Jemez Mountains Road Trip ~ Fenton Lake

 

We were about to give up and just head down the road to find a place to set up our tents when the Fenton Lake State Park Ranger showed up to check the fee box and shut the gates to the park. We asked him if he knew where the Boy Scout Troop was camping and he directed us to a group site towards the back of the park and on a hill, up a dirt road pock marked with deep crevices and holes from previous wash-outs. After bumping our way up the road, we arrived at the top to find………………lights, tents, a cozy campfire and lots of people we recognized. Yay!

They had a bright gas lantern set up in the tent area and we brought two of our own battery operated lanterns, so we all went to work setting up our tents, both me and my kidlets and the Scout Leader and his Boy Scout son. I had brought our large tent for my daughter and I, and Dobbie, too, of course, to sleep in. And I brought our little yellow tent, that my husband and I started camping in together about 20 years ago. It has held up well and it was great to see the cheerful sunny tent getting some more use with my twinlings camping out in it. (In the photo you can see our big tent in the right foreground with the little yellow tent in the right background)

We had hoped to be arriving early enough to cook dinner when we got there, but by the time everything was set up, it was past 10 pm, so we munched on some donuts and drank some milk instead. It didn’t take us long to fall asleep.

And boy howdy! Was I grateful I had bought some new sleeping bags before the trip. The two old Coleman sleeping bags my twinlings we’re going to sleep in, we have owned for 20 years and are only cozy and warm down to about 40 degrees. (Thank goodness they dressed in layers and packed fleece blankets and hoodies!)

The new sleeping bags we just bought are rated down to 20 degrees…and a good thing, too! Fenton Lake is located at 8,000 ft elevation and the first night we spent at the campground, the temps got down to 30F degrees. Brrr!

I was also grateful I had brought my little dog, Dobbie, because she loves to snuggle under the covers and she spent the entire night keeping my feet, legs and back warm inside my sleeping bag. One of the Scout Leaders had brought his little dog, too, and I wonder if he benefited from some cozy canine heat at night, too.

And it was very difficult to wake up and crawl out of our sleeping bags on Saturday morning. It seemed everyone stayed in their tents until the sun was high enough to spread some of it’s warmth and melt the frost on our tents!

The Boy Scouts planned and organized their own meals for the trip and cooked them, too. So, I planned and cooked simple meals that my daughter and I were able to enjoy together all weekend.

For breakfast. (Yeah, that table was really catawampus!)

And lunch. (It was more comfortable cooking from the ground)

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After breakfast, the park ranger stopped by to let us know about the fun activities that were taking place that day because it was National Hunting and Fishing Day. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish teamed up with The National Wild Turkey Federation and Trout Unlimited to offer free clinics in archery, fly fishing, fly tying, bb gun shooting, and bird and wildlife viewing. They were also offering up a list of stations for kids to work their way through to be given the chance to enter to win some pretty cool prizes, like backpacks, fishing rods and tackle, fishing chairs, and other outdoor related stuff. And best of all, Saturday was free fishing day!

Both of my boys did some fishing, though the fish weren’t biting that day. I think someone told them it was free-fishing day.

Still it was fun watching all the people fishing, especially the folks who utilized some unique floating fishing gear to get out into the middle of the lake. Like this guy with his waders, boots, flippers and inflatable chair.

 

 

Dobbie thoroughly enjoyed watching the people and other dogs. I think she was on overload, considering how she spent the first two years of her life in a cage at a Puppy Mill Farm. She was wiped out exhausted by the end of the day. But she sure enjoyed sitting on my lap by the lake. (You can also see all the new growth beneath the charred remains of trees, caused by forest fires, on the mountains surrounding the lake.)

And Jen enjoyed playing in the water, catching minnows, and making friends with some of the Webelos and a few little girls who were fishing with their families, too.

While Jem spent almost the entire day relaxing by the lake fishing.

And his twinling, Jax worked his way through the outdoor stations for fun, and also hoping to win a great prize.

Jax did the archery (several times) with his scouting buddy.

And he hit a bear, pronghorn and a mountain lion. (This one’s for Kacy and her poor Wa mare and Pantz mare that were recently attacked by a mountain lion!)

And he practiced shooting the bb guns a few rounds, too.

He also did the Abandoned Mines are Dangerous station, and the Wild Turkey Education table, though I didn’t get any photos. But Jax tied a mean fly at the Fly Tying tables…..

……..in purple, his favorite color!

He and his friend also did the Fly Fishing Clinic but I was only able to take photos of some other folks and a cute little girl learning the techniques of fly fishing.

 

He also visited the Invertebrates table, but I only got photos of my daughter, who was thoroughly enjoyed scooping up the tiny aquatic creatures and was fascinated with viewing them through the microscope. I think we spent over 20 minutes just at that table alone.

When we got back to the other side of the lake we discovered that the famous New Mexico Cast Iron Ranger, Dan Brooks was there to serve up some delicious fried catfish, fries and lemonade!

There is just something so wonderful about enjoying a plate of catfish while you’re relaxing beside a beautiful lake. Mmmm!

Jen loved the catfish!

And so did Jem, who was excited to meet the New Mexico Cast Iron Ranger in person! (Yikes! When did my boys get so tall?!)

Check out this very cool video of Dan Brooks, the Cast Iron Ranger helping cook up some Javelina Breakfast Burritos in a farm disc, no less! (I love the gorgeous New Mexico scenery backdrop, too!)

 

And if that sampling whet your whistle for more tasty recipes, check out The New Mexico Game and Fish Videos for lots of cooking videos with The Cast Iron Ranger. How about Blue Corn Enchiladas? Venison Green Chile Stew? Bison Green Chile Wraps? Sheepherders Bread? Sourdough Blueberry Pancakes? Cowboy Calzone? Dutch Oven Oryx Green Chile Stew?  He even has great tips on how to smoke meat, cook trout, and take care of a dutch oven. There’s also a whole slew of great videos on all things outdoor related in New Mexico on that site. Check It Out!

After the catfish lunch, Jax and his friend came back from the half hour drawings excitedly showing off their prizes! They both won some very cool camo backpacks, heavy duty with lots of pockets and places to store all their Boy Scouting and outdoor gear!

And a little later it was time for some more lake fun, like kayaking and canoeing with the Boy Scout Troop!

Then later that evening, the State Park Rangers asked if our troop wanted to do a Service Project, which involved a 2 mile hike around the campground picking up trash. Of course the boy scouts said Yes!

So after a very full, busy day, the Boy Scouts came back to the campsite, built a fire, ate hot dogs, hamburgers, S’Mores and not long afterwards, called it a day!

My daughter and I were asleep by 9:30pm because we knew we had a very busy day planned for our drive home…….lots of sightseeing, exploring, hiking, Letterboxing and new adventures!

Where would the roads take us next?

(To Be Continued…………………………)