There once was an old cabin up on old Mt. Blalock...

I pulled Lexa out of school on Friday at 2:00 so we could head up for another weekend at the cabin! Sean and kids were supposed to go with us, but they had to delay their departure 'till Saturday morning, so Lexa and I decided to head up on our own.

We had a quick stop in Milton-Freewater to pick up some supplies: bacon, sausage, blueberries, and cookies (those were Lexa's idea). We started on the trail at the end-of-the road at 5:00pm. Apparently Saturday morning was the first day of hunting season, so we saw a number of trucks at the end of the road of people heading up for the weekend.

On our 2hr 20min hike in we were almost run over by motorcycles a number of times. And they all ended up being Widner's or Kelly's (neighbors). It was pitch black by the time we got to the cabin and we stopped by Widner's and the Kelly's were there too. Apparently they had shot a bear a few weeks earlier and Larry said he saw a cougar walk right through the front yard recently. So there is definitely wildlife up here on old Blalock!

We got to the cabin ready for dinner so Lexa started on one of her sticker books and I started on dinner. As you can see below we had "hot-dog-people" for dinner! A fun variation on a simple but yummy cabin food!



That night we watched part of the move "Up" but it was so late we called it a night about the time they meet Kevin and Dug.

The next morning we got up once the sun was up and had sausage, eggs, and blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Sean and the boys were supposed to get here sometime that morning but we had no idea when.

After breakfast was all cleaned up, Lexa had a great idea to do a scavenger hunt. So I was outside hiding the first few items when Sean, Jacob and James came hiking up the trail! Apparently they had a little bit of a late start, but hadn't had breakfast yet, so we put the scavenger hunt on hold to make Second Breakfast. This time we did Bacon and Blueberry pancakes. Sean wanted to have Smores and Bacon for breakfast but I already had the pancakes on... Sean helped clean up after breakfast and then we moved on to the scavenger hunt.

We had the kids stay inside while we went and hid various items around the cabin. After then we had them go out, and we came inside to watch. We all had radios (which are now at the cabin for people to use) and we directed them on the hunt. There were a few rules. They had to keep all the clues they found with them all the time (we did periodic clue checks), they only got one clue at a time, and if they ever needed help they only had 5 life-lines.

The first item was the "Three Wheeled Speeder", which they had to ride down to LeBron's Field (the basketball hoop). So they found the plastic 3-wheeled speeder and then the basketball. The next item was found in the sand at the game of the horse's feet. Well they all heard sand and headed for the sand box (on the other side of the cabin). Eventually Lexa remembered we said the horse's feet and figured we meant the horse-shoe pits so they found that clue which was a little sand shovel.  Lexa did great at figuring out our clues.  Below are the pics of everyone after the hunts were over and the rest of the clues were deciphered and the items were found.

Back: Silly Sean, Big D(addy) (Nolan). Front: JJ the Jet Plane (Jacob), Big Bacon Bambock (James) and Little Lexa

After that, the kids hid the items and led Sean and I on a Scavenger Hunt. When we placed all the items they were arranged so one led you to the next. When the kids did it we were going back, forth, up, and down the whole time! I think they were trying to get out of hiking Mt. Blalock... The best part was their last clue which led us to the "deer licking sanctuary" (aka the salt lick). And the kids were hiding in the bushes near it. It was pretty darn cute!

As a reward we all had a starburst, and yes we called it Columbia Energy Candy.  The interesting part was while James was eating his, he noticed something hard he was chewing on, and he'd lost a tooth!  Apparently the tooth fairy can't find the cabin anymore. I know she came once when I was a kid. Right after my dad asked me what the going rate for teeth was these days! ;)

After the scavenger hunt was completed we grabbed some snacks, filled up the water bottles and headed up old Mt. Blalock.  The hike was tough for the younger kids, but we all made it to first base camp!  Truthfully as long as they keep moving, I didn't mind going a little slower...

 Lexa found a praying mantis and is holding it on a stick.

Lexa and the Bambocks at First Base Camp

Sean practicing his Bear Sign at First Base Camp

Lexa's scenic photo from First Base Camp

One the hike we starting working on the Cabin Song.  We didn't get too many verses of it composed yet, but it goes to the tune of Gilligan's Island.

