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

CHARLESTON PEAK - JUN 2009

On June 12, 2009, Troop 624 departed from the church for the Griffith Peak trailhead. When we arrived at the trailhead at 3:00 PM, we got our packs and had a prayer. We were so lucky to have the Roundy’s cousins Josh & Blake. Without their kindness and rugged strength, we may not have finished the hike. The 1st mile and a 1/2 were easy. After that, we struggled up the mountain. Everyone was spaced out along the trail. Some people were hours ahead of others. I was about an hour ahead of the slowpoke Quincy. In my group it was just me and Brody Burley. Brody and I were just behind Dexter Edwards, Tanner Jensen, and Josh Curtis. As soon as Brody and I would catch up to the group, they would give us a grin and then, fast as lightning, they would be gone. This same scenario took place throughout the day up. After a while the Roundy’s Cousin Blake was flying up the trail and was going to pass Brody and me up. We thought that he would stop for a few minutes with us but when he arrived he said keep going and then was gone faster than a cheetah. After about ten minutes we heard people behind us. It was Brother Rose. I was stunned when I saw him with a smile. He walked with us around a corner and then we waited for a while. Brody had left us and caught up with the other group. After the Roundy’s cousin Josh caught up with us, everyone was on his tail. We all took a break and then we started up the steepest and the hardest part. When I was about 20 ft. away from the meadow, someone was cuddling up against a tree. I thought it was Tanner but to my surprise it was Brody. The big group was right ahead of us. They were all running. We got into the meadow and there was no one to be seen. After waiting for a good 45 minutes, Cody and Brother Graham came out of the trees behind us. Together with Cody and Brother Graham, we looked for the big group but couldn’t find them. Finally, the Roundy’s Cousin Josh came out of the blue and saved us. We all went to the spot where they had set up a few tents. Then Brother Roundy and Trenton came through the trees. We didn’t stay up long that night. We had just hiked 6 miles with full packs. It was 34 degrees, windy and we were camping at 10,660 feet. We were all way too tired and cold to do anything. We built a fire, ate dinner and went to bed.


Early morning on June 13, 2009 we took down camp and rebuilt the fire. We all ate breakfast and then headed for the peak. When I caught up to Blake and Trenton Roundy, we all started to sprint trying to catch up to their cousin Josh. He was nearly there so we stopped sprinting and settled down. We got to the end of the trees and Dexter got a headache and stopped. We all kept going and, 4 miles later, eventually got to the peak. We all took a long break, ate, took pictures and looked off the peak. When we started to leave, it was a race between Josh Curtis, Blake, The Roundy’s cousin josh and Me. We ran the 4 miles back down to camp in 45 minutes. We waited for a while for everyone to get to camp and then took off. Dexter, Tanner and I started down and were half way in about 45 minutes. Josh Curtis caught up to us and he and Dexter left all of us in the dust. I sprinted for a good 30 minutes and caught up to them. Dexter sprinted because he wanted to go to sleep and because his little brother was going to pass him up. We were racing side by side for another 15 minutes and got to the finish line. I came in 2nd. When Josh, Josh, Cameron, and Tanner arrived, we waited for two and 1\2 hours. We climbed from 8,500 to 11,900 feet and back down. We covered 20 miles in less than 24 hours and had an amazing time. - GLE

RINGBOLT RAPIDS - APR 2009

On saturday April 24, 2009 Grand Canyon Ward deacons and teachers hiked to Ringbolt Rapids. The leaders were Brother Overson, Brother Edwards, Brother Gunnerson, and Brother Roundy. We left the church at about 7:00 for the trailhead. It took about and hour to get there. When we got there, my dad (Brother Edwards) gave us some great counseling and advice. It was "Stay behind Brother Gunnerson or you will be injured by rattle snakes." What that meant to us scouts is that if we don't stay behind Brother Gunnerson, we will suffer the cosequences and be eaten and over-devoured in the great snake's insides. While I was pondering on that advice, I was thinking, "What could be worse?" We had to hike at 8:00 P.M. and watch out for the snakes. We arrived at the river at about 9:00 PM. We set up camp, ate Mountain House dinners and then bolted for the hot springs. We stayed in the hot springs until midnight throwing pebbles and quoting Nacho Libre and Monte Python. Trenton Roundy took his soaking wet stretchy shirt and towel-whipped each scout as they were coming down the ladder. We went back to camp and all fell asleep within 20 min. In the morning we woke and sat up in our sleeping bags. My dad started to toss pebbles from the wash we slept in at the scouts. It wasn't long before all were throwing back at him. My dad got Trenton Rose really good in the stomach and as soon as my dad looked back, one the size of a golf ball drilled my dad in the teeth. My dad cried, "That was much harder!" I picked one up and tried to get Easton in the back but hit him in the head. It was great. At 6:30 we went and did the polar bear swim where you jump off a twenty five foot cliff into 54 degree Colorado River water before the sun comes up. Brother Edwards, Dallen Layton, Easton Fogg and Trenton Rose participated. We ate oatmeal for breakfast then went back to the hot springs at 8:00AM. Everyone had fun. We all jumped off the cliff a few more times then departed from camp at 11:00. It took a good two hours before everyone arrived at the cars. We had a great time. - Locke Edwards (Troop Historian)

It wasn't all fun & games. Boys also learned how to purify river water, pack and operate 3 different kinds of backpacking stoves, shoulder and adjust their packs and they passed off the following requirements: Camping MB 5E,6B,7B,8A; Backpacking MB 5A,6B,8B,9CE; Wilderness Survival MB 10 and Deacon Duty to God Physical Development #6. Participants were Dallen Layton, Easton Fogg, Austin Brasier, Cameron Rose, Dexter Edwards, Tanner Jensen, Trenton Rose, Daniel Buchanan, Nick Cazares, Trenton Roundy, Josh Jones and Locke Edwards (whose poetry can be read above).

Special thanks to the wives of the young men leaders who sacrificed their vehicles and took care of business at home so that we could romp with the youth.

Special thanks also to Paul Roundy for pulling double time. YM is not his calling, but he found time, as he always does, to shuttle, cook for, entertain the YM and pay back Austin Brasier for soaking Paul at scout camp last summer by filling Austin's pack with large boulders prior to the hike out.

Finally, thanks to the wonderful young men of the Grand Canyon Ward who never fail to impress me. New scouts, Josh and Nick hiked like champs and all behaved like gentlemen. Parents should be proud.

KLONDIKE DERBY

On February 27th, we will be camping in the snow (itinerary forthcoming). Boys need to begin assembling cold weather gear now in order to have a good experience. Following is a list of items to start with:

1. Back pack
2. 20 degree (min) sleeping bag w/stuff sack
3. Ski pants (or bibs)
4. Snow boots (Michael Rosencrants can attest to how poorly wet sneakers work)
5. Fleece hooded sweatshirt (cotton does not work good in the snow).
6. Ski gloves