Chapter 3
Exploring the Mountain
A Slow Morning Is a Good Morning
One of the things we love most about camping is that the clock suddenly stops mattering.
There’s no alarm to beat.
No commute.
No long to-do list waiting for us.
Just coffee, fresh mountain air, and nowhere we absolutely have to be.
Well…almost.
Our campsite happened to be directly across from the campground office, which also served as the unofficial morning gathering place. Before long, the peaceful sounds of the forest were joined by RZRs, side-by-sides, friendly conversations, and campers getting an early start on the day.
It wasn’t long before we had our coffee, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, and stepped outside to greet another beautiful day in the mountains.
Dan and Nancy’s First RZR Adventure
One of the things we were most excited about was introducing Dan and Nancy to Burro Mountain from the seat of our RZR.
It was their first time on the mountain—and their first ride in a side-by-side.
We decided to keep the ride short and stay fairly close to camp. Since we hadn’t packed tools, venturing too far into the backcountry didn’t seem like the smartest idea.
Even a short ride was enough to show them why we love this place.
Towering pines.
Rolling mountain trails.
Wide-open meadows.
Deer quietly grazing in the distance.
Cattle wandering freely across the roads as if they owned the mountain.
Which, honestly…
They probably do.
With our headset communication system, we were able to point out wildlife, share a little history about the area, and laugh together as we explored.
By the time we returned to camp, it was obvious.
Dan and Nancy understood why we’d been so excited to bring them here.
Lunch, Laughter & Mountain Showers
Back at camp, Dan fired up the grill and invited everyone over for hot dogs.
One thing was becoming very clear.
Nobody was going to go hungry on this trip.
As we gathered around the picnic table, dark clouds once again rolled over the mountains.
Within minutes, rain was falling steadily.
Fortunately, the wind was blowing just enough that the rain passed beyond the edge of the awning instead of underneath it.
We stayed exactly where we were.
Dry.
Comfortable.
Talking.
Laughing.
There’s something special about sitting outside during a mountain rainstorm when you’re just sheltered enough to enjoy it without getting soaked.
Those are the moments that make camping so relaxing.
Tracey vs. The Tarp
Eventually, Tracey glanced toward our campsite.
“I’d better cover the RZR.”
He casually jogged back toward the motorhome.
What happened next probably provided plenty of entertainment for anyone watching from their campsite.
You see…
Putting the tarp over the RZR is normally a two-person job.
Unfortunately, Tracey remembered that little detail about halfway through the process.
Every time he pulled one side of the tarp over the RZR…
The wind blew the other side right back off.
He’d fix the back.
The front would fall.
He’d fix the front.
The back would blow away.
The mountain breeze seemed determined to win.
After several unsuccessful attempts—and with the rain now coming down much harder—he finally changed strategies.
Instead of fighting the wind…
He used it.
Standing on the opposite side of the RZR, he tossed the tarp high into the air and let the wind carry it perfectly across the roof.
Success.
At last.
By the time he finished securing the bungee cords, he was completely soaked.
His shirt clung to him.
His shoes squished with every step.
And I’m fairly certain more than one camper had been quietly enjoying the free entertainment.
When he finally returned to Dan and Nancy’s trailer, I looked up and asked,
“What took you so long?”
He just smiled.
“You don’t even want to know.”
Actually…
I kind of did.
The Perfect Excuse for a Nap
As quickly as it arrived, the rain moved on.
The cool mountain breeze lingered, leaving behind one of those perfect camping afternoons.
Windows open.
Fresh air drifting through the motorhome.
No schedule.
No obligations.
It felt like the ideal excuse for an afternoon nap.
Funny, isn’t it?
At home, most of us convince ourselves we’re too busy to rest.
On vacation…
A nap somehow feels completely acceptable.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons camping is so good for the soul.
It gives us permission to slow down.
A Movie Instead of the Movies
Originally, we’d planned to attend a movie night at the campground lodge.
By the time dinner was over, however, we’d completely lost track of time.
The movie had already started.
Rather than calling it a night, someone came up with a better idea.
Scott happened to have the movie 13 Hours with him.
Within minutes, DVD players were being unplugged, carried across campsites, connected to another television, and transformed into our own private theater.
That’s another thing I love about campers.
Someone always has a solution.
The six of us settled in together to watch the movie, and while it was incredibly well done, it wasn’t exactly easy to watch.
Like Black Hawk Down, it served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many men and women in uniform.
I found myself occasionally glancing over at Tracey.
Given his military service alongside the Marines, I quietly wondered if parts of the movie might bring back difficult memories.
When I asked later if he was okay, he simply smiled and nodded.
“I’m good.”
Sometimes…
That’s all that needs to be said.
As we headed back to our own motorhome that evening, I realized something.
We hadn’t done anything extraordinary that day.
We’d gone for a ride.
Shared lunch with friends.
Watched it rain.
Taken a nap.
Watched a movie.
Yet somehow it had been one of those wonderfully simple days that reminds you why camping is so special.
At Burro Mountain, the best memories rarely come from a packed itinerary.
They come from simply enjoying wherever the day happens to lead.