Again to Horseshoe Dec. 1-2 2017

The boys' tent

We had so much fun the last time we went to Horseshoe Canyon camping that the boys decided they wanted to go to the exact same spot.  It took a little effort to get there as it gets dark early now and Aaron was having trouble with his 4 wheel drive not wanting to do what it was supposed to.  We met at the Fox Creek Parking lot at 5000 S.  Those who came were Kiowa (Old Reliable), Chase (Chewy Chocolate Chumpy Chunky Chewy Chase or just Chumpy), Gabren (Gabrenator) and Josh (Tall Mr. Teapot).  Leaders were myself, Andrew and Aaron.  We missed Dalton, Zach, Robert and Bowdy.

There was as much snow there this  time as there was the last time we were there but at least this time it wasn't actually dumping wet snow on us.  As there were only 4 boys they decided to set up just one tent.  We had brought the wall tent but it didn't look like it would get very cold so we didn't worry about setting it up.  Josh ended up sleeping in his dad's truck.

The highlight of the trip was dinner where we had decided to do tinfoil dinners.  We got the fire going and after awhile had enough coals to cook them.  They smelled really good.  Tinfoil dinners have really evolved.  I did not have much time to put much effort into mine.  I grabbed some hamburger out the freezer and whacked a hunk off it, then opened a bag of frozen hashbrowns and dumped that in.  The only other thing I could find was green beans in a can so I opened that and put a few of those in with a big lump of butter.  It turned out good, but the boys' had shrimp and steak, bratwurst, potatoes in ranch dressing with chicken etc.  As mine was frozen I had to wait longer to let mine cook and my stomach was growling really bad, especially after Kiowa gave me a bite of his.  It was really good and made me only hungrier.

Around the campfire I gave 2 scoutmaster minutes.  The first was a scripture in Revelations about being hot or cold and not lukewarm.  If you are lukewarm the Lord will just spit you out.  It basically means, are you truly committed to doing what is right?  And to stop sitting on the fence.  Be true both at church and when you are not at church.  The second minute was about the need for them to prepare now for missions as there are a lot missionaries that come home these days.  If they are committed and prepared they are less likely to come home if they go on a mission.

The boys went to bed fairly early and only talked until around 10:30, not the usual 5 am business.  It was so quiet and peaceful there.  The clouds were clearing off and the moon was coming out making it very bright.  It was a beautiful night.  After me and Aaron and Andrew had stood around the fire talking until 11:00 pm about we decided to go to bed.  I had brought my bivy sack and so just put my pad and sleeping bag in it and slept in the snow.  I was quite cozy.  Aaron and Andrew used the insulated tarps and just slept in them.  I woke up in the middle of the night and the stars were out and the trees were all silvery.  Wow, that makes sleeping in the snow all the more worthwhile.  I dreamed coyotes were running through the camp but it turns out they were just yapping somewhere as they do.

I woke up about 6:45 and laid around as I didn't want to get out of the warm coziness.  I could hear Aaron tromping around already and then he turned on his diesel pump, which sounded like a squawking dinosaur, to get some diesel to get the fire going.  So I reluctantly crawled out.  After the fire was going I woke up the boys and we had a good "Mountain Man" breakfast.  The funny thing, we decided, was the mountain men probably never used sausage, eggs, hashbrowns and tortilla shells to make a breakfast.  We cleaned up and went home after that.  Aaron had to take his truck to his shop and get his 4 wheel drive fixed but other than that things were uneventful and it was a very enjoyable campout.

Aaron's tarp

My bivy sack over by my truck with the kitchen in the foreground

Andrew rolling up his tarp that he slept on.

False Paintball and Horseshoe Canyon 10/21-10/22/2017

We were going to go camping and take the paintball guns.  Two things went wrong.  It snowed about 4 inches and our little man in charge of the paintball guns forgot to put in the CO2 canisters.  It was a fun trip despite that.  We were originally going to go over by Conant Creek but the way the wet snow was coming down I figured the roads would be too greasy for a trailer.  As it turned out, going to Horseshoe Canyon instead, we had a little bit of trouble on the greasy wet road but we made it there ok.   Good idea we didn't go to our original place because those roads can get awful muddy and deep.

Those who came were, Chase, Kiowa, Dalton, Josh and Zach.  Myself and Andrew were the leaders.  It was snowing really heavy for awhile so we stretched a tarp out for a shelter since our awning got destroyed last year by some kind of whirlwind.  We cooked dinner which was hamburgers.  As usual we had hot dog buns for hamburgers.  Typically we have some sort of funny thing happen like that.   The boys were good-natured about it.  

