Boys Go Camping

Brian has planned to take Austin camping for months, just the two of them. It's really hard during soccer and baseball season... Then summer is always jam-packed. Well, October 9 there was no soccer. It was also late in the camping season, so Brian couldn't make reservations at the Lodgepole campground in Sequoia National Park.

When the boys arrived Friday night (Oct. 8), the campground was full! So he and Austin ended up staying at a hotel in Visalia that night. The next day they headed back to Sequoia, and there was a campsite available. They got to spend 2 days and 1 night there. Here is Austin beside the tent site.


They hiked to Tokopah Falls. Brian saw 3 bears on this camping trip, and Austin saw 2 of them. They also saw two deer.


Austin spend much of his free time at their campsite searching for rocks to build a fort, and then building it. He loved playing with the rocks.

Brian gave him this head lamp for his birthday. Worked great for being out in the dark, camping!

Austin with his rock wall/fort.

Sunday they went to the Giant Forest, on the Sherman Tree Trail.

Austin used his walking stick as they hiked around the park. :)

They also toured Crystal Cave on Sunday. There are lights in the caves, but something was wrong with the electrical system, so the guides gave everyone flashlights to use. Austin (and the other kids on the tour) loved that!!

A cave formation--see Austin's flashlight beam highlighting it?

They enjoyed spending time together. It was a good weekend.