Each year I get one really grand idea that is probably pushing the limits of responsible parenting. I started planning this nearly nine months ago. I don’t even really know if it will happen, will we even be healthy by then, there are so many easy outs along the way to consider. So many chances for something to derail us by a few days, I honestly don’t even expect to do it while planning it. Plenty of other opportunities that are also fun and we can change the plans easily in this part of the country.

My heart is locked in on The Wind River Range and more specifically, the unmatched Cirque of Towers. Ever since some coworkers talked poetically about their time in this wilderness years ago, I have been waiting patiently for the right time to go on an all out, multi day wilderness adventure in the mountains. 

I’ve done my planning, I know that we will be without service for four days, we will be on back roads to the trail head that, according to the internet, are going to be the roughest road the bus has ever attempted. The road goes for two hours, half of which will cover only eight miles, and much can go wrong. Amy watched a YouTube video of a man driving the entire thing just so she could scout any unique  problems the bus may face. I’ve notice she is suggesting alternative trails recently. 

We have also done our preparing, the guidebook says that this is a strenuous trail and not for novice hikers. Well, Maple is not a novice hiker, she is just four. The same book says to expect kids under five to hike no more than two miles in a day and kids under seven, no more than four. In the end the entire trip should span three days and we will cover 18 miles minimum, often scrambling over exposed granite and car sized boulders. They have been preparing for this their whole lives. Each challenge this summer we have discussed how we are building our skills and stamina for this grand finale. 

And now that the day is upon us, I’m super nervous, I can’t honestly believe it worked. And more importantly, the kids have been hyping this for weeks. Everyone’s in perfect health, the bus is running better than ever, and the plan is solid. 

After all, the line between responsible parenting and amazing parenting can be a fine one. 

I planned today for a nice quiet calm before the crazy, this morning we found a small campground directly at the base of the dirt road. It’s run by a nice couple who let us stay the night. We were not made aware of what the night would entail.

Apparently, this one night of all nights, the owner invites all his coworkers from the oil drilling fields and has a feast and a party. After checking in, we were invited to live music and a group campfire. When we got there we were given plates full of smoked brisket, homemade potato salad and all the sides. The desert table was all freshly baked. Some cowboy saw Everest struggling to rip apart his brisket, he set down his bottle of whiskey and pulled out a knife and neatly and evenly cut my son’s entire steak for him. This turned out to be the owner and he told me at his campground people come in as strangers but leave as family, he said the whole world should be that way. After dinner, the dancing ensued. Not one to turn down a Ho Down, we got into our finer clothes and we boogied down, stayed up later than ever and relaxed none. I had no time to think about the drive or the nerves tomorrow. It was the evening i didn’t plan but definitely the evening we needed.