Day 5 - homeward bound

Day 5 - homeward bound 

I woke today - well let's be honest, I had a slight headache, my sleeping bag was still damp from the prior days rains, it was a bit chilly and my hips hurt from sleeping on the ground with a pad that helps but doesn't soften the ground.  But on the bright side - literally - the sun was coming up.  There might be a day without rain.  It's a beautiful morning - I think I'll go outside and just smile.  

The air is crisp but not cold.  Folks get up and breakfast is "continental" - that's apparently fancy for lazy.  It's eat what you got without having to cook or even boil water.  Most eat snack bars or granola if they have it left. Some eat dry oatmeal packets.  We shoot to leave at 8 but we leave sometime after 8:30 so not terrible....

Now my van is in need of gas, the light isn't on but it's getting close so gas is top of mind.  When I still had data coverage we saw that the closest gas was about 20 minutes away but it is along the way home so I decided to get it then.  However, we decided yesterday to take a bit of a detour.  We are going to visit the memorial to the 911 flight 93.  So as we leave camp rather than head south we head north.  Bit of a panic, but not much as i did see gas stations up north as well at about the same distance.  However, after 10 or so minutes bro m turns into a road that I personally would t consider a major one.  Now the tension level gets a little higher.  Worse case scenario we run out of gas and he has to drive to buy a container and some gas and come back.  But I generally try to avoid that if I can.  The light come on.  Now we are on the clock, I think we have about 30 miles.  We use the car nav system and see that the direction we are heading doesn't look promising but it does look long.  I'm trying to coast down the hills, carry speed up and accelerate slowly to nurse it as far as we can.  Eric manages to get his phone to pull up a station and the closest one is 15 miles away.  Ok, now have a target.  It is actually mind boggling to me that so many people live more than 10 miles from the nearest gas station.  We manage to sip fuel and make it to a gas station.  Sort of anticlimactic ending but hey, I'll take it.  

We arrive at her location we found on like only to see the road is closed and they have a new entrance for us to use - so we drive the 3 miles to the new gate and then nearly 3 miles out to the memorial.  Surprised how full the parking lot is.  Lots of motorbikes.  The memorial has a black path that traces the flight path of the plane.  There is a guest center where they have information on 9/11.  They have phone messages left by folks on the plane which really bring it home.  Real people who actually died.  I've heard some of the stories and imho they sort of didn't portray what all took place.  I think they were trying to make it a memorial to everyone on the plane but some of the heroic decisions, again in my opinion, were sort of given short shrift.   After we finish inside we walk down to the crash site and the memorial wall.  I thought it was impactful but not sure the boys felt that way.  You can ask them.  Nice spot to visit but probably wouldn't make a 3 hour trip for it - see it on the way somewhere sometime.  

We loaded up and stopped for subway on the way home.  We get home in time for Bro m to get to his stake conference meeting - sorry about that. ;)

Day 4 - FPSBs and chocolaty white water?

Day 4 

It rained much of the night. I awake to rain in the morning and in pioneer spirit I'm cut off from the world as my cellular data won't connect so I cant load my weather app to figure out if this will stop any time soon.  Good news is at least my tent's waterproofing seems to be working for the moment.  This will be a soggy mess to pack up tomorrow.  It's hard to tell just how hard it is actually raining from here basically inside a timphonic drum.  But I can feel the chill from outside.  My sleeping bag is hard to leave because the warmth is nice.  

This is a very low adventure morning as people are slow getting up and eating.  Bishop Ford leaves before anyone but me is up and I think he left closer to 8.... after breakfast the frisbee comes out again and banter continues.

Rather than cajole them into another hike everyone seems content to enjoy hanging out while waiting for the river rafting at 1:30.  The sun comes out intermittently for what seems the first extended time since we have been here - at least while we have been in camp and its warmth pulls everyone from the camp onto the parking area and blacktop road where the sun is unrestricted.  Frisbees are thrown with varying degrees of skills - so sometimes they hit the intended recipient, sometimes they hit the cars and sometimes they hit the "poison Ivey" in the woods along the road. Occasionally they get stuck in a tree and the old joke about "how many priests does it take to....." comes to mind.  

The fire pit in camp is shaped like a men's shoe heel -  a large metal shoe heel about 4-6 inches tall and about a 1/4 thick. The flat side is about 3 feet long and has a large grate connected to it which can be flipped up onto the fire or down off the fire onto the ground.  The sides are slightly shorter in length and then the rounded side isn't rounded but is 3 almost equal pieces with the middle one running perpendicular to the grate side and the other two set at slight angles to connect to the sides.  I give this detailed description Incase the future rule book or history of the sport need it.   

