Camping at Katie's Meadow

We had a wonderful time except for the arrival and departure it couldn't have been better.  Well we were of course "ironing out" some of the kinks in the new to us trailer.  I suppose I should start with a picture and explanation of the arrival part.  As we approached the snow drift across the road we were on the short side. Bill's decision had to be split second as to brake hard or step on the gas.  This was not an elbow on the knee-chin on fist thinking process.  Well obviously his decision was to barrel through, but instead we high centered and the deeper snow on the far side of the drift.  It was just the pick-up and not the trailer that was buried in the snow but that was enough - we were stuck!!

 

We were fortunate to have folks stop and help.  It was these people who said if we could get out there was a good camping spot just around the next curve.  Which is where we camped but we really got nowhere with these folks otherwise.  Lots of effort expended trying to get some traction for the tires. But it was the second set who stopped that really helped.  Keith from near Tuscon said we MUST get the snow out from under (pretty plain really) but of all things not one of us had a shovel.  We have NEVER gone camping without a shovel before.  So, Keith drove Bill back to Rigeway where Bill bought 2 shovels.  Without those shovels there was no way we could get the snow from under the pick-up.  It was short work after that and soon they had pulled the whole kitten caboodle backwards by hooking on the the trailer.  Then Bill was able to drive through on the down side and we managed to get our camp set up:

Yes, that is a snow drift to the left of the trailer.  And there was another one just on the other end of the trailer.  The dogs, particularly Patches loved the snow. 

 Camp is set up and Patches simply enjoying the ambiance.

This is the view of Steely Mtn. from the fire pit.  Beautiful sunrises and sunsets on these formations.

 We really are at Katie's Meadow from the old John Wayne movie - True Grit. 

And here is a distant view of our campsite from across the meadow. That is the screen room close to the fire pit with the trailer barely visible in the trees behind.

 This was the first camping trip for our white pigeon, Princess

Roxie and Princess from in the screen room.

The final setting for the trailer.  This time with the door and awning facing the fire and the meadow.  At first Bill had backed it in, as it seemed the only thing we could do at the time.  But this was better.

 Sunday evening it began to rain

 Then turned to snow and this is what we found in the morning.  The awning was overloaded with snow and see below the screen tent fared even worse:

We did finally manage to pack up and leave (Bill's decision) and the road had been graded by that time when they opened Owl Creek Pass.

That drift continued across the road and some other folks got stuck in it and had to be pulled out by a tow truck.  It was this drift and all the way to Silver Jack Reservoir that the grader was clearing on Monday morning. 

So the soggy based muddy surface of the road down the hill was awful especially on this curve which is banked wrong.  At any rate, the trailer slid in the muck as we rounded and came precariously close to the edge, even pulling the pickup to the side.  No choice.  Had to call in a wrecker (via 911 as I could reach none on my cell).

 From the rear - obviously

From the front - obviously

 As they started; you can see the slide side of the trailer -

And now they through many steps of winching it side ways 2 feet, you can see the door side of the trailer.  Back on somewhat solid footing.  

Princess spent a lot of her time on the light bar of the police vehicle.  Silly bird!

And safe but poorer we're home again.  Happily so as it would have been so easy for the trailer to have gone over and probably even pull the pick-up with it.