Snake River in June

We do this trip every year as a family. It's the Einfeldt/Herbert Family Reunion and it never lets us down.  As the kids get older they have more fun, though it's mostly a trip for the enjoyment of the adults! We set up a base camp at East Table Campground about 10 miles east of Alpine, Wyoming.  We camp for 3 days and 3 nights.  The kids run around the campground in a little pack playing in dirt and mud for 3 days straight and never get bored! They are only allowed to go down by the river if they have on a life jacket and in the company of a responsible adult.  The kids LOVE throwing rocks into the river.

This year we borrowed my Aunt's motor home and slept like royalty! It was nice to have a place to put the baby to sleep that was more insulated from sound and weather (we made him a bed in the shower). We also have a nice shade canopy that doubles as a place to get out of the rain. It can still act like winter in June in Jackson, so it's good to be prepared. We take full winter coats, hats and mittens for the kids. I take my good waterproof hiking boots just to wear around camp and my old swim team coat (a calf length long fleece lined coat).

We had quite a few little kids this year, so Clint planned a kids float trip from Astoria Hot springs down to East Table.  We saw several bald eagles, lots of geese and baby geese, and even a beaver.  Clint pulled over and we hiked out to a "secret" tank that he knew is parked on the other side of the river. It took us about 2 hours, but the kids had fun paddling and we even hit a few little whitewater rapids.

The boat was a little crowded, but here's the wild kid ride!

We don't usually let the kids ride down lower canyon until they are ten years old. If they want to challenge to go sooner, they can.  But they have to pass a test.  Their dad throws them in the water and if they can keep their cool and swim back to the boat by themselves, then they can go down on the next trip. We make them wait until the next trip so they can go get warm and dry and not freeze the entire trip down.  So far, since we started the challenge, we've only had one little toughy pass the test. He's the little blondie near the back right of the kids trip.  He also went cliff diving and did a front flip off the cliff. Crazy brave kid!!!

Probably the highlight of the trip for the kids was making FAIRY HOUSES.  Since my three oldest are girls, we do lots of girly things, though Clint adapted it for the boys and they went searching for stuff to make troll bridges.  My sister in law Jennie brought these books she had seen back east about fairy houses that had pictures of all these incredible places people had built. All the Grandmas Becky, Claudia, and even Grandma Debi had so much fun decorating little fairy houses with the kids. Jennie even wrote the kids little notes from the fairies that had come to stay in the house, and sprinkled glitter around as "fairy dust." I imagine with the boys you could do something similar.  I can't believe how detailed they all got with their houses. It lasted for 3 whole days of kid entertainment.

Ali with her fairy house.

Summer with her fairy house.

The real reason we go on this trip is for the ADULTS!! We take turns watching each other's kids to do 3-4 trips down lower canyon a day.  It wasn't really big water this year, but it was still big enough for Clint to flip his raft (not on purpose). They saved everyone real quick, but it was definitely a first for Clint, his pride is maybe a little bruised after that.  We have all the rafts, life jackets, and gear, so if anyone ever wants to join us, let me know. We always need more paddlers!!!