Camp Work Weekend

I often find myself day dreaming about working really hard doing something I love. That’s the reason I started Sunday Loon. This weekend, however, I was working my ass off doing something I love even more. I shot up into the Adirondacks for a three day weekend of golf and getting the hunting camp ready for the fall season.

KDS Camp

Friday Golf and Reuniting With Friends

Friday was spent on the golf course playing for charity and hanging with old friends. Many of these friends I only see for this tournament every year. We have a tendency to hold resentment for people that have fallen out of our lives. I’m trying to do a better job of appreciating the time we had, and appreciating any opportunity to get back together. Don’t ask what we shot, we didn’t even turn in the scorecard. We said our goodbyes and I headed out to camp to get ready for a weekend of work. 

Weather and Clothing Preparation

If you know anything about northern NY, you know that the weather in August is not the same as fall hunting weather. Come time for opening weekend, it’ll be a brisk 30-35 degrees and likely some snow, we’ll be buried by the end of the season. In late August though, we had 80-85. Shorts aren’t an option with deer flies, horse flies, and mosquitos buzzing around. The key is to wear light clothing that’s tough enough to walk through brush, thorns, and swampy areas.

I went with a reellife nylon long sleeve from Sam’s Club and a pair of 686 pants from Sierra Trading Post. Both did a great job keeping me as cool as possible and bug bite free. For boots, I’m always wearing Timberlands. I’m aware that there are other brands and maybe they have better quality or style. I was born in the 90’s, so I wear Tims. 

Plan and Execution

We started the day with a group breakfast and coffee on the porch while we planned our day. This conversation went essentially how every morning at camp goes, with all of my buddies asking each other “Where are yuh going?” until someone finally makes a decision. Luckily we had some wood to split and stack while we wasted time making a plan. We ended up deciding on two men with the tractor working on trails, two men clearing shooting lanes from our stands and blinds.

We set up 2 new ground blinds and cleared the surrounding area using a chainsaw and a set of loppers. We also cleared a few lanes off of my favorite tree stand so we had some visibility. After the tree cutting was done, we improved our ATV trails using the tractor to move a few rocks and the brushhog to cut down some brush. We worked until our hands were blistered, it was glorious. Of course it wouldn't be a camp weekend without a few cold beers after a great day of work.

Third wheeling on the backroads

Headed Home

I departed with a sense of accomplishment I don’t feel often. I’m not the best when it comes to keeping up with friends and maintaining those relationships. Weekends like this are just confirmation that I am capable and as I move toward a more purpose driven life, it empowers me to work on areas I’ve let slip. I stopped a few times on the drive through the mountains to throw a few lines in the water and came up empty handed. It didn’t matter, I had won the weekend.

Ausable River, Keene, NY