ZION NARROWS - JUL 2009

For the 2nd year in a row, a few Grand Canyon Ward scouts, together with their dads, hiked 16 miles from Chamberlain's Ranch through the Zion Narrows to the Temple of Sinewava. 4:00PM on day one found the group trudging into campsite #10 after 11 miles on the river. Camp was only a couple hundred yards north and across the river from #12 where they camped the year previous. After dropping packs, setting up camp, rigging Roundy's and Curtis' hammocks, filtering water and throwing back some Mountain House, the boys began a game of hide and seek with no boundaries. After a few falls on the mossy rocks in the river, the boys returned to the campground where all read together from "For the Strength of Youth" and Mosiah 18. Scriptures were followed by several games of "Wink Murder" and bedtime. All but Paul Roundy were up by 5:00 the following morning eating oatmeal and packing. Brother Curtis and Cameron Rose, who slept under the stars, were the 1st back on the trail. Day 2 found the group floating down the river on their packs, swimming in the fountain of youth, mesmerized by Wall Street and passing the masses of tourists hiking up from the Temple of Sinewava. All but Cameron Rose and Luke Bailey took painful diggers on the slippery river rocks. Dexter won the prize for the best Fred Flintstone imitation when he fell so fast he had no time to break his fall with anything but his forehead. A lump the size of a baseball with a little heartbeat on the end of it emerged immediately. With the exception of a bump on the head and typical scrapes, scratches and very sore muscles, all went well and most are looking forward to next year. - GQE

MUMMY SPRING - JUL 2009

On the morning of July 18, 2009, Grand Canyon Ward scouts set out from the church by car to the Charleston Peak - North Loop Trailhead. From there, they hiked with full packs 2.5 miles along the North Loop Trail to Rain Tree. Rain Tree is a magnificent Bristlecone Pine and is one oldest living organisms known on earth - 2nd only to another Bristlecone named Methuselah. From Raintree, all but Trenton Rose and Daniel Buchanan left the North Loop Trail and hiked an additional half mile to Mummy Spring. An important lesson was learned when Trenton and Daniel took direction from a hiker who was not in our group and continued from Rain Tree up the North Loop Trail. When the rest of the group arrived at Rain Tree, the two young men couldn't be found. Brother Gunnerson, who had already gone the spring and returned, ran up the trail and found the 2 boys. They had become tired and stopped to rest and throw rocks at each other until the rest of the group showed up. On the way back to the group, Brother Gunnerson tactfully taught them that, under no circumstance, should they proceed past any fork in any trail or take direction from anyone but their parents or leaders. Unaware of the chastening, other leaders had the same talk with Daniel and Trenton on the way down the mountain. It was a great lesson for boys and leaders. Thunder clapped all around the group for most of the 5 hours. Rain sprinkled, came down good for about two minutes and then returned to a sprinkle. It was beautiful. Weather, terrain and altitude were all typical of what will be experienced in the Uintas this summer. Hats off to future boy scouts (DJ Overson, Brock Yates, Tucker and Ike Edwards) and Mae Edwards for hiking the entire 6 miles. - GQE

LONE MOUNTAIN - JUL 2009

On July 9, 2009, GC deacons and teachers took a 2nd trip to the peak. This time, we left vehicles at a small parking lot at the base of the mountain and did only the more difficult vertical climb to the peak. Once again, at the peak, we ate melon. Brother Gunnerson pulled out his laptop and showed the boys on Google Earth the route they will be taking in the Uintas this summer.

On the way down the mountain, a number of the boys outpaced the adult leaders and had to get creative to entertain themselves in the parking lot until the leaders returned. As the leaders approached the base of the mountain, Dexter Edwards came running down the trail and told his dad that he needed to come quickly - that the police had come to the parking lot and were asking for him. When Brother Edwards reached the parking lot he saw Brody Burley face down on one of the cop cars. One of the officers approached Edwards and the following conversation took place: The officer asked, "Do you know this young man."

Brother Edwards answered, "Yes."

"Where do you know him from?"

"Church"

"What church?"

"The Mormon Church"

"He fits the description of a young man in a red shirt running around this neighborhood waving a fire arm."

"I can attest that he has been with these young men on the mountain for the last 2 hours and at the church prior to that."

At that point another officer pulled Brody off the hood of the police car with rough hands, stood him up and asked Brother Edwards, "What's with his attitude? When we drove up, he was waving his arms at us and shouting expletives. Look at him now - he's standing there trying to look all hard. What do you have to say about that?"

Brother Edwards was white and shaking at this point. No way would one of his young men act like that. He searched for an explanation, but could only reply, "I'm very dissapointed."

The officer looked at Brody and asked who his parents were and what they did. Brody stood defiantly and answered the questions. The officer then got in Brody's face and, with thumb and index finger a quarter inch apart, told Brody, "You are this close to going to Juvy tonight."

At that point neither the boys nor the officers could control their laughter. All laughed. The joke was on Brother Edwards.

Policemen making routine rounds were stopped and convinced by Brody, Jared Harper and Dexter to play the joke of all jokes on their leaders. It was a prank that will, no doubt, make the Grand Canyon Ward Hall of Fame. Jared, Brody and Dex would be very wise to watch their backs at camp this summer. There is much very cold water in the Uintas.

Also noteworthy was young Callen Farimond's presence on the hike. Way to start him young, Damon! - GQE

LONE MOUNTAIN - JUN 2009

On June 25th, 2009, GC Ward deacons left from the Edwards home with full packs and hiked through nearby neighborhoods, to Lone Mountain Peak and then back to the Edwards. Round trip was 5 miles. The climb from the base of Lone Mountain to the peak was about 600 feet vertically in a half mile. It was a good warm-up for the Uinta Trip. We will experience similar distances and elevation change before lunch on many of the days at camp this summer. The highlight of the trip was fresh watermelon and canteloupe at the peak. - GQE