Lorien's 4th year at girls camp...or her 3rd...

Because we had Lorien skip a grade she also skipped a year of girls camp.  Will had to pack and prepare Lorien for her trip while I was away in NYC too.  Lorien did call me a couple of times panicked because she couldn't find one thing or another.  She needed to be packed for two days of regular girls camp and three days of an over night, back country hiking trip.  It was a lot of work.  I am so proud of Will for taking both Lorien and Wyatt's camp packing on!  He did a great job and the kids had a blast.  

Lorien left for camp before I came home from NYC.  I got home late Monday night.  Will and I got to see each other for a few hours.  He left to head up to Lorien's camp the next morning (early in the morning).  He was one of the male chaperones for Lorien's level 4 hike.  So, he had to pack two kids and himself!  Crazy...crazy awesome.  

I should get Lorien and Will to write up this part of the blog.  I am not going to be able to do the hike justice.  But if I wait any longer nothing will get posted so I'll do my best.  

The first cool thing was that because of the rain we got this winter there was snow up on the hike for the first time in years.  The only problem was that the usual route the girls took for the level 4 hike had not been taken yet this year.  The organizers were not confident that the girls could make the trip with the trails being unchecked.  The organizers had planned a simpler hike, more of an easy there-and-back.  This was only disappointing because in the original hike the girls get to hike back into the main part of girls camp.  They are cheered into camp, bells are run, chants shouted out.  It is quite triumphant.  With the alternate route the girls would leave from cars and hike back to cars with no cool return to camp.  After much deliberation between the adults of the group Will and the other leaders were confident they could guide the girls through the original route and get them back to camp for a triumphant teturn.  So they headed off into the wilderness.  

The first stop was at a lake high in the mountains.  The girls and leaders all jumped off a 30 foot cliff into the freezing water.  

The hike was hard and unifying.  I hope Lorien wrote some of it down in her journal.  

Daddy daughter time.

Will was able to get lots of Daddy daughter time with Lorien.  She worked hard to help and encourage the girls on the hike.  Will gave a great devotional about standing on the shoulders of giants.  He also led a group of extra brave girls up an even higher slope for a fantastic view.

They found snow and bonded over the trial of a three day hike.  

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I don't remember most of the details (i am actually writing all of this a few months later...).  But I know it was amazing.  I know Lorien grew and learned.  I know Will was reminded of how much he loves backpacking.  It was a cool trip.  

The best part of the hike was their triumphant return into camp.  The other campers were not expecting 4th years to come back that way.  It was very awesome (so I am told).  

I am so proud of this girl!