June 16, 2024
Hello Big Wild 1B families,
We are here to update you on our Wyoming expedition. We cannot thank you enough for trusting us with your amazing children! Our first day started off with a bang in the only airport located in a national park! The kids were amazed by the immediate views and beauty of Jackson Hole. After some serious hacky-sackin’ and getting to know each other, we set off on our big wild adventure. After packing our U-Haul and van, we piled in and ventured to our gorgeous first campsite. There we enjoyed some river swimming and tasty pizza from Pinky G’s! With our stuffed bellies and first-night butterflies, we had a great first Moonup under the Tetons. Little did we know that we would take on our first Wyoming storm. We flocked to the van and got to know each other better with vicious lightning strikes dancing across the sky and rumbling thunder. Within the hour, the storm settled down and so did we, calming those first-night nerves.
REEL fun was on the menu this first morning. We woke up, broke down tents, and ate a quick breakfast on our way to the river to learn how to fly fish. Our guides met us in South Park in Jackson, where we screened for bugs—Carter may or may not have had these bugs as a second breakfast—and we also learned how to cast on the bank. Competition heated up in a battle of the best. Jackson proved to be the most precise caster of the bunch, landing not only his fly in the hula hoop but himself on the podium. With our new skills, we took on the creek and got some much-needed practice for our anticipated backcountry adventure. Although no fish were caught, Henry, Tommy, and Jackson took fishing to the next level and became the fish as they waded into the rushing chocolate milk river.
Despite no fish being caught, morale remained high as we feasted on fried chicken before our journey to the Wind River Range. The true game makers came out when the “MY COW” game was introduced. Simply put, this is a game for those who are unfamiliar: when you see cows, you say “MY COWS!” You may be thinking, “Where is the fun in this?!” Well, let us tell you… it’s incredibly fun and can pass hours and hours of car rides. You’ll see. While the group had their eyes peeled for cattle, their backdrop was one of magnificent snow-covered peaks and radical rock formations. There were oohs and ahhs and exclamations of “My cow!” as the group caught a glimpse of their home for the next few nights. As we arrived at our first backcountry campsite outside of Pinedale, WY, the group learned how to purify water, pack a backpacking bag, Leave No Trace, and build a fire. The boys’ fort-building skills proved sufficient as they constructed quite the creative sleeping structure. James put on a fire-building clinic, where his aficionados quickly learned the art and craftsmanship of flames. These apprentices, named Michael, Carter, and Robert, will be acquiescing their skills in the fire ring for the rest of the week, keeping their team warm and happy. Our veteran Moondancers, Tibbie and Jackson, led an amazing and thoughtful second Moonup around the fire, sharing tales from their previous adventures in Colorado and British Columbia. These two were fantastic and supportive first Leaders of the Day (LODs) and set the tone for first-year students.
With frost still on tents and sleeping bags, the group rose to pack their bags for backpacking. Group gear was spread out amongst the team, and bellies were filled with breakfast scramble. At the trailhead, we met Darby, Jon, and Red (the dog), who we spent the next three days with in the gorgeous river-carved meadows of the Winds. Heavy packs were lifted by friends on our backs as we set out for a new challenge. For many of our students, this was their first time backpacking. The hike started with a mama and baby moose sighting and a quick tour of the Darwin Ranch. Quickly after, the trail got swampy. MV and Jackson bravely waded in, testing the waters for the group—maybe not as intended or expected—but accurately displayed the depths of the bog. After a wet and muddy start, the group trotted on to the trees and had their first trail lunch at a waterfall. They discovered the ins and outs of trail life as they took quick cat naps post peanut butter and Nutella grubbin’. Persevering and pushing through discomfort and the heat, the team showed grit and made it to Upper Falls, where we would enjoy the views of the waterfall from our kitchen for the next few days. McLean proved herself the kitchen connoisseur with her impeccable cooking abilities and passion. The group gratefully slurped up some elevated ramen bowls and giggled around the campfire.
Once the sun warmed our tents enough to wake us the next day, we wandered into our backcountry kitchen for some oatmeal and warm drinks. With nothing on the agenda but enjoying where we were and who we were with, the group hiked up to the next meadow, determined to catch a fish. Addie stayed on the water all day, returning to camp only for sustenance, outlasting everyone with her drive and patience. Carter, Story, and MV took a different route, playing cards and having a spa day by the river. MV washed her hair, Story polar plunged, and Carter relaxed with The Hobbit by the waterfall. The team reunited as the sun began to fall, and Michael and Robert used their Cajun backgrounds and math skills to whip up some very well-measured jambalaya with an Italian twist.
Our last day of backpacking started with a chilly river crossing bright and early. The crew skedaddled out to the U-Haul, cutting our trekking time from the day we walked in IN HALF! Our LODs, Addie and Robert, skillfully kept morale up by motivating the team with the idea of burgers and a shower when we got out. Finishing as a team, BGW 1B made it safe and sound out to Pinedale, where we devoured some well-deserved burgers, fries, and MASSIVE milkshakes… Michael’s stomach may still be full as we write this. Basketball in the pool, splashing, ping pong, water slides, and showers were a gleeful part of our day at the Pinedale Aquatic Center. Thomas can’t miss a three-pointer for what we could tell. Now clean, we headed back to Jackson to our beautiful campsite below the Tetons. We are so excited for our next adventures and can’t wait to tell y’all all about them! Till next time!