Campout at Mike Harris

On May 20, 2016 we assembled at the parking lot at 5000 S. at 5:00p.m. We were going to go to Teton Valley Lodge to do their annual fly fishing campout, however, just before we left I discovered it was cancelled.  I had thought I ought to text Brian B. and ask him details about it and he told me it had been cancelled.  We decided then to go to Mike Harris canyon as we thought it might be a little more protected against the wind and rain.  It turns out if we had gone to Teton Valley Lodge that we would have been much wetter and muddier.  If you want to scroll down and look at my post last year you will see how wet we were then.  I think this year would have been worse.  We had our share of rain at the campout but we did not have hardly any wind which helped.  

We had 10 boys including Alex K., who came along with his dad.  Those present were: Kaleb, Chase, Zach, Andrew, Antonio of the 12-13 year olds and Kiowa, Josh, Bowdy and Gabren of the 11 year olds.  Just a quick note on these blogs.  One of the reasons for writing this blog is so when we have forgotten what happened a long time later, we know what we did and most importantly, we know who was present.  That way it will be clear who did what and how many campouts they were on.  The leaders that came were me, Aaron and Andrew.  I really appreciate them coming because its hard sometimes to be away from family, especially when all it does is rain.

Camp is set up and there's a pause in the rain so we get some snacks out.  From the right, Alex, Chase, Gabren, Josh, Kiowa, Bowdy and Andrew in the foreground.

Andrew, Zach and Aaron

Bowdy and Andrew

Kaleb and Antonio coming back from running 100 yards.  I told them I would give them a buck if they would run it.  They never did get their buck though.

I sent them back again to run another 100 yards.  A little later a bunch of deer were spotted on that hillside behind these two and off they ran again to catch the deer.

For dinner we each brought a can of stew or soup or whatever was in a can that they wanted.  We then built up the fire to get some coals and we put our cans on the coals to cook them.  Before placing them on the fire we poked a hole in them of course.  I've done this a few times in the past and a few times we've had a can explode.  Luckily everybody was diligent in getting a hole in their can so we had none of that.

It rained off and on and some of the boys got soaked.  A few of them waded through the creek with their shoes on.  Some of them were cold.  Some of them were better prepared.  About 10:00 pm we got them to their tent and in bed.  The usual chatter was going on and things seemed normal.  All of a sudden I'm hearing "Get Chad!" "Get Chad".  So I go down to their tent and lo and behold Gabren had puked and most of it had hit Bowdy's blanket and sleeping bag.  That was a fun time helping to clean it up.  I went up and got a bowl that they could puke in if needed.  Andrew got a bucket of water and some paper towels and we tried to get them to clean it up but they were gagging and almost puking at the same time.  It was going nowhere so I took the blanket out and dragged it on the wet grass which got most of it off.  Then we used the water and towels and got most of it off the sleeping bag.  It was funny and nasty at the same time watching them hold the puke bowl to their mouths and gagging while they tried to clean it off.  While I was dragging the blanket in the grass I noticed there were a lot of nite crawlers and a couple of the boys came out and caught them while the other boys were gagging.

We finally got that done the best we could and poor Bowdy had to sleep in a puky blanket or be cold but it turned out ok.  The usual chatter went on until about 2-3 am.  I had put my tent up higher and not far from the creek so I could barely hear them.  I slept pretty well but then the birds started chirping around 5 am and I laid there for awhile and couldn't sleep.  About 5:45 I gave up and got up and put my gear away.  I got the fire going and rousted them all up.  Aaron and Andrew were not far behind.

Breakfast was the usual eggs, sausage and hashbrowns with tortilla shells.  We got it cooked, eaten, and cleaned up but the boys took a little longer on the cleanup than they should have.  We had a brief discussion on what they learned and most of them agreed that they had let themselves get too wet.  The realization of being prepared sunk in a little more.

We had told them they could fish if we got things packed up fast enough but it turned out they took so long we only had a half hour to fish.  It was fairly decent fishing with 3 being caught and a few biting, however.  Alex caught the first two and then Zach caught one as we were reeling in to go.  We got in our vehicles just as a drenching storm hit and it really poured then.  When we got to the church parking lot it was like buckets being poured on us as we distributed all the stuff.  Despite me harping on them all the time to get their stuff I still ended up with coats, shirts and gloves in the back seat of my truck.  All in all a good day and despite the hard weather I still wouldn't miss it.

Alex catches the first fish.  Chase, Josh, Alex and Aaron

Whoops its slippery

Get it before it goes in the water

Ok now we got ahold of it

Andrew and Antonio

Gabren way back there, Kiowa, Josh and Chase

"Look at this beeauteeful fish.  I'm going to love it and take good care of it." said Chase  Gabren's leg on the far left, Bowdy, Zach, Kiowa, Chase and  Josh.  At the far upper right I believe its either Kaleb and Andrew S. or Antonio and Andrew S.

Ahh never mind I want to live up to my name!  Chewy Chase!

Alex catches the second fish and its bigger.

Whoops there he goes!  He almost got back in the water like the other.

Chase claims Alex's second fish as well.  I told the boys hurry up its time to go as the parents were waiting for them at the church.  Zach catches one at the last minute and here he is trying to dispatch it.  Zach, Chase, Gabren and Kiowa

Maybe a rock will take care of it

Look at my prize!  Nice job guys.  Zach, Kiowa and Chase