Banquet and Burgers!

July 29, 2024

When we got off the river we said bye to our awesome river guides and hit the road. We ended our rafting trip in Washington, which meant we had some ground to cover to get back to Jackson home. We enjoyed a premade lunch at the boat ramp before we hit the road. The drive took us winding out of the river canyon into beautiful national forests. The kids were sleeping on and off as the rafting trip took it out of us all. All that fun in the sun and the water. We drove to a gas station so we could stop for some snacks. Combining everyone’s snacks, John enjoyed a bite of chocolate taffy, peach candy, sweet tart, and an airhead in between a couple of Fritos! Yum. Maybe. We drove until we got to our campsite that looked like it could be in Africa. Because of the wildfires, the smoke in the sky turned the sunset bright red. Campbell and Ella cooked us up some delicious Mac n cheese and salad. Brooks had the great idea to get some cookies for dessert. We cleaned and organized our gear and then enjoyed some hot showers! We slept so well. The next morning we were up early so that we could get as much time in Jackson as possible. Again, the first part of our drive was characterized by naps. When everyone woke, the woke with an appetite. And appetite for McDonalds. Now we wouldn’t typically stop at any sort of fast food restaurant, but this was a special circumstance. Brooks challenged Lucy to a game of what are the odds to see if he could earn a trip to the McDonald. 3. 2. 1. 53! Out of 100, Brooks and Lucy both guessed 53. Wild. So we went to McDonald’s. We arrived in Jackson around lunch time. So we quickly did some trip debriefing and then hit the town. We popped into t-shirt shops and gear stores to see what we could find. Ty, Henry H. and Henry R. all bought matching shirts with Lucy that read: I’m into fitness… fitness pizza in my mouth. Genuine Jackson hole apparel right there. And Lauren and Amelia got shirts that said: Single, save money. Live better. (Walmart knock off). After we finished shopping around town, we went to the thrift store to buy each other some outfits for dinner. Dilara’s fit won the most drippiest award and George looked like a Vegas dad getting off the golf course. Maddie was the only one dressed appropriately for a nice dinner, sporting a suit and tie that went down to her knees! So we walked to dinner looking like a caravan of fools and embraced all the strange looks we were getting. We enjoyed a Mexican feast and some ice cream afterwards to put the cherry on top of a great day. We drove back to camp and watched the sun go down over the Tetons as we packed our bags for the airport.

Our last moonup was a sweet one. Henry R. asked what we had learned during our last two weeks and we heard some great answers. Living in the moment. Being yourself. Being confident in your capabilities. Serving others. I think we all learned so much over the last two weeks. We filled the nug jug with great moments from the entire trip- the rodeo. Catching cutthroats on the snake. Playing cards by the light of headlamps. Singalongs in the van. Delicious meals. Funny games. So many good memories. Conversation lingered late into the night then we got a bit of sleep for our day of travel.

The airport was full of bittersweet goodbyes and contact exchanges. No doubt the connections we made will outlast these past two weeks.

To the parents- this is a stellar group of kids and they made our last trip of the summer spectacular. Thank you for sharing them!

All the best,

Jake and Lucy

River Rapids and Marshmallow Wars: A Rafting Adventure

July 27, 2024

Up and at it early to get up North for some whitewater rafting. So stoked. Half asleep we hopped into the van and listened to some soft tunes in the early morning, as the sun came up we crossed over the Tetons into Idaho. We drove for a little while before our surprise breakfast stop at Chick-fil-a. Biscuits and minis and hash browns, oh my! After CFA, we enjoyed the playlist Amelia crafted for us as we trucked through Idaho. The rest of the time we napped and enjoyed some summer reading. After a fun day of scenic driving we arrived at our lakefront campsite with plenty of time to swim and play spikeball. At one point, Henry H. found a bag of marshmallows. He was immediately struck by an excellent idea. He opened the bag, took a marshmallow out, and threw it at Lucy. Uh oh. Next thing we knew marshmallows were flying across the campsite as everyone was in a free for all marshmallow war. With all the baseball players in the group, no one was safe. After the marshmallow war ended, we did moonup as the sun set and eagles flew over the lake. It was a beautiful evening.

