Scout Campout

On Friday Ryan, Scott, Trent, Omar, and myself took advantage of the nice late fall weather to get one more non-snow campout in this weekend with the 11, 12 and 13 year-old Scouts. With a total of 5 adults and eleven boys we went to a local canyon for a short overnighter. I knew that the road to the campsite would be closed for the winter season on Saturday, but the lady at the Forest Service office assured me that the gate would not be locked until midnight, allowing us to get our camp set up and then park the vehicles outside of the gate. We planned to then carry all of our gear out the next morning on a short 1/4 mile hike back out to the vehicles.

Upon arrival at the gate, FS rangers were standing guard at the gate, which had already been locked! We parked and walked up to talk with the "nice man", explaining that we had been told that the gate would be open until midnight. He told us that the gate was now officially closed for the year, and that we got some "bad information." We told him that we had 11 hungry boy scouts and if we had to carry all of our large camp stoves, cabin tents, firewood and other supplies it would probably take two or three uphill trips, ending with us setting up camp in the dark and not eating until midnight!

The ranger must have had a flashback to his scouting days, as his unmovable attitude gradually softened enough to allow us 30 minutes to drive past the gate to the campsite, unload our gear for the night, and then park the vehicles outside of the gate. (I suspect he just didn't want to come back later to investigate a report of 11 lost and hungry boy scouts!) Eitherwhichway, we quickly (and gladly) complied,

allowing us to have camp set up and our foil dinners simmering on the hot coals by 6 pm!

The dinners all turned out great - with not a single charred casualty! We even had plenty of ketchup for the savory meat & potato concoctions (a scout is prepared!)

After some scary stories around the warm fire,

Scoutmaster Scott's delicious dutch oven peach cobbler hit the spot and warmed our insides.

After every scout was accounted for and sent to bed, the adults had some time to talk around the fire, as Scott told us about his recent very close encounter with a cougar on his hunting trip to Idaho last month. We all finally turned in as a nearly full moon lit up the narrow canyon. I drifted off to sleep to the echo of boy scouts howling and laughing into the night. The clear, dry night allowed temperatures to dip into the 20's, evidenced by the slushy, icy water discovered in our big water container as we prepared breakfast the next morning.

The morning campfire kept the chill away as the boys worked on their cooking merit badge, preparing bacon, pancakes, eggs and hot cocoa.

"Breakfast of Champions?"

We all took our time cleaning up, climbing the canyon walls, and playing "Frisbee 500" in the meadow.

We finished packing up the tents, kitchen, and other gear, and began the short hike out to the waiting vehicles. Other than a few minor scrapes and bruises, everyone was returned safely home - where a hot shower was very welcomed!