The boys went to bed early which is weird for a campout.  Me and Andrew stayed outside around the fire, which for some reason, kicked out the perfect amount of heat.  I was going to sleep under the tarp originally but because of the snow I decided to put up my tent.  The snow made a nice cozy soft bed under the tent.  Andrew slept under the tarp and did very well.   

We got up that morning and had oatmeal for breakfast.  I put my paintball gun together and started popping off shots to get the boys moving out of bed faster.  Then I realized we did not have any CO2 cannisters.  The boys were a little bit disappointed but we will have to find time to do it some other day.

Kiowa brought a box of completely frozen hamburgers.  We just kept flipping them over like one big pancake until we could break them apart and cook them.

The boys tents.  Josh and Zach in the first one and Chase, Kiowa and Dalton in the far one.

Not sure why but this fire really kicked out the heat and dried out clothes out fast.

Our makeshift awning

cooking

my tent

Morning comes and we  find Andrew under the tarp

This is a video of Chase trying to throw my paintball grenade since we had nothing else to do.  It turned out to be a dud and just spurted to the ground

Somebody found my phone

Horseshoe Canyon, May 2-3 2017

We had planned to go to Horseshoe Lake, originally, which is right up by the border of Yellowstone Park.  I had  Chase call the Forest Service to see if we could even get up there at this point as there was so much snow this year.  He called them and they told us not to come as it was a mud hole.  We changed our plans to Horseshoe Canyon instead.  Those who came were Chase, Kiowa, Gabren and Robert.  Zach came up a little later after his sister's graduation from High School.  The Leaders who came were myself and Andrew.  Andrew also brought Heber and Henry.  Some of the boys had to miss because of family events with graduation.

Me and Andrew first decided to meet at my storage to dump the wall tent and the insulated tarps.  We have not been able to get in and out of the trailer very well.  Both of us were a little late getting there as my dogs had escaped and it took me awhile to find them.  Boy, if they get out they are a pain.  We got the trailer a little more clean and then headed to the church and were there by 5:35.  The boys were already there waiting for us.  We threw in our gear, said a prayer and off we went.  

We found a spot on the west side of the road that was nice and grassy with a creek and a lot of willows.  We had been donated some new smaller tents so the first thing we did was set them up.  Afterward the boys went and attacked ant hills.  They would put their hand on one and see how long it would take before they got bit.  Robert built a dam in the creek with a shovel.  Gabren also thought it would be funny to sit on one ant hill.  As they explored they found many many ant hills.  Unbelievable how many there were.  One time as they all had their hand in an ant hill, (they were also very jumpy when they were doing this) I pulled out my .44, hid behind a tree and shot it at the hillside behind them.  They all jumped pretty high.  By the way, we are not supposed to have guns on a scouting camp-out but we are also right in the middle of bear (both types) and mountain lion country.  A guy was mauled last week in a different mountain range but none-the-less it could happen here.

I had a few minutes before we started cooking dinner so I worked through the trailer and started cleaning it up.  I was successful in finding all kinds of food including chips, cookies, chili, graham crackers, marshmallows, granola bars, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, ketchup, mustard, tang, hot chocolate and a few other things.  I think the Quartermasters owe me an ice-cream as I was successful in making a pathway through there.  

Dinner was hotdogs and chili with cheese and sourcream.  Most of them just made chili dogs.   Later I decided to see if the popcorn was still good.  Andrew had a cube of butter so I put some of it in a pan and poured in a bunch of kernels.  I shook the pan after it got hot and lo and behold the popcorn popped really nice.  It was really good too.  I made a couple batches of it.  

Going to bed was uneventful, except for the heaviest dew was laying down and covering everything.  Things were soaked when we woke up and there was also some frost.  Breakfast was pancakes and sausage.  Not long after cleanup we packed up and left even though the tents were still soaked.  We decided to just let them dry at home.  

This was a very pleasant and relaxing camp-out with nice warm weather and sunny skies.  We had plenty of time to relax and just explored.  I video-d some of the kids and the ant-hills and will try to get everybody a copy of it.

The first ant hill is discovered.  Gabren, Kiowa and Chase

Henry, Robert and Heber.  Note the two new tents.

Gabren thinks smiling at them will make them not bite

Ok here goes

"Oh that didn't hurt"

Gabren, Chase, Kiowa

I wonder if Chase got ants in his chili

Andrew, Robert, Heber and Henry

Quick draw stance with your knife maybe?

This feels good

Ouch!

Kiowa and Robert

Watch out for tree huggers

Heber and Henry.  This is Robert's dam

Andrew

Now Gabren is at it.  New girlfriend?

Add caption

Found a big one

Now Robert is thinking about it

Quite a few ants there boys

Chase is doing the ants in pants dance

The pan of popcorn.  It was sure good.

Morning.  Chase is the first one up.

Looking out my tent

Going Home