I’ve never really been a “camper”, happy or otherwise. Maybe it was something to do with having grown up in a rural area with running water that was spotty at best, but the idea of carrying a whole load of stuff on my back to hang out in the woods has never really appealed. But 11 years in the city has softened me to the idea. So this past weekend, at the age of 32, I went camping for the first time.

We packed up all our stuff on Friday afternoon, hammocks, 4 days worth of food, the dog and sleeping bags, and hopped aboard a boat for the 45 minute ride to Say Nuth Khaw Yum (or Indian Arm). We arrived and set up in the dark.

But in the morning... this is what awaited us.

If there's anything better than swimming in a glacier-fed river first thing in the morning, I haven't found it. Apparently, neither has Lumsden.

We've had uncharacteristically hot weather this summer.  But from the vantage point of Norton Lake, you'd never know it. The swimming here was cool and refreshing, without making your limbs go numb.

 There's been an extreme risk of forest fires. But who needs the glow of licking flames when you have this?

As we said goodbye to the weekend, we had some new friends come out for a send off. 

After the three-day long weekend, I think I finally understand why people feel compelled to "rough it". With all the beauty around us all the time, it's not really rough at all...