Backpacking

Here are a few pics from our backpacking trip last weekend. We went to West Clear Creek which is near Camp Verde. We arrived at about 8:30 pm so it was dark when we hiked in. If we've been there before and the hike isn't too hard we like hiking in at night. We attach glow sticks to our backpacks and wear our headlamps for light and off we go!

We have really enjoyed backpacking the last couple of years. It's fun to camp where there are little or no other people and to feel like you are alone with nature is awesome! I enjoy knowing that we carry everything we need for the weekend: food, clothes, tent, sleeping bag, and cooking supplies in, on our backs.

A few months ago Del made each of us an awesome little camp stove out of a soda pop can. They only weigh a few ounces, and for those of you who backpack know, shaving a few ounces here and there can really add up to a much lighter backpack. Anyways, they use denatured alcohol as fuel and we finally got to "field" test them. They worked great! We only used them to heat water for our hot cocoa, but they did a good job! When the boys tested them at home they also cooked hot dogs with them and they turned out yummy! The one problem with them is that they only hold an ounce or two of fuel at a time, and so only burn for about 10 minutes. When the flame burns out you have to refuel and light them. They're not very practical for cooking something that takes awhile, but work great for our backpacking needs.

I hope you all have a great day. :) This smiley face comes to you because the General Presidency of the Young Women want all the girls to do three things each day which are: to have personal prayer morning and night, read the scriptures just five minutes a day, and to smile. So go out there and smile and make someone feel good. Monica xoxo