Almost Heaven

 

Pleasantly cool temperatures, fresh air saturated with the smell of pine, and fish that seem anxious to jump onto any line you throw at them are just a few of the reasons we are drawn every year to the high Uintas for an annual camping trip with our family.  This year we settled in at Washington Lake, where campsites are paved and restrooms are provided.  It's a good fit for our family and our little 1996 Coleman tent trailer. Turns out that the four-day, three-night excursion was just the right way to wrap up the summer's activities.

 

Around Camp:



Gathering around a campfire is a perfect way to end each day.

This was the second year we managed to secure campsite #4.  We stayed there in 2006.  Last year, Grandpa Park was up the same time we were and had that campsite, so he let us come over to take a picture on the tree stump like we had done years earlier.  It is fun to look at the following photos and see just how much our children have grown (and how our family has changed) in six years:

Fishing:

Brevin decided to keep this fish, so he

 put on gloves so he could gut it himself.

Here is Spencer fishing at Crystal Lake which is a smaller,

secluded lake just above Washington Lake.

Jason handed his pole over to Garrett so he could help Brevin

with a fish on his line. Garrett reeled in Jason's line and

caught a fish while in the process.  No kidding!

I hope Ella never loses interest in fishing with her dad.

For the most part, Ella, Garrett and I sit

on the shore and watch all the fishing action.

Spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Park:

Steve and Judy made a point to be at Washington Lake for a few of the days

we were there.  We were so happy to have them as our camping "next-door

neighbors" as it made for some wonderful, quality bonding time with our children.

A Stop at Provo Upper Falls:

The Best Dang S'mores We've Ever Had (and I'm Not Even Exaggerating):

 

Making the Most of Our Last Day:

 

Ella and Garrett buried each other in the sand on the shore,

Brevin fished and kept cool at the same time,

and Spencer and Jason caught the last two fish of the trip at

the exact same time (and they both caught a tiger trout, too).

 

We hitched up our trailer, and pulled away from campsite #4, bringing home sand in our pockets, sunburns on our cheeks, and a whole handful of memories to last a lifetime.  Well, until next year!

 

This post authored by Amber