There once was an old Cabin up on old Mt. Blalock
It's where the Wright's go to play, and so do the Bambock(s)
And so do the Bambock(s)

We actually saw some wildlife or the evidence thereof on this hike.  When we were heading up the steep trail on Widner's side of the fence we saw some cougar poop, and the cougar looked it had a taste for furry creatures.  Then we saw some bear scat (maybe the same stuff as last time).  Then we hiked just a little past first base camp to another set of trees and Sean spotted a coyote running up from the bottom of the ravine over the next ridge.  On the way down Misty (the dog) took off into the brushes and scared up a 4 point buck!

Misty, the Bear, Deer, Snake, Rat and Trespasser Dog!

We made it back to the cabin, and it was time for lunch!  Sean had brought up a few packets of Shin Ramen.  It's the good spicy stuff that I learned to love on my mission in Korea.  We had that and sandwiches.  I think it is another thing to add to the list of stuff to bring up next summer to have a case of at the cabin.

Also that afternoon and Sean and I decided it was time to make another attempt to bring the fridge back to life. So went through the process of "burping" it.  Unfortunately we didn't seem to do it a lick of good. :(

Around that time Misty started barking, and we figured she was just barking at the rats in the sheds, but she kept at it and we went to see what was going on.  She found a couple trespassers wandering down the trail right in front of the cabin.  We were pretty surprised to see to guys just walking there. They had said they were trying to reach the summit of the mountain and ended up coming this way.  It was a plausible story, but it was still a little creepy to know people are just wandering around up here.  We directed them back to the trail, and that night I slept with the .357 Magnum under the pillow ;)

Before dinner we went on some motorcycle rides.  Lexa and I went to the Bear Creek trailhead, and saw that they were rebuilding the bridge across the creek!  It was brand spanking new wood, and it made me wonder how they got it up there with truck access closed...

That night Sean made some meat spaghetti for dinner, and then we had a nice campfire for S'mores.  As a kid I didn't concern myself too much about fire safety, but these last few times at the cabin, I've been pretty cautious and nervous about what the kids do with the fire.  I didn't think I'd ever institute the keep the fire in the fire rule, but maybe this is a sign I'm actually turning into a grown up...

As you can tell, they all love s'mores, especially Lexa

Sean looking ponderously into the fire

The next was the day to head out.  Sean and James got up hear to try and catch some fish for breakfast, but they came back empty handed.  We had another breakfast of blueberry pancakes, bacon, eggs and sausage. Then after that it was time to pack up, clean up winterize and head out.  It's a much faster process with a couple people working on it than by yourself.

Sean, Lexa, Jacob and James ready to head

Lexa, Nolan Jacob and James

 
We started the hike out and I was hoping we'd be able to beat our 2:20 time in.  Just outside of the cabin gate, Lexa started complaining about how heavy her pack was.  We'd taken EVERYTHING out, and the only thing she had in was an almost empty bag of chips!  Then she said how heavy her DVD player was.  Lexa, Sean has it in his pack, seriously, all you have is a nearly empty bag of chips!  The really funny part is when we got to the car she opened her back pack and was like "I didn't know you were serious when you said I had a bag of chips in my pack. I wondered what all the crunching was when I laid down on it at breaks." :)

Then she said he sweatshirt was too hot and that she was having hot flashes.  I said I thought only grandma has those, and she said, "No, Mom has them too".   So and so I told her to take it off and put it in her pack.  Well she didn't put anything underneath when she got dressed this morning... Some people's children! ;)  We eventually stopped and dug out her clothes so she could change.

Lexa and I made it home after a traditional stop at the Dairy of Queens, and I'm pretty sure the Bambock's made it back in time for their "Fun Run."

Here's a few more pics for your perusal:

Lexa modeling my new off-road helmet

She was always loved to help with the dishes

Jacob was really into videography

We saw these furry caterpillars everywhere

James looks refreshed

Sean on the backswing for skipping a rock at the 2nd ford

Lexa on the backswing as well...

Mid-September 2010

Another great cabin trip has come and gone. This one started on Friday the 17th after Lexa got out of school. Lexa (our 6 year old), Richard (my dad, subsequently referred to as Grandpa) headed to the end of the road. We recently purchased and "new" motorcycle, a 1996 Honda XR 200 that I rode in. After I got to the cabin I hopped on the orange Honda and rode back to get Lexa. I don't know if she could have walked in all the way in any reasonable amount of time. It was definitely a good thing I went and got her.

That night after dinner, we tried out the new solar powered compact florescent lighting we installed upstairs at the last cabin trip. It worked great! We were able to play ping-pong at night! Lexa, Grandpa and I had a record of 7 times over the net. If we'd gotten 8, Grandpa would have made breakfast the next day...

The next day started off with a breakfast of french toast w/ blueberries on top and sausage. Lexa loves "doing the dishes". At least the burnables. Then grandpa made us some hot chocolate because it was pretty cool that morning.


After breakfast Lexa and I went on a motorcycle ride to Bear Creek Trail. After we got back it was still pretty cool out and we started up Mt. Blalock.









I was very impressed at how well Lexa did going up the mountain. It took some encouraging, reminding her of the treat if she made it to 1st Base Camp, and in the end getting her to help grandpa up the last stretch of trail. But she was glad she made it!


We all touched the tree at 1st Base Camp before we broke out our granola bar treat. Grandpa tried to buy Lexa's off her for a dime, and she was tempted but when she said she'd do it for a quarter, grandpa didn't go for it...

Lexa wasn't up for much more than 1st Base Camp, but neither was I for that matter. But since I'd been that far already once this year we had to go at least a little further. There was a stand of 3 trees another 50' or so up the mountain so Lexa and I headed up. She went to the farthest tree up and therefore holds the record the year for our family on the highest point reached on Mt. Blalock. Below is a pic of her touching that tree.

On the way up once we got out of the forest there were a quite a few different wild flowers and we took a couple pics. In the first one Lexa is pointing to the deer she is sure she could see across the canyon.

Also on the trail we found a pile of bear scat. All I can say is it looked like that bear liked oatmeal...

Lexa was getting ready to take a picture across the valley from the highest point on the trail, but then the camera died so you all get use your imagination for what happened on the rest of the trip!

We headed back down to the cabin and grandpa made up his famous Cabin-Fried Potatoes and Onions. It was a great lunch! Then Lexa and I headed fishing and grandpa headed home. We went down by Ehart's cabin and Lexa caught a fish, but lost it when she was trying to land it. I had a couple bits on a grasshopper fly, but that was all the fish we saw the whole time we were out.

When we started heading back in, it started to rain. On our way back we decided to knock on the Widners door to see if anyone was around. They weren't, but when we were walking out back into the meadow, we found thousands of lady bugs coating plants and logs. It was crazy! After we got up to the cabin Lexa went and got her bug catchers and filled them up completely a couple times and let them go on a tree across from the basketball hoop.

After dinner the rain let up a bit and we made a fire in the fire pit. We had tons of marshmallows and smores. Lexa loved burning a stick and eating the mallows. Before we headed to bed we played some more ping-pong and then Lexa and I watched a movie down on the couch on her little portable DVD player. It was Barbie's Fashion Fairytale. I had no idea Barbie even had movies, until I had daughters that is...

The next morning we slept in a bit because of the late night watching the movie, and I made up some blueberry pancakes with the rest of the blueberries. It was raining pretty good at that point so we watched another movie (Enchanted) and then went on a short moto ride, shot BB guns, teater-tottered, and then started the lunch and clean-up and packing process. It took quite a while to get us packed and the cabin all ready for us to head out.

We finally hit the trail in the afternoon. It took about 2 hours to walk out. Lexa only got tired a couple times, but as a 6-yr old, she's very easily distracted. One thing that helped a lot was the pack of starbursts I brought on the trip. We called them Columbia Energy Candy (I work for Columbia Energy), and they were good motivators! We eventually made it out and we had our customary stop at the Milton-Freewater Dairy Queen and then drove Big Red home!

We are looking forward to the next trip in a couple weeks!

Nolans 33rd Birthday

It was getting dark when we started heading up

On Monday, the Bambocks (including Sean, Janet, James, Jacob and Justin) headed up to the cabin. The truck has awesome new hummer tires on them! We (the Wrights including Nolan, Steffenie, Lexa and Clara) met the Bambocks at the end of the road on Tuesday night. We were a little late but they were nice and waited for us :)

Wednesday morning we helped to load the truck with some wood from a tree that needed to be cut down. We bought a ton of little bug catchers at the dollar store and the kids had a blast running around the meadow catching creepie-crawlies. Nolan and Sean helped the kids fish and I (Steffenie) went fly fishing. Nolan joined me later. I caught a total of 9 fish that afternoon. 5 were keepers but the big one got away. Nolan caught a few fish and one keeper. Janet and Sean made us a great supper of sausages, sauted peppers and onions all on a bun. I got the grown ups to stay up until about 1 am talking!

Thursday we had a full day of motorcycle riding, archery shooting and fishing. Grandpa Wright (Richard) showed up in the morning. He had hiked in. There was also a basketball game. Everyone went in the river except for the little ones, Clara and Justin. It was my first time to go swimming in the south fork of the Walla Walla. It felt great after trying to fish for about 3 hours, or as I like to call it, a great work out of walking up a river. It was also Seans first time in all his cabin years! Nolan and Sean also worked on putting together a stand for the solar panels and placing them on the upstairs porch. Nolan drove the Bambocks out that night while grandpa took Lexa fishing. Grandpa made his famous potatoes and fish fry that night. Clara had had a giant fit while everyone was gone. She was trying to calm down but didnt want me to comfort her, she wanted grandpa. So he picked her up, held her and rocked her, and sang to her while I finished peeling the potatoes for him. It was very touching.

Clara playing with the dollar store binoculars

Nolan, Steffenie, Richard, Jacob and Sean going under!

Richard organizing the basketball game

It looks like Richard is pushing them in!

Bambocks heading home.

Friday I went fishing with Nolan again. Some more bike rides were had. Nolan went fishing with Lexa and she caught a 13 inch bull trout  and a 7 inch rainbow trout all on her own. Grandpa says she is a world class caster because she is so accurate and good. Nolan also has installed a tank-less propane hot water heater at the cabin. It has made doing the dishes a lot easier and we can take showers! The set up isn't perfect yet but a new shower head should fix most of that. Unfortunetely, I tried taking a shower when the water was running out and we had little water pressure. It would have been quite comical scene to see me holding the pin to keep the shower running with my toes and balancing to hold the shower head to wash my hair. Nolan went to get our friends and take Richard down. He took Lexa with him but didn't show up again until about 10 pm! It was pitch black and I was a little nervous. Turns out the VanDykes had a diaper blow-out and a tire blow-out and Molly's alternator belt shredded on the way. But they still made it! We picked up Molly and Katie Gutke, Mollys boyfriend Allan Neal, and the VanDykes minus Makayla. Karena had heard about the cabin for more years that we could count but had never been there before. She was very excited to meet Mrs Murphy.hehe. 

Saturday and Sunday were filled with the usual of fishing, swimming, motorcycle riding, bb gun shooting, real gun shooting and general play. While swimming Nolan lost his wedding ring!! The kids have had a great time on the play-set and we cleared out the sandbox and brought up pails and shovels. Molly tried to learn how to ride the motorcycle. She ended up with a burn on her leg that we later realized had the letters onda (from the word Honda) burned into her leg. Shayne and Karena made a great dinner of shredded pork sandwiches. Karena also made a birthday cake for Nolan because it was his 33rd birthday! We washed off the outdoor bar and all the kids ate their meals out there. The solar panels came with two lights that we moved around the cabin at night. It was great. Saturday night the adults played domino's and Scum. We were very tired and very funny at the time. Around noon on Sunday we packed up, cleaned up and headed out.   

We had a great time with all! We are planning future trips with all again as well!

The girls painted some nails (good way to cover the dirt!)