Forests of green and brown pine streamed by as the search continued. And as gravel and dust billowed behind the cars, we ascended the mountain for a few miles until we found what we were looking for. A large dispersed campsite with a fire ring of rocks manifest itself just over a hilly pass. My family and I parked our cars and began exploring the area. The largest of campsites sat nearer the road, but hidden along a game trail, through a thicket of pine, sat a beautiful private site hidden from view of the other tents. It had its own fire pit and a space just large enough for my tent.
The woods were alive with activity… The birds were chirping their wondrous singsong. The chipmunks were chasing each other, and squeaking when we came near, no doubt unhappy with our presence. And the winds streamed through the trees, causing the tallest to creek and sway ominously. The smell of pine, wildflower and earthy decay filled my nostrils and I breathed easier than I have in a long time.
“The fresh air agrees with me,” I said.
“As does the mountain life,” my beloved said in reply. She moved in close and kissed me. As she pulled away with a smile, she said, “My mountain man.”
“Can you imagine me living out here for years? I’ll be all savage and untamed. Rockin’ a huge, impressive beard… And like, be all haggard and wild, and livin’ off the land.”
She smiled with her eyes. “I think it suits you.”
“The fresh air agrees with me,” I said.
“As does the mountain life,” my beloved said in reply. She moved in close and kissed me. As she pulled away with a smile, she said, “My mountain man.”
“Can you imagine me living out here for years? I’ll be all savage and untamed. Rockin’ a huge, impressive beard… And like, be all haggard and wild, and livin’ off the land.”
She smiled with her eyes. “I think it suits you.”
We worked together, spending the first hour perfecting our Napier tent setup, and as it was our first go at setting it up, the rest of the family was growing anxious as they waited. A few of the more rugged uncles split from the group and went off into the woods, following a vague and overgrown path. They returned just as we finished up, claiming they found something amazing.
We followed the others along the path until it thinned. A patch of fallen pine, covered in moss and mushrooms greeted us as the entrance to a private natural meadow revealed itself. Thick with knee high bushes and tall grass and wildflowers, the meadow was impenetrable in the middle, but easily maneuverable along its forest edge. We each followed the leader, tramping slowly and carefully through the brush, until an uncle halted at the head of the pack. He waved, and we stopped. He pulled a pair of binoculars out of his pack and scanned far off into the distance. He passed the binos and pointed as each family member spotted a lone elk grazing.
We perched ourselves atop a small hill overlooking the meadow, and we simply sat and watched for a time, hoping to spot some more wildlife. But nothing came. The swish of wind through the grass and the droning of bees and insects met our ears, but little else revealed itself to us. We all decided to venture back, but instead of taking the route we came, one of the uncles guided us along a game trail, which opened along a shallow creek. The rushing current bubbled and crashed along the rocks with a most soothing sound. And even though the trials of civilization had brought my stress level to a boiling point during previous days, here and now, in this moment, I am free from it all.
We followed the others along the path until it thinned. A patch of fallen pine, covered in moss and mushrooms greeted us as the entrance to a private natural meadow revealed itself. Thick with knee high bushes and tall grass and wildflowers, the meadow was impenetrable in the middle, but easily maneuverable along its forest edge. We each followed the leader, tramping slowly and carefully through the brush, until an uncle halted at the head of the pack. He waved, and we stopped. He pulled a pair of binoculars out of his pack and scanned far off into the distance. He passed the binos and pointed as each family member spotted a lone elk grazing.
We perched ourselves atop a small hill overlooking the meadow, and we simply sat and watched for a time, hoping to spot some more wildlife. But nothing came. The swish of wind through the grass and the droning of bees and insects met our ears, but little else revealed itself to us. We all decided to venture back, but instead of taking the route we came, one of the uncles guided us along a game trail, which opened along a shallow creek. The rushing current bubbled and crashed along the rocks with a most soothing sound. And even though the trials of civilization had brought my stress level to a boiling point during previous days, here and now, in this moment, I am free from it all.
