June 20, 2024
It has been another eventful past few days out here in the west. We started off day 6 early with a 7:00 am climb to beat the heat. We watched in amazement as Bea showed us her amazing climbing skills and applauded Bailey and Thomas for conquering their fear of heights. We not only climbed up but also belayed back down to the parking lot rather than taking the hike. After this, we drove to Dead Horse Point, an overlook above the Colorado River where we would raft in the near future. Legend has it that around the turn of the century, cowboys would use this corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top, where they would die on the waterless point. We watched the sunset behind Canyonlands’ sculpted pinnacles and buttes as our Leaders of the Day (LODs) Molly and Jesse led us through our nightly Moonup routine.
The next day, we spent hiking to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, exploring Moab, and driving around Arches National Park. While in Moab, we stopped at Milt’s for a burger and shake, a Moondance classic. Afterward, we enjoyed some time in town where we bought souvenirs. Augie and Thomas bought matching dew rags, which gave the group a good laugh. That night, we stayed at a higher elevation campground to escape the heat. We quickly came to enjoy the cool mountain air and watching the deer.
The next morning was another early start as we hit the Colorado River for our 4-day rafting trip. The first two days were mellow, and we all enjoyed getting some time to relax after such a busy past week. When the raft got too hot, we hopped into the river and floated instead. After each long day of rafting, we would set up camp for the night on the sandy shores. Harper and Ella led the group in some drip castle making, while Nate and Ella dug a 30ft long trench in the sand. Later, Libby, Nate, Ella, and Bea played Bocce ball while the rest of us sat around the campfire, talking and listening to Lila work on her guitar skills.
The third day of rafting was the one we had all been waiting for – the day of rapids. We all held on to the rafts with white knuckles and braced ourselves as we cut through the 15ft waves. After much anticipation from the kids, it’s safe to say the rafting trip exceeded our high expectations. To end our last Moonup on the Colorado River, the kids performed a special Father’s Day rendition of “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” for Woods. To all you dads – Happy belated Father’s Day from all the kids! We’ve loved hearing how much these kids look up to you. As our trip begins to come to a close, we can’t wait to soak in these last moments with your amazing children!
All the best,
Woods and Winborne
June 14, 2024
The first few days of exploring has been incredible. To say we are having a good time is an understatement. While it has only been a few short days, we have a had a whirlwind of fun fly fishing, hiking, and bonding at our camp sites. This group of kids has kicked off the summer with an unmatched energy that I know is going to make these two weeks fly by. After a long day of traveling and a beautiful drive through our first siting of bright red rocks, we arrived at camp where the kids learned how to set up their new homes for the next few weeks – the tents. We did a few classic ice breaker to introduce the group, as expected by the kids, and tucked in early to start the trip off on the right foot.
For our first full day, we were up and at ‘em to catch the early morning serge of Tiger Trout. The fish were being stubborn, but a few patient fishermen had some bites. Bailey and Molly had the magic touch, whether you consider it luck or skill, they were the only two who reeled in a fish. Harper and Ella were successful too, with the help of our awesome guides and a trusty fish net, they waded in the water to get up close and personal with those stubborn trout. For the rest of the afternoon we hung out at camp like true campers do, and played ultimate frisbee, card games, and explored around the stream by the campsite. During ultimate frisbee, Jesse, Augie, and Nate wracked up their points with ease, despite Bea’s lockdown defense. That evening, Bailey and Libby, our first LODs (Leaders of the Day) prepared a delicious spaghetti dinner, all thanks to Bailey’s cheffing expertise. We ended the night with a sunset watch and Moonup by the lake that we began the day fly fishing in.
Day three was what some might call a perfect day. Our new LODs, Lila and Augie, helped us prepare breakfast burritos to fill the group up for our first hike through the beautiful Bryce Canyon. The boys ran through the steep hike with ease, proving their everlasting energy, while the girls took their time gazing at the magnificent structures around them. Thanks to Nate’s constant jokes, Bailey’s one liners, Bea’s out of pocket humor, and Thomas’s goofiness, this day was a blast! After the hike and another drive, the entire van was awestruck as we entered the massive red canyons of Zion National Park. At this point, I think the whole group realized just how excited we were to embark on the rest of our adventures through the Canyonlands.
The next day, we set out for a hike over the river and through the woods, except this hike was through the river and in some really big rocks. We hiked the Narrows which consisted of towering canyons of flat rock that were split by a river that the kids hiked about 8 miles through. Harper, Lila, Libby, and Ella held hands the whole way, supporting each other through every rocky, wet, and hilly area. The intricate rocks tried time and again to be obstacles to us hikers, but Molly wouldn’t give them a fighting chance, Augie and Thomas avoided them fully as they floated down the river, and Jesse became a balancing pro as he skipped from rock to rock. We ended the day with some much deserved ice cream and burgers, which were cooked to perfection thanks to Nate’s expertise.
Our last day up to this point, consisted of a travel day to the famous town of Moab and the rocky surrounding areas. To pass time in the car, we’ve had fun culturing each other in our various music tastes. We leaders have played Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix, and The Avett Brothers in hopes to get the kids hooked, but have been met with lots of requests for Kanye West, Morgan Wallen, and Kendrick Lamar, which we are learning to love. Our group arrived at the Moab campsite, which was the coolest place we’ve stayed so far. Billowing rock structures stood in front of and under us, perfectly placed to watch the bright orange sunset as we ate dinner. This was also the first night that the kids decided to cowboy camp, which for those of you who don’t know, is camping under the stars with no tent! We’ve had no shooting star sitings, but are hopeful that they are yet to come.
We are so impressed by these kids, and have had the best time getting to know their amazing personalities. Our little family is holding up here, and excited for so much more to come! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to spend this quality time with your people. They are a blast!
All our best,
Winborne and Woods
Canyonlands 1 Boys: