Daketown State Forest

Posted on 12 Sep 2021 by Steve Markham

Last Winter James sent me two recommendations for backpacking trips for short legs. Last night Lewis and I tried out the first one, Daketown State Forest. Lewis gave it 5 stars, 5 thumbs up.

Lewis is my backpacking padawan
Lewis is my backpacking padawan

Since a couple of days ago, Lewis has been planning the first day of soccer: 3 hours of soccer games in the morning (Camille, Adele, and Lewis each play at different times), then Five Guys for lunch, then camping. Things went pretty much according to plan, except Adele wanted to have a tea party and wear her fancy dress, and Lewis didn’t want to miss the (chocoloate chip scones at the) tea party, so there was a gap between burgers and backpacking.

Google got us close enough to the trailhead for me to find it. The trail was terrible, but there was easy bushwhacking 20 yards to the side, and the hike went quickly once we moved over.

Lewis built the fire and named it Chomper, since it eats wood
Lewis built the fire and named it Chomper, since it eats wood
Lewis was very chatty on the drive, on the hike, and all evening at the campsite. That boy is hilarious.
We swung in his hammock and chatted, then he would get up to add fire to Chomper and come back
We swung in his hammock and chatted, then he would get up to add fire to Chomper and come back
In the morning, before dawn, Lewis told me his body was done sleeping. We chatted until it was light enough to not need a headlamp. By the time the pancakes were done cooking, it was light!
In the morning, before dawn, Lewis told me his body was done sleeping. We chatted until it was light enough to not need a headlamp. By the time the pancakes were done cooking, it was light!
After breakfast we explored 'Mushroom Island' some more
After breakfast we explored 'Mushroom Island' some more
I don't remember what Lewis was telling me about, but he was telling me about something non-stop
I don't remember what Lewis was telling me about, but he was telling me about something non-stop
The mushrooms almost looked like our pancake breakfast, except I only burned the first two that badly.
The mushrooms almost looked like our pancake breakfast, except I only burned the first two that badly.

We hiked out even faster, since we didn’t waste any time on bad trails, and were home by 9am. I can’t wait to go back, and neither can Lewis!

Tagged with: family outdoors

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