We just had our Court of Honor and boy was it ever.  Most of the boys received average of 9 merit badges each, and a rank advancement.  We just did Camp Steiner which helped but we have done Rifle, Shotgun, Communications, Citizenship in the Community, and Family life on our own and are working on Cycling right now.  In addition to those they got about 7 more at camp including Orienteering, Pioneering, Canoeing, and others.  Good times.  My wife and work allowed me, (and not without lots of catch up when I returned :’)), to go stay the week with them at camp.  Several stories came from this camp and experiences I won’t forget, and hope the boys don’t either.

The first challenge for me was getting the trailer to our location.  Felt like Moab jeeping but going backwards and with a trailer.  Glad there were other leaders there to assist.  The badge earning began right away.  Some of them quite fun like Canoeing and Rock Climbing.  I was able to join on the climbing and when I started I turned to Parker who was belaying me and said that I had not done this since before he was born.  Wow, 16 or so years ago I was an avid climber.  Boy things do change and time fly’s!

Our food we had was oh so good.  Just the right amount and did I mention good?

During the times while they were in class I headed out on my own.  Exploring the surroundings and climbing to the tops of the peaks around us.  Pretty cool to hit just under 12,000 feet.  I found boulder fields and was fun to play Parkour leaping and balancing on each one.  Also when I got several miles away I felt quite alone.  In the Uintahs it is easy feel isolated due to the mountains and many trees.  I wondered what I would do if around the next bend I came on to a Bear.  Hmm.  Well, I didn’t so all good.

Yes I know my legs look like Marsh-mellow Man... It was really windy.

On Wednesday the Scouts would be doing Orienteering Merit Badge, so I talked the counselor into letting me take them out on Orienteering on our own.  After they had the class for an hour he turned them loose to me.  We headed back to camp so they could pack up.  I explained we might make it back before dark.  It was about 2.30 in the afternoon now.  I also told them this is the Uintahs and they might be wise in taking a jacket and a rain jacket, some snacks and water.  Some smiled while looking up at the bright blue sky and the hot Sun.  And yes this is foreshadowing.  I handed them a folded up map and said our first objective is “Lofty Lake”  Take us there.  The clammered trying to figure out where we were and where the lake was.  They figured it out and started on the trail.  or so they thought.  Not much of a trail but they were headed the right way.  A few arguments brewed about whether to go high or stay down low and the just about split when I said they could do whatever, but must stay as a group.  We headed up the first saddle and down the other side (Not realizing the desired lake was still up another saddle) we continued down to a lake they saw from way up top.  When arriving I asked is this really the right lake as there were two close together.  They looked and noticed the shape of the lake was different then found the one we were standing at.  Oops.  So now the choice is to go around a mountain or back up where we came from.  The clouds now were in bringing thunder and lightning.  Now there were three things being discussed and one was to get closer to camp.  I explained that was not a choice.  Choose the direction you want and sorry if you don’t have a jacket, you are going to get wet.  Spencer one of our leaders was among those without a rain jacket.  He was laughing.

Heading back up from the wrong lake

Top of the Saddle

Trail took us around to see another lake

We made it over the second saddle at 11300 feet and down to the fist objective, Lofty Lake.  All the while they wanting to take shortcuts.  One of which took them where they could not see down where it would lead.  They opted to go back to the trail, naming the beautiful meadow “Temptation Meadow”.  The trail was taking us in the opposite direction and I could hear some complaints, but when we got around the other side finally and could look up and see the 60 or so foot cliffs we were standing on at “Temptation Meadow”.  We made it to the next lake and from hear I asked them to take us home.  As we got closer to where they were familiar they wanted to shortcut again but I made them follow the trail.  Complaining was echoing off the trees but when we got to our last objective they saw how cool it was and said, “We will never doubt you again, Thank you, thank you!!”  Well, that was Calvin at least.  I brought them to some caves they had to climb through and up.  This required team work and it took some encouragement but all of them made it!  On the hike they all did very well including Allen who thought he might just not make it.  But he did great.

Wilderness Survival for us… Wilderness “It might rain so we are going to woos out vival” for others

They know me all too well, when they spent all day working hard on building their own shelters that they would need to stay in only to be told that they could not due to weather, they came and got me.  Sending only three of the eight boys back to tell me knowing I would return and demand they get to stay.  I did just that and they did stay in their shelters while all the other scouts went back to their camps.  I’m thinking so this is a Wilderness Survival merit badge, and uh we are canceling it due to weather???? Come on! Are we Girl Scouts here?  (No offense please)  Or are we boys out camping as Scouts learning how to prepare?  My boys were fine and loved it.

They work together well and help each other.  Real Team Work, Real Troop.

Ruben threw up, and the others woke up and helped him and cleaned up everything while the leaders slept.   Talk about a together troop!

Triathalon for the Mountain man.  This was to do a course that included running down a steep long hill, shooting 5 arrows 3 of which had to hit the target, running up that same hill, running to the next station, tying a Sheepshank knot, running, shooting and hitting a close pin within 5 shots, running, rowing in a canoe to the other side of the lake, and running up the hill to the finish.  All but one of my boys did it.  I was excited, I took the fastest time in the camp.  But I was more excited when that evening they called out all of the Ironmen that did this each on their own.  12 was all in the whole camp. The others did it as a relay.  They cheered all of us for having done it, and many including Garrick, beat most of the relay times as well.

Click here for Pictures

Click here for the Video