We woke the next morning to a beautiful sunrise, just as beautiful as the sunset the night before! We ate a quick breakfast, loaded into the van, and hit the road to head to rafting. The kids slept as we winded along the Little Salmon River. We got to the boat ramp before lunch. We met our awesome guides who briefed us on the trip and then we were on the water. It was just warming up in the river valley, encouraging us to jump in the water. We hit some rapids right off the bat this got us excited for what’s to come. We rafted late into the afternoon, hitting rapids and jumping in and out of the water. By the time we got to camp, we were tired, but not too tired to play some spikeball! Brooks and Maddie showed off their spikeball skills and made a presence in the tournament that Henry H. put together. Our camp was also situated on a steep beach. Inevitably, the boys found a way to launch themselves off of it, landing in the powdery sand many feet below. We played and ran around until dinner was ready. We were treated to grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus and salad. Carrot cake followed. With full bellies, we settled in for a moonup before bed. To end moonup, we played the pterodactyl game. Just ask your kids about it. John won the game with his hilarious impressions and delivery!

The next morning we woke to the smell of breakfast burritos on the grill. We enjoyed breakfast and geared up for another day of rafting. But before we left, the championship game of the tournament had to be played. Brooks and Maddie brought their winning streak into the game, but Lauren and John took it all in a dramatic showdown. They were crowned as spikeball legends for the rest of the trip. It was heating up outside and this meant one thing: raft wars. Raft wars is the perfect way to stoke competitive spirits and cool off in the cool water. This is how it always goes! Someone from one of the boats gets the idea to splash the other boat. The other boat splashes back. Once everyone is soaked from the splashing, someone gets the idea to pirate the other boat and throw people off. Brooks is the culprit that decided to kick things off. With great agility, he boarded the opposition’s boat and started to battle them off the boat. Next thing you know there were kids jumping from one boat to another and kids flying off both sides of the boat. What a time. Day two of rafting was also a big rapid day. We hit a lot of big waves, but the most notable rapids were a couple of class four rapids called Snowhole and China. We got out to scout the rapids and see what we were up against. We then paddled through them with all our might, making it safely to the other side. Paddle five! After big rapids and raft wars, we took a quick boat nap before arriving at camp that night. It was delightful. A bit of weather rolled through when we got to camp. It was so beautiful watching it roll over the mountains. After the rain cleared out, we had energy to play some spikeball and race each other across the long riverside beach. We had a great dinner that Henry R. claims was the best pork chop he had ever had. It was complemented by rice and a pineapple veggie medley. If you haven’t figured it out yet, food on the river does not disappoint. At moonup, Ella and Ty challenged us with this question: What inspires you to become a better person? This searching question had us reflecting on loved ones who had gone before us and come after us. It was a sweet way to end a long day. Our heads hit the pillow and we fell asleep under stars as numerous as the sand under our mats.

Day three of rafting led us through the beautiful Blue Canyon. The rocks towered on either side, making it look like we were in some sort of fantasy land. After some crazy white water and raft wars, we took a lunch break in the canyon. While we were settling in, our guide flipped over one of the boats and decided to make a waterslide out of it. So before lunch, we were taking turns launching into the river. Henry R. almost made it all the way down the slide on his feet. After lunch we finished the Blue Canyon stretch and made it to the confluence of the Salmon River and the Snake River. The water got a lot bigger and slower here, so we tied all the boats together and motored to our campsite that afternoon. This encouraged yet more boat naps. We arrived at our campsite with time to play spikeball, read, and visit the orchard. That’s right. An orchard. We picked blackberries, peaches, apricots, and apples. It was cool and heavenly under those fruit trees, a nice break from the sun and dry heat. We almost lost George in the orchard because he was busy feeding the fresh fruit to some deer. Meanwhile, Dilara and Campbell were in an apricot tree tossing down the best ones to the group standing below. We brought the fruit back that night and the guides used it to make a cobbler. But before the cobbler we enjoyed a taco feast. We cherished a long moonup and some fun games. For our moonup question, Campbell asked us to say something nice about the person to our left. No one had a hard time with this one. After spreading the love, we hit the hay.

We woke up next to the river the next day and sad that it was our last on the river. We enjoyed our last delicious river breakfast and got on the river. We barged for a little while and then made it to the boat ramp. That wraps up our time on the river. It was a crazy adventure and so much fun.

Until next time,

Jake and Lucy

Hello from Jackson Hole!

