Since we cancelled our Goblin Valley trip last year due to Covid we thought we would try again. Steve made all the arrangements which was very nice of him. He had camped there as a Boy Scout and absolutely loved it. We packed all our gear and headed to the desert. One of the most amazing things about homeschooling is we are able to go to places like Goblin Valley and be some of the only ones there because everyone else is working and in school.
We had a beautiful camp spot. It was tucked up against hoodoos which we explored our first night there.
Making spaghetti at home and heating it up is becoming a camping staple.
I gave my kids my phone and it was returned with the next four gems.
The next morning we hiked to Goblin's Lair and Goblette's Lair. It was a 3 mile hike that took us to the base of a towering mesa. It was actually once a slot canyon that rocks have mostly obscured. To get inside you hike up a steepish mountainside and into a crevice and down inside the cavern. I frequently wrestle with my adverse reaction to risk. I cannot count the number of people I have seen over the years who have suffered traumatic physical injuries because of outdoor recreation. But sometimes you have to set your fear aside and climb up that dad gum mountain. Once inside it was pretty cool. Literally and figuratively.
Tracking a lizard.
We came back and slept because even at the end of May the temperatures were soaring. I do not know how people go tent camping in the desert in the dead of summer. It is dangerously hot. After temperatures had cooled somewhat we headed back over that evening to explore the goblins. We spent a few hours walking, climbing, playing hide and seek until a powerful wind storm ripped through the hoodoos. We made our way back to the car with our heads down and eyes nearly closed to protect them from the windblown grit.
As we neared our campsite we looked for our tent but could not immediately identify it. We could see a red cloth flapping on the ground and it slowly dawned on us that the wind had blown down our tent. We could feel neighboring campers watching us as we slowly walked to our tent and surveyed the damage. Several of them approached and told us about a half hour earlier a micro burst had ripped through the campsite, damaged many of the sites, and several campers were leaving. One awning on a RV was damaged so badly they could not get it to retract. One camper reported pots and plans flying all over their campsite. Apparently it was scary and rattled many campers.
As we tried to reassemble our tent we learned one of the main poles had broken. That was a low point.
Two campers in particular came to our aid. As I stood dejectedly looking at what was once our beautiful tent, one lady came up to us and said they were returning home and planned to purchase another tent so if we wanted it, we could have their four person tent. After talking to Steve and the kids we decided to gratefully accept their offer.
Another camper, a gentleman from the Carolinas, offered to help us move our stuff to the new campsite. After spending about an hour with Steve he offered us the use of his two-man tent for the night. We again gratefully accepted. Steve told him we were new to camping and he asked me what we plan to do after this fiasco. I told him we were going to keep camping. And he said, "the tent is yours as long as you promise to continue taking your children on adventures".
During Covid I have kept everyone at arms length and cocooned with my family. I have been feeling like every person and certainly every stranger in the world was a danger to me and mine. As time has gone on I have felt like we are completely fine on our own and don't need anyone else.My paradigm shifted as the individuals who offered assistance
were very obviously living differently than us. It would have
been so easy for them to make assumptions; perhaps assuming we may judge them based on
their life choices. Or perhaps they judged us but helped anyway. I had forgotten what it felt like to
interact with selfless strangers. That was a powerful reminder to Steve and I of who we want
to be. Thank you to those who reminded us there is good in the world.
So we stayed the night. Worst night ever by the way. I can sleep through anything. Steve cannot. The wind howled for 10 straight hours. We cut our trip short and left early the next morning. Fact: not our best camping trip and I never want to return to Goblin Valley but Steve and the kids had fun and that is why we do this: for the kids to learn valuable life lessons and maybe for Steve and I to remember those same valuable lessons we learned once upon a time.
Blowing off blistering hot marshmallows.
Steve breaking camp.
Sheer exhaustion.
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