As a mountain is unshaken by the wind, so the heart of the wise person is unmoved by all the changes on this earth. –Buddha
Summer 2020. July road trip from the mountains of Colorado to lake hopping in Wisconsin–cancelled. Coronavirus rampant worldwide and no vaccine, yet. While accepting the present moment, something needed shaking up.
A conversation about camping in early marriage led to the basement in search of gear. It was not what we remembered. There was an under sized tent–don’t think so, wafer thin sleeping pads–nope, one camp stove–completely rusted. Not much in the way of basics. However, a reliable looking percolator coffee pot and two fine sleeping bags revived hope and possibility. We headed to the nearest REI store to fill in the gaps.
An open sky half-domed tent, two self-inflating sleeping pads, and one tiny state-of-the-art stove later, we were ready to reconnect with outdoor living in nearby mountain campground terrain.
September was late to get started. We hoped the fire ban, in place since July, would be lifted but instead it was extended for good reason. It’s almost obligatory to come home from camping and smell like campfire smoke. Not this season.
We scoped out sites in advance because reservations are mandatory. To “walk in” means setting up a tent next to the bathrooms. Our choice was a good one. We had neighbors to the right and left, but lodge pole pine forest behind.
Forgetting a few things prompted the start of a “next time” list. The night passed peacefully for husband who slept right through while I lay awake with a maddening bout of insomnia. Hours spent listening to night sounds–the tent-side scratching and rustling of small rodents. Later, there was a loud and persistent snuffling noise just north of sleeping man’s head. I chose to let him slumber on as I flipped over and over in my sleeping bag in hopes of urging away nocturnal critters, imagined or not.
In the morning, the aluminum coffee percolator worked like a charm.
A month later, we tried out new territory in the Arapahoe/Roosevelt National Forest. Within the forest is a huge expanse of land originally owned and used by Hewlett-Packard for employee recreation and leadership retreats. It has since become public space with large, natural, private campsites.
The mid-October day of our reservation began with cold rain, then sleet, and finally horizontal blowing snow. We watched and waited. Hours later, as often happens in Colorado, the sun was shining. Deciding that our tent and sleeping bags could withstand forecast colder temperatures and high winds, we headed out.
Campsite #38 in Hermit Park is isolated and beautiful. Late autumn golden-leafed aspens, craggy rocks, boulders, and pine trees surrounded the tent. Metal stakes and rocks kept things battened down as the predicted wind picked up with attention getting gusts. Yet again, we were underprepared. This time–no warm gloves, no insulated footwear, no heavy coats. Temperatures dipped even before darkness fell.



Only 25-minutes from home, I volunteered to collect missing gear so we could see the night through. Upon return, husband was stamping in circles to keep warm. It was time to open the wine and get the stove fired up. Hands and feet were toasty and battery lanterns lit up the dusk as night settled in, even without a campfire.
Homemade chili heated in vintage cast iron warmed our insides. Finally, with the wind blowing in breathtaking gusts, an empty wine bottle, and total darkness, we looked at each other and laughed. The tent was an easy invitation to turn in.
All night the wind moaned, circled and doubled back relentlessly. But we were snug as bugs. This time, the only outside noises were buffeting tent flaps noted briefly before turning over and settling back to sleep under layers of cozy warmth.
Husband was up at early light to get the coffee started. It was a feat of expertise to keep the stove lit and protected from the high wind. But he did. Emerging from the tent, I took a photo of the moon above the trees.
We cheered when the pot finally began percolating. Coffee was steaming and strong. Continental breakfast, camp style, was s’mores bars dipped in tin mugs. [recipe: Guest Ready Sweetness]
We could have stayed home. We could have sat by an indoor fire in a heated cabin with candles on the coffee table. But a pandemic with ongoing caution to remain hunkered down and distant from others invited us into the wilderness.
So we found ourselves pitching a tent, in a remote campsite, in inclement weather, inside a slice of time with no past or future, only the present. A late autumn afternoon turned into evening, and then a new day.
We chose to go deeper into the mountains and sleep on the ground with high winds as our companion. And while there, we let go and breathed deeply in the midst of life’s uncertainty.
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows through trees. The wind will blow freshness into you, and cares will drop away like leaves of Autumn. –John Muir
I think I have seen Mark doing that stomping a circle in the cold dance early mornings in Oberursel!
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time! Enjoy!
LikeLike
Amazing to see your name in comments, Valentina. Think of you often. Wondering where you are these days and how you are faring…
LikeLike
Wonderful story of a HIGHLANDS COUPLE doing the Highlands thing and living close to the wilderness. Keep it up!!
LikeLike
Yup. And Mark cooks better camping meals now than when he was wooing me with “Schlunk” [you don’t want to know] on the beach of Lake Superior many moons ago.
LikeLike
You make me so homesick for my mountains.
Beautiful photos. Especially this last one. Brought tears to my eyes.
LikeLike
Make your way back home, Sherry.
LikeLike
You are inspiring and making the best out of a sad situation. Beautiful adventure. Well done.
LikeLike
ok, officially jealous – per usual, you guys are such inspiration! I loved the John Muir quote and photo at the end. Keep Colorado life coming! xo Sally
LikeLike
Beautiful! Cold but fun!!!
LikeLike
Truly getting away from it all… Good times like these can be repeated time and again. So glad you discovered Hermit Park. Describing a perfect (almost) camping time lets those of us less adventuresome folks enjoy it as well.
LikeLike
Thanks for your timely recommendation of the campground!
LikeLike
Great post, Wendy! We moved on from tents years ago, but getting away to the outdoors is a regular need. We just returned from three days at Martin Dies State Park in the east Texas piney woods, where it is finally fall. Lots of color, but fortunately no snow!
LikeLike
Wish I knew who this comment came from. Thanks for reading and checking in.
LikeLike
Loved this one–and so well-written, as usual. Hello to you and Mark, from France!
LikeLike
Love knowing that you still check in with the blog. Missing Paris, because who wouldn’t?
LikeLike
Such a perfect camping story!! Reminds me of our camping trip in Taiwan and read-a-louds from Mark Twain and chocolate muffins from Costco for breakfast.
LikeLike
And sitting in the door of our tents doing all of those things while the rain poured down. Soggy fun. Those were the days.
LikeLike