The Outdoor Life Adventure Co.

Kickin It Old Style

We're setting up a campground. We think that others should have an opportunity to experience the beauty of the mountains, rivers, forests and wildlife we're surrounded by every day. We had grandiose ideas of creating an amazing place with all the amenities but in the end felt that would take away the feel of the wilderness setting we were trying to create (not to mention a lot of hard earned cash). So we have a plan, kiss (keep it simple stupid), and we're right on track.

A little something to cook over, a shelter to keep the rain off while eating, tables to sit at, fire pits, and the necessary pit toilets. Add in an amazing view, trails to explore, a ring side seat to an amazing array of wildlife, and a tour company (that's us) offering some most excellent tours that depart right out of the campground. Yes, we're kickin it old style and adding a little zing to go with it.

The Pied Piper

I sit and watch my children; they appear to be under a spell. They sit quietly, eyes open wide as they listen to a well-spun tale told by a man who captures their hearts with his playful manner and explosive gestures. Chris, who we met only a month ago, waved goodbye to, and waited anxiously for his return.

He entered our lives through a quick phone call seeking out a staging area for his climb up Mt. Sir Alexander. We were quite happy to accommodate him and after a short visit waved goodbye to him as he rolled out of our yard with his bike and trailer. He was to pedal from our place to a trailhead of his own making and head up for a summit attempt. He had food for 28 days and left his emergency contact information should he become overdue. We all waited while his car remained a constant reminder that he was out there somewhere with a deadline to meet.

Then as we returned from the river one day he was standing in the yard smiling and waving hello. The kids became ecstatic immediately and piled out of the truck with all sorts of questions for me initially and, as they warmed up to our guest again, many more for him. We spent dinner listening to and asking even more questions, and after the kids were treated to “show and tell” by Chris; crampons, ice climbing axes, mountaineering boots, emergency beacon, inflatable boat all to see and touch.

We are blessed to be some of the first to see his pictures, and even more fortunate to have him share with us.

 

It’s getting late and the kids still sit quietly, eyes glazed as they see pictures of bears, mountains, rivers, glaciers, and monster crevices flash by on the computer all the while Chris weaves them together in a grand tale. He is a skilled storyteller and mimicker of the sounds of rumbling and crashing of glaciers and rockslides, my kids are mesmerized.

I finally whisk the three of them off to bed and tuck them in as they continue their onslaught of new questions. “Mom can we climb mountains with Chris when we get older?” “Can we climb mountains as a family when we get older?” “ When will we be old enough?” I smile and say goodnight, knowing they would all dream of climbing mountains in their sleep.