A birthday weekend at Alpine Lakes High Camp
For as long as I can remember Jasper has referred to weekend getaways as "holidays". Whenever I start packing his overnight bag he eagerly inquiries, "Are we going on a holiday?" Then once we get in the car he proudly states, "We are going on an adventure!" Jasper has done more interesting things in his short little life then some people get to experience in a lifetime. He has hiked in Norway, cruised around glaciers in Iceland, kayaked in the ocean and now he can add staying in an alpine hut to his list.
As a parent of a small child it is always tempting to leave him with my parents when we go on adventures, but in the end he always adds an extra measure of fun, creativity and happiness to our trips. From strutting around camp, to curling up on the bed to read a large stack of books, to making tracks in the snow, Jasper thoroughly enjoyed his time at Alpine Lakes High Camp. And he shared how he felt about the weekend on our car ride home when he said, "Let's go back to the cabin!"
If you would like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the every day life, need a change of scenery or even just get a break from technology Alpine Lakes High Camp is the place to come. Although there were several other guests staying there during our visit, it always felt peaceful and like we had the place to ourselves. Each morning, we would head out on a hike for the day and aside from one hunter we never crossed paths with another person. During our stay we enjoyed everything from candlelight dinners to crackling fires and crisp mountain air. It was refreshing to focus on the basics; eating, spending time with each other, recreation and sleep. No laundry, no television, and no distractions.
Our visit to Alpine Lakes High Camp just happened to coincide with my birthday and resulted in the sweetest memory of my son singing "happy birthday" to me over a stack of cookies topped with a candle. Instead of calling it my birthday he kept calling it "Chocolate Cake day". When we were outside one evening, he saw his breath in the cool crisp night air and told me "look mama I am smoking" and when we hiked through the snow he exclaimed, "look those prints are following you!" I love the innocence and magic of childhood and Alpine Lakes High Camp provided my family with a unique experience we will treasure as a family forever.
Aside from your individual cabins there is a lodge which is common space for all guests to use. Inside the lodge there is always a roaring fire, books to read, puzzles to piece together and plenty of hot coffee and cocoa to enjoy. We ended up spending a significant amount of time in the lodge mainly so Jasper could burn off all his excess energy from all the cocoa he consumed.
Our visit to Alpine Lakes High Camp occurred during the colliding of Autumn and Winter. The camp had just received eight inches of fresh snow, but still had some beautiful foliage on the trees.
Each cabin is unique and is able to accommodate a wide variety of guests. There are cozy cabins for two and larger cabins which can sleep up to twelve people. Whether you want a romantic getaway or a fun adventure with friends, there is a cabin for you. As an added bonus there is a sauna and a hot tub to enjoy after a long day of hiking, snowshoeing or skiing.
Heading up to the reading nook in the lodge.
Back in May, Justin and Austin Donohue took over Scottish Lakes Camp and changed the name to Alpine Lakes High Camp. Justin and Austin have a deep love for outdoor recreation and are as enthusiastic and kind as they come. It will be fun to see how they breathe new life into a place many families have been visiting for years.
During our visit we called the Trillium cabin home and not only loved the additional space, but liked how it was set away from the other cabins a bit.
We kept meal prep pretty simple, lots of hearty soups, yogurt bowls, sandwiches and plenty of s'mores.
Jasper pouring over the maps to see where we have been and where we are going. I love to see the little wheels in his head turning as he learns new things and is exposed to interesting experiences such as this.
Snow is always a good excuse for another cup of cocoa.
The colors of Fall popping against a back drop of fresh white snow.
In typical toddler fashion, Jasper protesting when it was time to leave. I think if he had it his way he would have stayed there forever.
Each day we hiked to a different lake. Each trail, scenery and terrain a bit different.
On our last day, we had blue skies and were really able to feel on top of the world at such a high altitude.
Our little mountain man on the trail.
After a long day hiking, it was nice to be able to come back to a warm, dry, cozy place.
Trillium cabin
Each cabin comes stocked with a two burner stove, tea kettle, firewood, plates, cups, dishes, silverware, tea lights, and matches. I was happy I brought along my slippers, a couple throws and a few jarred candles to make it feel extra cozy once it became dark outside.
There was no better place to set up camp then on our back deck. Cookies, cocoa and a few good books kept Jasper entertained for a long time.
I just loved the way the light came through the trees at camp.
There is nothing cozier than an unlimited stack of wood to keep your cabin toasty.
In speaking with the camp host she told me just how magical this place is in the Winter. Until then, I will be dreaming of snowmobile rides up the mountain, snowdrifts, and endless places to make fresh tracks.
This post was sponsored by Alpine Lakes High Camp.
All opinions stated here are my own and I was under no obligation to write anything other than my personal experience. I will never write about anything I did not enjoy or find to be a valuable experience.