Each summer after Overland wraps up our last trips in August, the year-round staff scatter across the globe to enjoy some well-deserved time off. For a sneak peak into what everyone got up to, check out our Instagram post here! This year, we decided to make our return to the Bozeman office extra special. To reconnect with our Overland roots as leaders, we took a trip down memory lane and embarked on the first annual Overland Office camping trip!
The trip details were kept secret to many of us until the day before we left. In true leader fashion, our planning team announced our destination and split the team into meal crews. One big grocery trip later and we were ready to set out!
We started our trip by driving to Helena, Montana. Once we arrived at the trailhead, we scarfed down our packed lunches and laced up our boots to prepare for our hike up Mt. Helena. We arranged ourselves into a hiking order and began our ascent up the popular 1906 Trail.
Along the way, we passed the Helena “H” – a collection of white rocks gathered on the mountainside as a city landmark. From there, the 1906 Trail gradually took us around the backside of the mountain. We passed a series of large brush piles which were created in preparation for prescribed burns, some of which are ongoing on neighboring mountains. It was really cool to see ecological management in action! As we neared the summit, we passed tall rock faces, popular amongst local rock climbers. Eventually, we made it up to the peak and enjoyed the views of Helena and the surrounding valley. We then returned to our cars along the Hogback and Prospect Shafts trails.
Continuing our journey, we traveled northeast to Helena National Forest where we would be spending the night. After a bumpy drive, we reached our destination: an awesome USFS cabin! We unloaded our group gear and set up our sleeping bags for the night. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing games, sharing stories, and exploring the beautiful forest around the cabin. As the evening drew closer, we called upon cook crew to prepare dinner!
Our cook crew was Abby, Katherine, and myself. During our meal planning back at the office, we had decided to go with an Overland classic: burrito bowls. Happy to be preparing an all-time crowd pleaser, we sliced the veggies, sauteed the ingredients, and boiled water for rice. Katherine shared: “Being on cook-crew reminded me of cooking with my Overland groups, and it was so fun to spend that time with my coworkers!” After waiting for “Cheers,” we ate our meal together and enjoyed the cool evening weather. Clean crew then stepped up to wash the dishes – cheers to the clean crew!
After dinner, we all sat around a campfire playing more games and enjoying a lovely dessert. In addition to smores, Beth shared a new treat with the rest of the team. The dessert, “Campfire Chimney Cakes,” involves wrapping tin foil, followed by puff pastry, around the end of a stick. Then, slowly roast the dough over the fire. Finally, remove the pastry from the stick, fill the resulting cup-shape with blueberry pie filling, and top with whipped cream. They were delicious! Sharing a Dessert Circle with friends was the ultimate way to relive our time as Overland leaders.
Shortly after we finished our desserts, it began to drizzle – a perfect segue to put out the fire and make our way into the cabin. Everyone brushed their teeth, changed into pajamas, and got settled for the night. We enjoyed some music around a fire in the wood-stove, and then it was time for bed!
We awoke to a rainy morning, but we didn’t let that tarnish our spirits! Our breakfast cook crew of Katie, Dylan, and Sarah made some amazing pancakes. We ate in our rain coats as we took in the fresh air of the misty morning. Later, we cleaned up our cookware, packed up our belongings, and made sure the cabin was as clean as when we arrived. The drive back to Bozeman was pleasant as we passed wide-open fields under overcast skies.
All told, the trip was a wonderful experience. It reminded us of how great it is to get out on trail and spend quality time with friends in nature. We are already looking forward to next year’s Office Camping Trip!
