Wind Caves

Ryan and I took advantage of the improving weather to have our 1st annual 11 year-old Scout backyard overnighter and Wind Caves day hike.

Participants included Andrew, Daniel, Jake, Jordan, Spencer and Aaron.

We worked on a number of Scouting skills and requirements, including knife and axe safety, firebuilding, tent pitching, cooking, camping, ropework and knot tying. A brief thundershower didn't dampen our spirits, as we enjoyed our foil dinners

and dutch oven cobbler desserts with ice cream!

After a competetive snakeball/monkey bars golf tournament, Daniel conducted our campfire program, complete with a song, some jokes (ha ha), a skit, and a Scoutmaster's minute.

The boys stayed up late telling jokes, while Ryan and I drifted off to sleep in our treehouse lookout. After a big breakfast, we packed up "camp" and drove up the canyon

to the Wind Caves trailhead.

Clover helped keep everyone in line as we climbed the steep, two-mile switchbacking trail.

At one point the trail crosses a rushing stream, which literally springs forth right out of the ground!

After a number of repeated "how much further" inquisitions, we finally arrived at our destination just before noon.

The view in all directions was spectacular, including the China Wall rock formation on the opposite side of the canyon below the Crimson Trail and the backside of Logan Peak.

We paused to explore the open-air caves and take a few pictures.

Standing just above the upper openings, we felt the up-canyon wind rushing through, better understanding how they were so appropriately named.

We made the descent in about half the time.

Clover and the boys were dog-tired by the time we made it back to the vehicles, but everyone had a great time!

Summer Arrives at Short Divide

Landon and I went out to Short Divide Wednesday for some airtime. The Spring rains finally stopped for a couple of days allowing for the warmest day of the year at about 90 degrees. On launch the wind was straight in, but cycling from about 8 mph up to 15. A bit light for a tandem launch, so we waited to see if it would build and fill in. At about 4 pm conditions were the same, but after watching a red-tailed hawk catch a ride and speck out, we decided to attempt to follow suit. We picked a good cycle, but still had to earn our launch with a few extra steps as we made our seamless transition into the sky. We safely skimmed over the juniper covered launch ridge, as Landon was happy to be "back in the harness" again. As we watched two deer running through the trees below us, we quickly found a number of moderately strong thermals which took us about 100' over launch. We were unable to replicate our feathered friend's gravity-defying feat as we gradually descended to the lower ridge, set up our final, and came in for a safe wheel-in landing.

Airtime: 15 minutes - YeeeHaaaaw!

Camp Bartlett 2009

This past week Landon and his troop were at Camp Bartlett.

I spent all day Thursday with Landon and the troops!

This year it rained off and on for about 3 out of the five and a half days

but the sun came out Tuesday, part of Thursday, Friday and Saturday!

Our troop had 5 Scouts at camp this year: Spencer, Ryan, Jordan, Landon & Daniel.

Camp activities included working on the Rifle Shooting Merit Badge.

One of the requirements includes hitting a target with 5 out of 5 rounds, all within a group the size of a quarter from 50 feet - and then repeat this feat five times! Both Ryan and Landon accomplished this!

Basketry Merit Badge was popular, as usual.

Landon, Ryan and others worked on their Art Merit Badge.

Others completed the Forestry Merit Badge.

Ryan spent any spare time working on his "Silent Boondoggling" Merit Badge.

The entire troop, leaders and dads also completed a 10'x10' axe-yard lashing service project together.

And, of course, there was plenty of food to go around as everyone worked on their Cooking (and eating) Merit badge!

Scoutmaster Scott even made some of his great dutch oven chocolate-cherry cobbler! Being a surgeon by profession, his skills did not get rusty as he was called to the first aid office at least once a day to suture both scouts' and leaders' pocketknife or boxcutter-induced lacerations - many of which were casualties of the Woodcarving Merit Badge!

By the end of the week, Landon had earned 5 Merit Badges: Art, Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, Rifle Shooting, and Woodcarving. Despite the off and on rain, mosquitoes and muddy trails, everyone had a great time this year at Camp Bartlett!

Cousin's Camp 2009!

The 2009 Annual Cousin's Camp

was held at the Sutton's Cabin in Ovid, Idaho, just East of Emigration Canyon, Camp Bartlett, and the Cache National Forest. The big, beautiful six-bedroom cabin allowed each family and Grandma & Grandpa to have their own room. Rain was forecast for the entire four-day retreat, but we made the best of it anyway.

The showers actually came and went, and the afternoon of the last day the sun even came out! Activities this year included arts and crafts, workshops, lessons, singing, eating, devotionals, game night, archery target shooting, bucking hay bales, four-wheeling,

hiking, exploring, sightseeing, napping, photography, free time, and spelunking!

The first two days Grandpa Dave taught us all everything we needed to know to become skilled archers!

We all spent time working on our form, technique and sighting in our bows.

For many of us (except Grandma) the guided tour through Minnetonka Cave was the highlight of the camp.

Originating millions of years ago and discovered in 1906, the half mile long cave has 9 rooms of fascinating stalactites, stalagmites and other formations.

The air temperature is a constant 40 degrees, and the cave is still considered "alive" - but it's hard to tell, as the formations continue to grow at a rate of about a half-inch per ten thousand years!

Back at "camp", Clover had a great time exploring, and "bounding" through the tall grass like a gazelle!

With three four-wheelers in camp this year, everyone had the opportunity to do some riding.

We covered many miles on some beautiful forest roads and OHV trails.

Each day included brief workshops or devotionals, as Grandpa shared his wisdom,

and always found a way to relate the day's activities to a spiritual lesson.

The last day culminated with a high-stakes 17-round archery tournament.

Mr. Sutton was so nice to bring out his antique car collection for our group picture backdrop.

He also gave all the kids (and some adults) rides, and took some great pictures for us! It was another awesome camp to remember - especially since the oldest cousin (Zac) just graduated from high school, and may not be here for next year's camp. Thanks for the great time Grandma & Grandpa W.

and thanks to the Sutton's for their hospitality!

Here's a quick video of some Camp highlights!