Good Times and Throwing Flies
June 13, 2025
Hello from Wyoming! We are having such a great time so far and have already accomplished so much! After the students arrived on the first night, we headed to our campsite and played a few group games before heading to a famous barn to watch the sunset. Everyone was giddy to be here and in awe of the Tetons. We ate pizza for dinner and played lots and lots and LOTS of hacky sack (a new group favorite activity!) before heading to sleep.
We started the first full day with an early wake up and set out to meet fly fishing guides for a casting clinic. We used paper clips to practice casting before tying on hooks. Everyone got a hang of casting really quickly and our guides were so impressed! To finish the clinic, the guides set up a bucket on a table and challenged everyone to cast their paper clip into the bucket. Nick and Marion both landed it in under five casts and earned hats from the guides! After that, we headed to a fly rod shop to get more equipment since everyone was so eager to fish more.
Later that day, we began the drive up to a trailhead where we started backpacking the following day. The drive winded up a long canyon on a bumpy dirt road along a river where we saw multiple antelope and grouse along the way. Mason was searching left and right for any animals. After an hour, he yelled from the left front row of the van “look, an elk!”. We all looked and a second later, a rabbit dashed in front of the van followed by a coyote that snatched it in its mouth in the middle of the road. Everyone was shocked and screamed! The coyote then dropped the rabbit and dashed off. We all were so surprised to see three animals in such close proximity and none of us had seen something like that before. As we continued up the road, Elle led the group in card games and riddles from the back of the van. The girls were braiding each other’s hair and requesting Mamma Mia songs on aux. After two hours on the road, we arrived at camp and taught the group about backcountry safety. Everyone was tired but helped out with dinner, setting up tents, and dishes. We were so appreciative of everyone stepping up and helping out!
The next morning, we woke up early to pack our bags and start our six mile backpacking trip. We met our guides, Darby and Morgan, (and their dog Red!) at the trailhead and then headed out. We taught everyone how to use maps to navigate and since Wright and Amiya were our leaders of the day, they helped navigate us to our campsite. They both did a great job motivating the group and keeping positive energy throughout the day. Red led the pack and was bounding through the bushes. On our hike, we saw two moose off in the distance and Red barked them off. We made lunch wraps at a beautiful waterfall and continued up to our campsite that had an incredible view of a meadow and another waterfall. At night, we made yummy pesto and chicken pasta and hung out around a campfire.
On day two of backpacking, we caught up on sleep! In the morning, we made banana pancakes for breakfast which were so yummy. We then went on a short hike to a meadow with a meandering river where Charlie practiced his casting and patiently waited to catch a fish. We found a watering hole where a lot of the group jumped in the freezing river. Taylor and Maggie had been wanting to swim for the past few days so they were the first to jump in and motivated everyone else to jump. After the afternoon was spent fishing and swimming, we headed back to camp and played group games before dinner. The games were interrupted with a lighting and hail storm but everyone did a great job following lightning protocol. After the storm, we continued with a dance party which SJ crushed, and we were impressed with her dance moves and enthusiasm! For dinner, our leaders of the day helped us with backcountry pizzas. We spent another night huddled around a campfire.
We are now out of the backcountry and headed back toward Jackson Hole for the next few days. Everyone did such a great job in the backcountry and we are proud of them for all their hard work and eagerness. We can’t wait to share the rest of our adventures in our next trip update! Yeehaw from the Wild West!
– Evie & Sam
Shoutouts:
Maggie: hey mom and dad! We have been backpacking and just got back. Miss y’all so much, but have made lots of friends. Have fun at the beach. ❤️Maggie
Marion: hey mom and dad! Been having a lot of fun. Just finished backpacking – the views were incredible. Miss you guys.
Charlie: what’s up mom & dad. I’m having a great time and hope you guys get some quiet time without all of us at the house. We are all going on amazing adventures and I’m so grateful you signed me up for Moondance. Miss y’all.
Mason: Hey mom and dad I hope y’all are enjoying the house to yourself. I am having a lot of fun. We just got back from backpacking for 2 days. Miss you.
Nick: Hey Mom and Dad, we have been backpacking for the past few days and it has been great!
Wright: What’s up Mother and Father we have been backpacking for 2 days it’s been chill. See y’all soon. – Ya boi Wright
Taylor: Hey mom and dad! I’ve been backpacking for 2 days and now we’re headed to a new campsite. I love and miss you! ❤️ Tay
SJ: Hey mom and dad! I have been fly fishing and backpacking the last couple of days and I am having so much fun making friends! I love you so so much! See you soon! – Eddie
Amiya: Hi Mom and Dad! I have been having so much fun. I went hiking, backpacking, and I learned how to fly fish. Tell Ella and Lily I miss them. We camped with a dog named Red and it reminded me of Scout. I miss y’all. Love Amiya
Elle: Hey mom and dad! I have been having sooo much fun and making many new friends. I miss you guys so much and love you both!
Howdy From Jackson!
June 8, 2025
Hello Big Wild Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely in Jackson Hole! The trip is off to a great start, and we are so excited to hear more stories as they begin 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