It is possible to stand on the fire pit and balance on the edge.  The angled corner on the one end is a helpful item to do so.  It is also possible to have someone stand on the opposite side at the same time.  And then once you have two people like that is it possible to create a competition.  And thus was born the Fire Pit Slap Battle (FPSB).  Each combatant stands on a side opposite the other balancing lightly on the edge. Various stances were used.  When they were both ready they would raise hands to chest level with palms out and try to make the other person fall off by pushing their pals/hand - you can only touch the hands and the opponent can move their hands so you miss them and lose your balance So there was much strategy in offense, defense, counter attacks, etc.  When a combatant was knocked off his opponent scored one point at which time they then switched sides and went again.  If both fell at the same time the first one to touch the ground lost.  This repeats until someone got to 5 at which time the victor stayed in the pitch and a new opponent rotated in.  Very few matches were lopsided which made for tense battles.  Commentary was provided by Dan Bennett and the rules came into focus as the game evolved.  Different folks had different strengths - size, strength, quickness, cunning.  Bro Mitchell was even king of the ring for a while.  

If you weren't competing you were spectating, swinging a hatchet, sawing wood or driving a 2 foot long 1 inch diameter stake into the ground.  The weather was nice, the ym were enjoying hanging out. Not quite high adventure but certainly a good time. 

A little after one we proceeded to the white water company again except things have changed a bit...normal water level this time of year in the river is just above a 2.  We ran the river Wednesday at 2.4 as I recall.  Today, due to the rain, it was running a chocolatey looking 6.5!  That also meant that we would be in bigger 8 man rafts this trip.  Because they had big water they were running 3 trips today.  The bus hadn't come back on time so we were to eat lunch before the ride instead of during this time.  It was the same food as last time.  They tell us it is time to head out and they start us waking down the street!  Told you it was a short walk.... 

There were some big old waves this time.  It was a blast.  It was incredible to see rocks that were there two days ago completely under water.  Pretty sure she said we went right over the top of school house rock.  Thomas was in our boat and at one point the guide had him sit at the front of the boat like a bull rider.  Unfortunately we missed the very tip of the wave but it was fun anyway.  The trip took over 3 hours on Wednesday, today it took under 90 minutes.  No one fell out and as near as I could tell everyone had a great time together and got nice and wet and maybe even a little scared. 

After rafting we decide to stop by the water slide - they are not a water slide today - today they are a class 5 kayak run.  Just amazing.  Cucumber falls didn't seem that different to me.   

We get back to camp and some shower and etc.  we are still not sure who Freddie the raccoon that has been texting Eric is.  It has caused some contention.  A late night mafia session in the suite tent didn't resolve it.  Lots of finger pointing but no conclusions.  Freddie agrees that potential accomplices will FaceTime him/her and that when the true accomplice calls she will answer.  David - suspect #1 - calls and is unanswered.  After some other no answers Tyler Hamm calls and the line picks up!  Turns out to be a friend he met at efy last summer who helped play along.    She will be at BYU this year in case some of them want to look her up - look for the girl in the Davie crocket coon skin cap....

During our stay we have "helped" the camp by removing 4 dead trees from the camp.  We have a lot of wood and they decide to use it.  We have a huge fire.  The fire is so hot you can't hardly get close to it.  Shadrack, meshack, and abendigo come to mind.  Or maybe that last scene in raiders of the lost ark.  Anyway it's hot.  The stumps are about knee level and bro m wants them close

To the ground so they each take half a stump to saw down and work in teams.  A ranger comes over when he sees trees being cut down and confirms that only dead trees are being cut down.  Boys respectfully tell him yes and he returns to his truck without having to unholster his weapon.  

President Holtom drops in for a visit bearing gifts which are enjoyed and appreciated.  Marshmallows are roasted and devotional is lead by zac tonight.  It has been the best weather we have had all week!  

I'd have preferred a chance to rock climb vs the river again, but with the different water level it was a different experience so it was all good.  

As I head to bed a "piñata for a raccoon" is being made.  In my tent I heard someone from the other camp say Freddie is in their camp." The excitement running through the camp somehow eerily reminds me of lord of the flies... but that's just me.  

Quote of the day "here is my sandwich - cheese with a tomato and then another slice of cheese. It's what I can eat."

"Dad, you can't eat tomato."

Dad - with shocked look on face.  "Oh my gosh, you're right! I can't eat tomato." Replaces tomato with lettuce...

