For our first backpacking trip I wanted to go to a local park, where we could decide to go at the last minute based on weather, hike a long distance with our packs, and set up a primitive camp.  And if the camp was only a few minutes from the parking lot, we could bail if things didn't work out.

First try was for Wild River State Park, just north of Taylor's Falls MN

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00254_summer.pdf

I went online to reserve a campsite, and started the weather watch throughout the week.  Unfortunately, Saturday was looking to have rain overnight, and while a serious backpacker needs to be able to handle rain, I wanted the first time out for Lauren to be dry and comfy.  So I cancelled.

Two weeks later the weather cooperated and we ended up going to Lake Elmo Park Reserve - a mere 5 miles from home.

https://www.co.washington.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/867

The campsite was less than 300 yards from the parking lot by the Nordic center (Lake Elmo has night time X/C skiing!) and the center itself had bathrooms with real plumbing!  Cushy camping, though the site itself was walk-in tents only.

We shouldered our packs and did a 5 mile loop.  And we took a break partway along the route.

We found the site.

And then we set up the tents.

We tried out our new cooking gear.  We have a Jetboil Mini-Mo and an assortment of dehydrated food, and some collapsible bowls.  The verdict:

Mashed potato with chicken and gravy - good (but let the gravy and chicken rehydrate longer than the potatoes).

Powdered eggs - no.  

Pasta was good.

By the way I am new to smart phone photography - note the shadow of the phone in my little headlamp.  Another lesson - make sure camp is set up well before dark.

Was worried about mosquitoes - they bothered us during the hike, but strangely when it went dark they disappeared.  Not what I was expecting, but nice.  There was a yellowjacket out at night, also not what I was expecting.  Have insects changed their habits in the last few years?

She slept pretty well, I did my usual waking up in the middle of the night routine but all in all it was OK.

Next morning I walked around to check out other campsites.

I reserved the campsite online, and it was the only site available.  But we were the only ones staying overnight.  During high season you have to reserve for 2 nights, this was a Sunday night, I suspect people had to reserve 2 nights and just skipped the second night.  Which is great for money for the park, but not so good for other people trying to make reservations?  Just total speculation on my part.

Anyway, we had breakfast - the awful powdered eggs and a weird yogurt / granola combination for Lauren.  We packed up and went home and thus ended our first backpack trip together.