Some Archer family history in the Sierras...
Our
mom and dad began backpacking into the Sierras before any of us were
born. When Steve became old enough he was able to go in with the "big
guys" for part of a summer. When Robyn was 3 we did a car camping trip
to Devil's Postpile near Mammoth and our parents began to work toward
creating a summer camp away from cars and to which other family and friends
could come. They spoke with Art Schober, a packer they liked and respected
and asked for suggestions for a good site. He suggested a camp on a big
bend in the stream (the Middle Fork of Bishop Creek) and it was a go.
The summer of 1953 found us packing in — all riding the 7 miles along
with 3 strings of 6 or 7 mules. We were there for July and August.
Many
friends came in for a week or so at a time. Daddy taught fly tying,
trout fishing, camp construction and safety and some mountain climbing.
He was also in charge of collecting firewood (no longer allowed in
the area) and latrine digging. He led many hikes and knew where all
the lakes and good fishing spots were located. Daddy learned how to
build a smoke oven and smoked fish every summer. Mom showed people
how to make great meals with dry food, bake in both Dutch and reflector
ovens, and she taught the fine art of trout frying. She was the "camp
director" and kept clothes and bodies clean, lifeguarded at the swimming
pool, taught us about the flowers and trees and much more.
Besides hiking,
fishing, swimming, helping around camp, we played cards, read books,
sang songs, played volleyball and much more. In addition we made new
friends of other hikers and campers who passed near our camp. At the
end of a couple of summers we took trips with burros that we packed
and led into some of the other nearby wilderness areas.
We are all grateful for the many skills we learned, experiences we
had, friends we made, and memories that were created during our Sierra
summers. |
