The boy's Scout Master determined that the scouts would not be going to an organized Scout camp this summer, but that they needed an even greater adventure. An adventure that would help them become manly men! The destination that would accomplish this would be the highest peak in Utah: King's Peak in the Uintah Forest. So, much of the first half of 2017 was spent planning, buying, preparing, buying, experimenting, practicing, buying, meeting, texting and emailing about preparing for the King's Peak hike with the scouts, which would happen in July. The scouts were required to go on one hike per month in order to prepare for the week long King's Peak experience. I don't have pictures from all hikes, but here are a few.
The kick off camp out was a little out of the way, but well worth it. Goblin Valley does not ever disappoint anybody, particularly a group of boys.
James, Mark and DJ. Spencer didn't go to Goblin Valley.
DJ and Brock.
I had to include this one of Brock, because it's one of my favorite pictures. Plus he's practically a member of our family.
Brock, James, Theo, Joe, Ryker, Porter, and DJ and Rock in the back.
It is appropriate here (and any given day) to give Mark all sorts of accolades because I don't think he has missed a campout with any of our boys in the eight years we've had scouts. This year he went above and beyond with not only going to every prep hike and camp out, but he hiked on his own every weekend to make sure he was in good shape for the big hike (his hikes will be memorialized in a separate post).
Shonn Tanner and Joe Freed are the fearless leaders who came up with the plan for the scouts to hike to King's Peak.
Jonathon, Nolan, Tanner, Ryker, Jacob, DJ, Seth (kneeling), Spencer, James, Brock, Porter, Colin, Theo and Jack.
The pre-hikes were to make sure the boys could handle the hiking and packing and also to make sure everyone had the gear they needed. It seemed like after every hike, we discovered something we missed on the pack list, or needed something that hadn't been thought of before. But, whatever they needed to survive in the wilderness for a week was fine by me! This is the first over night hike, which was on the ZigZag Trail, above Centerville, to make sure their overnight gear was appropriate.
In the way of back packs, Spencer used one of his scout leader's back packs, we bought a new one for James and Mark to fit them, and DJ was dead set on using Grandpa Astling's exterior frame back pack. We didn't think he would actually go through with it, but when DJ sets his mind to do something, he does it. I ended up having to sew an extra pocket onto the top flap to help keep some things in and other things out and to add to it's capacity.
One of the requirements for the hiking merit badge was to complete a 20 mile hike. I dropped the boys off right behind the Capital building and waited and watched on my phone as Mark's GPS showed me where they were.
The hike was a little strange as far as weather goes. It started out nice and sunny, then in the middle, right by the "B" it got really cold and a little wet. I was summoned to bring some warmer gear and a few more snacks.
The Bonneville shoreline trail was a great experience for the boys and for about a month after their trek, the boys would look up to the mountains and say, "Hey, we've been there," "hey, I've walked from there to there."
Bonus! Some llllllamas along the way!
As we (I say we, because I felt just as much a part of this experience as the boys) approached the King's Peak hike, Scout Master Joe thought it would be wise to do one more campout to make sure all equipment was in hand. . . or in pack. This hike was to Rudy's Flat, through Mueller Park, above Bountiful.
They discovered at this campout that mosquito nets were an absolute necessity.
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I think the troop is ready to go!