July 22, 2024

Welcome to Jackson Hole, Wyoming! As the kids rolled in, we all began to trade names and stories and play fun games. The new people, new place nerves were quickly extinguished by the great company. We left the airport and made our way to camp. Time for a campfire, pizza, and s’mores. We watched the sun go down over the Tetons as we had our first Moonup. We shared gratitude and talked about our goals and expectations for the trip. Time for bed! There are mountains to be climbed in our future.

Today was the first full day of our trip! For breakfast, Campbell and George fixed up some eggs and sausage. We filled our bellies and headed to the mountains to go climb. Let the adventures begin. Upon arrival, we met with our guides and started suiting up. We took a short walk towards the mountain and loaded into the gondola to get to the top of the mountain where the big rocks are. The nerves were brushed off quickly when we started with a bit of bouldering at the top. The guides called it ‘getting to know the rock.’ After some reps to get the blood moving, we were ready to move. We tied in using the figure-8 knots we learned just moments before and headed up the huge rock slab one after another. They must have specially selected this group for skill and athleticism. It seemed like everyone had rock climbed many times before. Either John was trying to set speed records or it really was just that easy for him. The guides couldn’t hardly belay fast enough. After a long day of rock climbing and rappelling, we descended and made our way into town. We got a sneak peek of the town of Jackson, which was exciting. After grabbing some necessities, we made our way back to the campground. When we got back to camp, thunderstorms were threatening in the distance. But I think our good energy scared the storms off. So it’s Tuesday. You know what that means: tacos! Ella, Lauren, and Maddie did a delightful job cheffing up some tacos for us to enjoy for dinner. So delicious. To put the cherry on top, our leaders of the day, Ty and Amelia, even surprised us with some brownies for dessert. We wrapped up the day with a sweet Moonup which ended with plenty of games and laughs. Thank you Pterodactyl game, number game, and moo-offs. Time to rest up for another day of climbing tomorrow.

We woke this morning with mountain-climbing dreams still fresh on our minds. It’s day two of climbing. With one day already under our belts, we were ready to hit it hard. We headed into the Tetons to meet up with our guides again. We collected our gear: ropes, helmets, harnesses. Check, check. Ready to go. But first, we took a ferry across beautiful Jenny Lake to the base of the mountains. We spent a full day climbing lead ropes and top ropes. We even got to do some rappelling. At one point, I spotted Brooks rappelling off an overhanging cliff face. Wild man. I didn’t realize that Henry R. and Henry H. were right behind him. After climbing, we were hot and sweaty and ready to cool off. Thankfully, we were on a lake. A cold, cold, glacial lake. It was a very refreshing and breathtaking swim. After the swim, we headed into town to cook up some dinner. Pesto pasta and Italian sausage were on the menu. After filling our bellies, it was time for the Jackson Rodeo. That’s right. Upon arrival, we explored the inventory of rodeo merchandise and concession stand goods. Ty and both Henrys invested in a cowboy hat. And George, Henry H., Amelia, and Ella rode the mechanical bull, showing us how it’s done. We settled into our seats and enjoyed the rodeo. We saw bull riding, team roping, bronco riding, and barrel racing. After the rodeo, we made our way back to camp to get some sleep before a big day of fishing tomorrow.

Before the sun came up, we were suited up and ready for fishing. We met the guides and shuttled to the put-in. The air was still cool on the river and anticipation was building as the guides put the boats in the water. We loaded up, three to a boat. We fished the Snake River. The Snake is famous for its cutthroat trout. They are a fun, hard-fighting native fish. Our morning was full of hungry fish jumping after our flies. We fished intensely for hours, pulling fish out of the river left and right. It seems that Dilara won the biggest fish and the most fish award. She landed a cutthroat of a lifetime. So cool. We unloaded at the boat ramp and thanked our guides before heading to lunch. We made a quick lunch in the park. Then we had an idea: what better thing to do on a hot Western summer day than to get Moo’s ice cream? Delicious. Cookie dough, mint chocolate chip, mocha, huckleberry. I’ve never tasted ice cream like this. We deserved a reward after the fishing we did anyways. We loaded up back in the van and made our way to a different campsite near the Gros Ventre wilderness to stage for our upcoming backpacking excursion. We pitched camp and did a backpacking crash course. Included in the curriculum was how to pack a backpack, water purification, backcountry stove setup, and wildlife safety. We stayed up around the fire, laughing and playing games before Moonup.

