A Facebook post today took me back 20+ years ago to a camping trip MFH (My Favorite Husband) and I took to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). This was the first time we took the kids with us. We had tons of fun!
The FB post that brought back the memory read: “Sometimes on cold sucky runs, you see a beaver working on his dam, and it’s just so cool. Plus I’ll take any opportunity to stop during a run ! No pictures didn’t have my Phone, but have always wanted to see these guys building, they are amazing!”
It wasn’t the cold run that brought back the memory, it was the beavers.
#1 Daughter and #1 Son were pretty little when we introduced them to the joys of camping. To be honest, this was the only way we could afford a vacation! We borrowed the In-Laws pop up camper and towed it with our old Ford Aerostar mini van. The kids would share a 2 person dome tent and MFH and I slept in the pop up. It was a perfect arrangement when the kids were small.
The trip to RMNP was fun. It was early summer so the weather was nice. The Park had introduced its Jr. Ranger program so both of the kids were busy earning their status as a Jr. Ranger.
They were intrigued by the Beavers.
There are many places in the Rockies to view beavers. They’re funny little rodents. #1 Son, especially, was completely enthralled by them. He quickly became an expert on all things pertaining to beavers.
We saw beaver lodges~some active, some abandoned. We saw beavers swimming and building. When they say “Busy beaver’ they aren’t kidding!
Then one day #1 Son learned that the Beaver’s favorite “snack” was Aspen trees.
We went on a family hike and passed a grove of Aspen trees. All of a sudden, #1 Son darted off the trail up to an Aspen.
We called him to come back to the trail. He replied, “Look! I’m a Beaver!” and promptly tried to take a bite out of an Aspen tree.
The next thing we knew, he was spitting and saying things like, “Yuck! Gross!!!”
Finally he said, “Aspen trees taste awful! I don’t want to be a Beaver anymore!!!”
We laughed ourselves silly!!!
To the best of my knowledge, he’s never tried to eat an Aspen ever again.
What a fun memory!
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