The Great Outdoors

The good thing about being home for the summer for the first time in three years was the great outdoors. I was able to do few things I hadn't been able to do for a while. When the time was right, I went with family and friends to pick Oregon's huckleberry, or in other words, Oregon's gold:



This resource is so precious when you find a good picking spot, you don't share it with others. You safely guard the spot with you life, and carefully preserve the berries.


When the berries (gold) were washed, we would place a layer on a cookie sheet to freeze. When the berries were frozen individually, then we would measure an undisclosed amount into freezer bags. This process would help the berries from freezing together into one glob.



The berries would then be rationed out seven at a time, to preserve the joy all year until the next season.

Also, this summer was the first time for me to go backpacking. It was a short trip only staying one night, but it was still fun.



I thought this was a good view. The sun was about to go down. We started the trip a in the evening because of work schedules, so by the time we actually got to camp it was pretty dark.


Here is our arrival into the valley we were looking for:


How many Mormons does it take to start a camp fire? The entire camp, but Grace and I will take the credit.


One last thing. What would a camping trip be without some kind of joke. At one point we were separated because we weren't sure which path to take. I went one way and the rest of the group went the other. Luckily the path converged back together, but I arrived first. So I hid in the trees waiting for their arrival. This is what happened next:

All in all it was a good summer. I was able to visit all my siblings at one point and relax.