We got ready more quickly than we have been in order to make
it to a Junior Ranger Program at 10:00. This would give the littles an
opportunity to earn a firefighting junior ranger patch in the park. The program
involved the RMNP fire department and the firefighters brought the booster
along. The program was interesting. The firefighters talked about the equipment
they used and showed with matches how thinning the trees helps to control
forest fires. Each child then got to spray the hose. The littles received their
patches and we also got our final junior ranger badge for the trip (#7). Hawkeye
was amused with the booster and priming the pump returned lots of memories.
We took a short hike around the Junior Ranger Headquarters
and learned there used to be a ski report inside the park until the early
1990s. This was very surprising to us.
It seems that a ski resort would be such a direct violation of
everything the national park stands for. The park is currently trying to allow
this area to restore to its natural state. During this hike the littles took
the shoes off and sat on the side of the stream. We closed our eyes and
listened to the stream waters, birds signing, and other noises.
We went back to the campsite for lunch. We ate sandwiches
and fruit. The littles ran around and climbed the trees that were beginning to
dry out.
After this, we went for a short hike around Sprague Lake. We
decided to go somewhere new and the littles were adamant about not wanting a
large hike. Plus, the clouds were growing grey again and we were all a little
afraid of getting caught in another rainstorm. In line with the way things were going in
RMNP, it rained almost the entire short hike. We paused several times to hang
out under trees until the rain became light enough to progress further. Eventually
we finished the trail and immediately upon getting to the car the rain stopped
for good.
Captain visited with a man about fly-fishing right before
the hike. There was also a group of individuals fly-fishing in the middle of
the lake. It was interesting to watch and we realized the water was only about
thigh deep. The depth only holds true to half the lake, so be prepared to go
swimming if you enter from the other side.
It was then time to return to the campsite and get ready for
dinner. Black Widow had been craving lentil tacos since getting to RMNP and was
determined to cook them for dinner. Success! The rain stayed away and dinner
proceeded.
We had a semi-party for our last night with our camping
neighbors. We cooked the last bag of jiffy pop and make s’mores. It was fun for
the kids to get to roast marshmallows one last time. The neighbors even busted out with “meat”
hotdogs to the delight of our littles and Iron Man, Captain, and Thor each had
one. The best part was that Captain had just told Black Widow earlier in the
day he was “thinking” about becoming vegetarian. Well, he either didn’t “think”
long enough or hard enough or the temptation of a “meat” hotdog was more than
he could handle.
While the kids had fun around the campfire, the interaction
of adults was a little strange. We decided to chock this up to personality
differences between Texas (south) and the northeast (Maryland).
We cleaned up and went to bed. Tomorrow the drive home
begins.