The next morning we woke up and fixed up a big breakfast to fuel us for backpacking. We loaded into the van and bounced our way down a rocky dirt road to the trailhead. At the trailhead, we double-checked that we had all our gear and had our packs fitted right. Then we were off. Almost immediately, we were stunned by a beautiful view of the river valley we would be hiking up. Not a half hour into the hike, we were crossing creeks. We wound our way up the valley, along the river, to a beautiful lunch spot next to a waterfall. Here, we ate and took a quick nap to refuel for the second half of the hike. The second half of our hike cut through a spring creek meadow. We walked and talked and were at the campsite before we knew it. When we got there, we set up camp, but it wasn’t long before the girls were swimming and some of the guys were trying to catch fish in the river. As the sun began to set over the tall mountain ridges, we made our way back to camp to start dinner. Ella and Henry R. prepared ingredients for Mexican bowls. We feasted and then sat around the fire. We turned in early, tired from a long day of hiking.

Waking up in the backcountry is a great thing. It is quiet and serene. It is even better when you wake up to the smell of M&M pancakes hot on the stove. Our mid-morning pancakes tasted as good as they sound. And everything tastes better in the woods anyway. We enjoyed a slow morning, but we didn’t have too much time to waste. There were places to see and fish to catch. We packed a few bags and hit the trail once again. We climbed up to a beautiful little glacial lake. We made a fire and made some pan pizzas when we got there. After putting food in our bellies, it was time to fish. Before we even finished, Ty and Henry H. had rods in hand. They were ready to add to our success the day before. It wasn’t long before both of them were hooked into beautiful brook trout. We lingered at the lake for a while. Afterwards, we hiked back down to our previous camp and rested our legs for a moment. For dinner, we decided to celebrate Thanksgiving in July. We made bacon mashed potatoes, cranberries, green beans, rolls, soup, and sausage. With full bellies, most of the group took a walk to go see the waterfall from the top while some stayed to help with dessert. Because you must have dessert with Thanksgiving, we had peach cobbler to finish off the meal. After a sweet Moonup, we headed to sleep.

Time to get out of the woods. The group was eager to get up early and see the sunrise as we started our hike. And that we did. After a convenient oatmeal and granola breakfast, we threw packs on and hit the trail. In record time, we made it out of the backcountry. This is probably because Brooks made a deal with Jake and Lucy that if we made it out by a certain time, then we could get burgers from Pinedale’s famous burger barn. They agreed. What better motivation to hike fast? Sure enough, we made it out with enough time to get there. And so, with tired legs, we sat down at the barn and enjoyed some big, juicy burgers as a reward for our hard hiking. This crew was so deserving. They killed it in the backcountry. Time to get back to Jackson home. We got back to the campsite, got unpacked and reorganized from backpacking, and started cooking dinner. Henry R. and John prepared a fresh caprese salad while Jake grilled some chicken and veggies over the fire. It was a great meal. The highlight, though, was definitely George’s homemade, hand-cut, Cajun Parmesan fries. And yes, those are exactly as delicious as they sound. He killed it. We ended with a sweet Moonup and we’re so excited for rafting.

Trip shoutouts to the wonderful families of our awesome kids:

Ty says he loves and misses his family.

Brooks wants everyone to know that the trips good and everyone’s great! Henry Roberts says he misses you and loves you and wants you to say hi to the dogs for him.

Dilara says she’s having a lot of fun and she loves you.

Ella says she loves you and she’ll see you soon.

Amelia says she misses you guys and she’s having a lot of fun and she loves you.

Campbell says Wyoming is beautiful and she is having a great time. She misses and loves you.

Lauren says she loves and misses you guys, but she’s having a lot of fun here.

Maddie says the trip has been a lot of fun and we’ve done a lot of cool things, but she loves and misses you guys.

Henry says he misses you and hopes you are having a fun time in Europe.

John says he’s having a lot of fun and he loves you all.

George says he loves you and misses you and wants you to tell Margaret hi for him.

Again, these kids are killing it. Until next time,

Jake and Lucy

Safe Arrival in Jackson Hole!

July 16, 2024

Hello Big Wild Families!

We heard from our leaders this evening that the group has landed safely in Jackson and is off to their first campsite! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure.

Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!

–Moondance HQ