Revenge of Freddie

Day Three - Thursday June 20, 2019

Dawn is rain free but things are pretty wet.  No signs of Freddie the raccoon this morning.   Breakfast is instant oatmeal packets huddled under the pop up.  It is a very nice pop up with side meshing and everything.  We have a table in the middle.  The table has magical properties - it seems to magically gather random stuff from around the camp - bowls, shoes, fishing gear, knives, etc.  An alternative theory is that the ym simply plop stuff down a and dont take care of it, but I'm still holding out hope for magic.....  But with all the magical items it is a very tight squeeze for 10 let alone the 13 we have so often a couple folks are over by the cooking area which also has a small tarp over it.  

It seems clear at this point that rock climbing at 10:30 is not going to happen - wet rocks and climbing are not a particularly friendly combination.  So we search for alternatives.  And when I say "we" I mean it works something like this - zac (HaPpY 18th bIrThDay) gets on a phone and says well, what can we do and when and what does that cost and then I'll talk to my group and get back to you.  He hangs up and we have a brief conversation in which the youth vote and the adults consider liability etc. Zac then gets on the phone again - usually with another company and you repeat.  We finally end up with another trip down the river, but not until tomorrow afternoon.  Which leaves us with today empty.  

Weather apps tell us there is about a 5 hour window from noon to 5 where rain chances are reduced.  Since our hike day on Friday has now turned into another event, we decide to do a hike for lunch.  Information around here is very hard to come by - they need about 50 Eagle Scout projects here - including someone to make a better map!  We spend about 30 minutes of our rain free window just trying to find the trail head.  Frustrating to lose the dry weather but it's also hard to see from my eyes watering from the pungence coming from the 5 ym in the back - not a point in the week you want to be in close quarters with most of them for anytime let alone an extended period.  Odd thing is they have very nice WARM showers and most of them claim to be using them... maybe a discussion about deodorant is needed? Unknown...

We finally manage to find our trail and off we head.  Not only are the maps lacking, as previously noted, so are the distances given for hikes.  One internet site said this was a 3.4 mile hike - it didn't say if that was round trip or one way... we told the boys it was round trip of course... the start was pretty steep but it turned into a more gradual incline.  The most challenging parts were navigating ones way across the bogs that had come up due to all the rain today.  Usually involved waking on 45 degree angles at the side or skipping across roots and stones to traverse the muck.  

We finally arrive at Beaumans rock.  Nice out look where you can see just how thick the trees grow given the chance.  Boys also noticed a parking lot 50 feet from the overlook - but not too many complaints we didn't "cheat." We knew it was there but that wouldn't have wisely used our dry hours! But if you come with your family know that is an option.  

We took a different path back hoping to see cascades falls.  About half way around we realized that the falls were actually on the other side of the river and on another trail so we didn't get to see those sadly. Another time.  We got back to the cars after about a 6 mile hike.  With dry time remaining we offered them two alternatives - hike a mile or so to a waterfall or walk .2 miles to a waterfall.  Not sure if they didn't trust our distances or just really wanted to see cucumber falls but it was a pretty unanimous group vote for the short walk.  

Cucumber falls is down in a ravine which creates a beautiful valley which seems like something out of land of the lost (dinosaur times) with ferns and large boulders and a mist hanging in the air.  It was quite peaceful - until our ym started to walk behind the falls and scream and agonize when they got pelted by the water from the falls.  But they had a great time. 

Dinner was mountain house so everyone had plenty to eat and prep and clean up were a breeze.... but the rain did return briefly.  It helped that bro Bennett arrived With another pop up tent.  

At some point Eric received a text from a Spokane cell phone claiming to be Freddie the raccoon.  Eventually it progressed from a desire to a Sherlock Holmes like investigation where every phone was checked for any 509 area codes into a full on inquisition including the threat of burning at the stake (of a shoe) should the guilty party be  found. 

Sleuthing was put aside for a spirited game of ultimate frisbee down by the showers.  As we gathered for devotional led by Gabriel, the "real" rain started - the rain that may go all night.  After devotional mafia games started again prior to a 10:30 special meeting in the jumbo tent to try to get to the bottom of the Freddie mystery.  I managed to fall asleep before they concluded (and any thing or anyone got burned - thankfully the fire was out before then anyway.

Sorry - no pics.  Roaming data running out.  

2019 day two: dimple rock

Day two - dimple rock and other adventures  

Alarms went off just before 4am.  Not sure how much I slept, but I know it was less than I would have hoped.  We determined last night that we would take a morning hike to see the sun rise - even though we were pretty sure we would not be able to see the sun since even when it was up we couldn't see it... but seemed like a nice 1 mile out to rock vista and one mile back. 

