fork of the Rio Bonito

Colter grows a beard.

Dinner time.

Saturday- Morning dawned cool, but not as cold as I was afraid it might be. The thermometer was reading 35 degrees, but a thin coating of frost was noted. We fixed an oatmeal breakfast before taking down the tent. By about 10:30 we were on our way out. The walk back went well. We made it back to the car by 12:30, packed up and headed back home. It was the girls first backpacking trip and it went very well.