Back at the campsite, I gathered wood for the fire while others busied themselves with dinner prep. The sun kept be company as I ventured farther from the others. It began to set with a bright golden light and as the minutes passed, the sun began to disappear between the trees and beyond the horizon with a most stunning array of color. From yellow to orange, and red to pink, and purple to blue, the sun gifted us with a brilliant display of beauty. The birds disappeared as the final minutes of day cast themselves into night. And the forest went still and quiet, and a peace came over all of us.
The family gathered around the fire and we roasted brauts and hot dogs for dinner, with sides of mac and cheese and fresh corn for dinner. After eating, a more talented member of the family lead a sing-a-long with a guitar and harmonica. And for hours, we sang 60s and 70s classics from the Beatles, Neil Young, John Denver, and countless others. We told stories and joked until the night was black and the stars were bright. I stared up for what seemed like hours, contemplating our existence until sleepiness came over me, causing the cosmos to dance and glitter overhead.
The family gathered around the fire and we roasted brauts and hot dogs for dinner, with sides of mac and cheese and fresh corn for dinner. After eating, a more talented member of the family lead a sing-a-long with a guitar and harmonica. And for hours, we sang 60s and 70s classics from the Beatles, Neil Young, John Denver, and countless others. We told stories and joked until the night was black and the stars were bright. I stared up for what seemed like hours, contemplating our existence until sleepiness came over me, causing the cosmos to dance and glitter overhead.
I stumbled back to the tent with an arm around my beloved, and soon we were fast asleep. It was the first night in our new Sportz SUV Tent Model #84000 by Napier, and maybe it was because of the amount of space differential compared to our last tent, a small backpacker tent, or because I was whipped, but I was able to stretch out and sleep like a baby.
I awoke with the soft light of the sun and the singing of birds. Moving from the large sleeping area, I quietly made my way into the next room of the tent. It was an open room without a floor and walls of mesh fabric, no different than an enclosed porch. It appeared that I was the first to wake from our camping party, and so I let the day gently nudge me awake as I watched the birds and the trees for sometime, until I heard graceful footsteps over brittle branches and pinecones. I froze and my heart doubled in time as I stared at a dark form approaching about ten feet from where I sat.
A female moose came into the light streaming through the trees. I stared at her, unsure of what to do. I didn’t so much as fear an attack, as I feared startling such a beautiful creature. Standing what I guessed to be seven or eight feet high, the moose was a sight for sore eyes. I had never seen a moose but for photographs, or films, or the zoo, and there it was; mere feet from me. She walked forward, glancing here and there, and sniffing the air. Her ears perked with every staggered breath I eased into my lungs. Gently, I inched my phone from my pocket and snapped one photo before she skipped off into the woods.
Afterwards, with my heart racing, I showed the family to their disbelief, and even though we spent the rest of the morning watching for wildlife in our own private meadow, I was the only one to see such a beautiful creature so up-close and personal.
If you would like to find out more about Napier’s tents, visit www.napieroutdoor.com
Article written & Photos by © Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
I awoke with the soft light of the sun and the singing of birds. Moving from the large sleeping area, I quietly made my way into the next room of the tent. It was an open room without a floor and walls of mesh fabric, no different than an enclosed porch. It appeared that I was the first to wake from our camping party, and so I let the day gently nudge me awake as I watched the birds and the trees for sometime, until I heard graceful footsteps over brittle branches and pinecones. I froze and my heart doubled in time as I stared at a dark form approaching about ten feet from where I sat.
A female moose came into the light streaming through the trees. I stared at her, unsure of what to do. I didn’t so much as fear an attack, as I feared startling such a beautiful creature. Standing what I guessed to be seven or eight feet high, the moose was a sight for sore eyes. I had never seen a moose but for photographs, or films, or the zoo, and there it was; mere feet from me. She walked forward, glancing here and there, and sniffing the air. Her ears perked with every staggered breath I eased into my lungs. Gently, I inched my phone from my pocket and snapped one photo before she skipped off into the woods.
Afterwards, with my heart racing, I showed the family to their disbelief, and even though we spent the rest of the morning watching for wildlife in our own private meadow, I was the only one to see such a beautiful creature so up-close and personal.
If you would like to find out more about Napier’s tents, visit www.napieroutdoor.com
Article written & Photos by © Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
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