As I get out of my tent I'm surprised to see garbage all over the camp.  As people get up we conclude that Eric and Tyler b didn't hear and/or follow suggestion to put food into the cars and the raccoon was very happy to oblige them for a snack.  There is actually video of the thievery/attack and the attempted response - but without getting out of the hammock there is little chance of success.  The raccoon knew it could outlast the ym. It's used to being up all night.  

We load up and head out on schedule right at 4:30am. A quick 5-10 min drive and we are at the trail head.  The rain is coming down but the poncho brigade with our headlamps head up the hill.  Some of the hardest rain we have had is falling but it isn't too hard and the trip is nice.  But at one mile we see nothing - partially because its still dark but also because there haven't been anywhere to see out over things so we keep hiking ... at about a mile and a half or maybe three quarters we almost turn around and then two ym go 100 yards further up we see what we assume was the rock.  Destination just before sunrise.  We can't see the sun but it has lightened substantially so we don't need lights anymore.  We stop to look over the valley, eat some snacks and then head back down and to camp.  

Breakfast is eggs, bacon and pancakes - deliciously cooked.  Bacon crisp, pancakes golden but without uncooked middle parts. After we have a couple hours till we leave for whitewater so cards and whittling break out.  Sleeves are sacrificed to the god of bared biceps.  "Young" bro Mitchell shows up at 10:30 bearing gifts - donuts, watermelon and berries. All are consumed nearly instantaneously - even though breakfast wasn't long ago- the metabolism of ym.  Bishop shows just up before 11.  We load into cars and head down to  the metropolis of Ohiopyle to the river rafting company.  As we check in the rain starts- but it's been conspicuously absent since our return to camp after the hike.  But as we are getting our safety briefing it stops.  Not bad at all.  

Prep involves the typical river rafting spiel- put on a helmet, a smelly life vest and grab an oar then hop on a bus.  It always does my heart good to know that after a long successful career hauling kids around that busses have a place to go when they retire.  We load up and take a trip to the water launch - it's literally less than half mile from the shop but beat walking I suppose.  During the briefing bishop is tasked with marking down what was covered - on wet paper with a ball point pen-  slight miracle.  After our 2nd discussion we carry our rafts down to the river.  The guide in our boat explains at some point that the rivers I'm used to are classed due to volume and size while others like this are based on technical difficulty.  The big scare was dimple rock - a rock you can't really avoid that has a place under it that will occasionally eat a rafter if you aren't careful.  Bishop was in front of my raft and I took a corner from his man card for diving into the middle when he was supposed to be paddling as we rammed into the side of the rock.  Everyone made it safe and not even a close call.  It was a pretty fun trip even if mostly uneventful - I think zac and david were the only ones who took unexpected swims from the  3 boats that we had in our group.  There were some nice rapids, enough food for lunch and everyone had a great time.  They have a photographer who took some pictures - check with your kids.  I do think the ym were much better river runners/paddlers at the end than they were at the beginning. 

We stopped by the water slides to show the new guys.  A lot more people there today and the water level was higher.  The newbs both took a run and have the scrapes and bruises to show it.  Bishop performed his annual backflip off a rock.  The spectators were astounded and wild cheers went up.  Maybe I'm misremembering that last part....

Then it was back to camp for the "ford feast" - an annual tradition involving the consumption of large quantities of meat which is of course well received and somewhat disturbing at the same time.... how did the pioneer ym do it without a grocery close by?  I didn't tally the lbs of meat but it wasn't a small number.  

After dinner is cleaned up we enjoyed a really nice evening around the fire.  A lot of absurd stories are told as part of the mafia games played - the large majority of them involving raccoons in one way or another..... 

There is a dead tree in camp and they determine it will make a good campfire so a tree is felled.  How many priests does it take to fell a small tree - at least 6 is the answer.  We have a nice devotional from Thomas and head to bed.  It was a nice day, had some adventure, most of them showered, at well and rain wasn't a big issue.  Thank you for your prayers. 

Tomorrow the weather doesn't look as cooperative but we will hope for luck again.  As we climb into tents we have a pretty heavy rain - but not too long.  So at this point a lot of damp stuff but nothing too bad.  What is wet doesn't get a chance to dry but if the weather doesn't get worse we will be fine. We will be fine either way - just one way we will be wetter than the other....

2019 Brambleton ward priests - High Adventure, Ohiopyle Pa: day one - rainy days and mondays always get me down. At least it's Tuesday!

Day one - Rainy  days and Monday's always get me down - at least it's Tuesday!

We gathered at the usual spot this year - the church parking lot to head out for high adventure!  We had a collection of the usual cast of characters and some new faces in the 10 young men m and Brent Mitchell and myself. I've attached a picture of the forecast for the week - there isn't a day with a sun and nothing over low 70s - which isn't bad hiking weather, but isn't great water activity weather... at least by my way of thinking.  But fortunately we ain't sugar so we won't melt.  

Due to an unscheduled pit stop for the guy who won't eat regular oatmeal and forgot his, my car was behind bro Mitchell's but just under 2 hours into the trip we caught up with him.  We went back and forth and then we were ahead going over a mt pass and I felt a gust of wind.  A bit later I checked my mirror and didn't see them.  Got word that the gust of wind had blown open the yakama on top and blown out a few items onto the road they had to stop and collect playing frogger.... fortunately they have duct tape and it is course fixes anything.  

We reached the first stop - "natural water slides."  When we got there it looked a little daunting, it was overcast and a little chilly and due to rain the water was a little high.  Fearless leader zac decided to show the way - he had been there before and had seen others do it before so he had some confidence no one else did.  After eating some lunch he showed us they way and everyone took at least one turn after that.  The old guys went last.  

It was pretty fun, but I have to say, there isn't much that we do better than HF, but building water slides I think is one them.  When I finished my backside was sooo sore.  Both cheeks had taken a beating.  It was easier to stand than to sit after that. A feeling that didn't leave (foreshadowing) soon.   After everyone had their fill - for some it was once, some more than that and Joey and bro M went a lot it times.  Bro M managed to tear quite a whole in his water shoes - on the inside of his foot - still a bit is a mystery how that happened.  We think Joey took so many runs because he had the best runs - he was like a bobsled driver - gold medal.  

Afterwards we still had a long time till we could check into camp so we were hanging out and they were playing in the water and found a waterfall they could stick their heads and backs under and breathe behind the falls.  

eventually we loaded up and went to camp and set up.  We have quite the collection of tents and hammocks.  Thomas and Tyler had a mansion (6 person tent) and a "garage" (2 man tent) and still their tent has crap all over the place.  We have managed to hammock across the three paths from one side of camp to the other so it takes some oragami/yoga to cross.  

It's still only about 3 so we decided to hike down to a "waterhole".  We hike down to Ohiopyle and spend some time in the water and the Sam and Gabriel who brought poles to fish get them set up and ready to fish when the rain comes again and folks want to head back.  Timing is everything....

Dinner was group cooked chicken fajitas.  Pretty tasty and just about everything was eaten and no one went hungry.  At Devotional Eric and Sam reminded us to judge not.  Rest of the evening was spent around the campfire,  Gabriel made sassafras tea.  My opinion is it needed sugar and carbonation..... but I'm not a tea fan.  Discussion included death ticks, zombie deer, and chemical reaction in the sun.   Zac and Joey whittled - zac now has 2 bandaged fingers...   

Bro M told everyone to put al their food into the cars.  Folks got into bed.  Sam had to consume large quantities of wheat thins in an attempt to avoid getting out of his hammock and yet avoid sharing the hammock with a zombie raccoon. The camp next to ours clearly didn't get the memo about quiet time as they party well into 11pm.  Maybe we won't be as quiet in the morning when we leave at 4:30am....

Things is wish to never hear again- "braugh" (odds zero).  Actual day length 24 hours. Perceived length - 100. 

As we fall asleep we hear some commotion but it is mostly downed out by the rain...

We hike down to Ohiopyle and spend some time in the water and the Sam and Gabriel who brought poles to fish get them set up and ready to fish when the rain comes again and folks want to head back.  Timing is everything....

Dinner was group cooked chicken fajitas.  Pretty tasty and just about everything was eaten and no one went hungry.  At Devotional Eric and Sam reminded us to judge not.  Rest of the evening was spent around the campfire,  Gabriel made sassafras tea.  My opinion is it needed sugar and carbonation..... but I'm not a tea fan.  Discussion included death ticks, zombie deer, and chemical reactions in the sun.  

Bro M told everyone to put al their food into the cars.  Folks got into bed.  This was a very painful experience -  neither cheek would tolerating being laid on well.  Advil to the rescue.  

Sam had to consume large quantities of wheat thins in an attempt to avoid getting out of his hammock and yet avoid sharing the hammock with a zombie raccoon. The camp next to ours clearly didn't get the memo about quiet time as they party well into 11pm.  Maybe we won't be as quiet in the morning when we leave at 4:30am....

Things is wish to never hear again- "braugh" (odds zero).  Actual day length 24 hours. Perceived length - 100. 

As we fall asleep we hear some commotion but it is mostly downed out by the rain...