Scouting

Many of you are already aware of my passion for the scouting program. I have been involved with scouting as a youth and a leader for about 15 years. As a youth I had fantastic leaders, who taught us the value of working together and gave us the skills and competence to achieve virtually anything we set our minds to. Ken was one of my leaders who was the greatest example to me other than my dad who has been a leader for over 20 years. I thought the world of Ken and have tried to live his and my fathers legacy to all the scouts I have been a leader over.

Currently I have 12 scouts in my troop. I think the world of my boys and have been with them for 2 years. Scouter Trent who is my current assistant and Ed who used to be my assistant have been such an inspiration. To all you other leaders out there you know the challenges of trying to run the program. I couldn't do it without either of them. We have some pretty high goals this year. We have changed the program to accommodate the boys advancement into Ventures. Last year we completed 12 nights of camping and have a goal of 14 nights this year.

Our boys are absolutely amazing. They have come together and have acquired the skills needed to complete the goals we have this year. We have 2 patrols each governed by a patrol leader and they have chosen an assistant patrol leader to help them lead, teach, and hold order in their perspective patrols.

This was our second camp we had gone on. When ever I mention hiking I always get chewed out by the boys and this is why. I don't blame them, in fact they always expect something wild when we go hiking.

Here I was teaching them about various species of vegetation (wild flowers, shrubs, and trees) while on a hike during our spring camp for the Year Round Camper Award in 2007. Being an environmental scientist by profession sure has a real advantage when it comes to scouting.

Last summer we travelled into the Crowsnest Pass for our week long summer camp. While there we went on a tour of the Historic Bellevue Mine which covers requirement 6 of the Citizenship Pathfinder Level. It was well worth it. The scouts and Trent and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it to any Scout Troop.

Along with the mine tour we also stopped by the Frank Slide interpretive center and tried to determine where the bank would be located after being destroyed by the slide in 1903.
Hmmmmm........ what should I do with these two?????

On the north side of the Crowsnest Lake you will see a large cement culvert supporting the railway above it. By walking down the rail line from Island lake campground approx. 2km you will come across this karst spring running right through the mountain. When the flow is low, as was the case here there are caves you can crawl through and explore.

I see that at least two were listening when they were learning about the different kinds of vegetation they might see while hiking (Common juniper).

Yes, we do have to keep hiking. We aren't even half way yet. They were real troopers. We were trying to hike Turtle Mountain but started off on the wrong trail. Thanks to Levi our professional trail guide.

Next to where we were camping was a number of spoil piles from a nearby lime mine. Scouter Trent had just finished telling the scouts about his gravel pile jumping days and so we had to try it out. This is a video clip of my brother Levi. He was the only one out of all of us that could actually get somewhere. It's pretty cool!!!!

Scouts will be scouts............. Fun, Laughter, and Headaches.

WINTER CAMPING (SNOW CAVES)

On Feb. 29 and Mar. 1, 2008, Trent and I had the opportunity of taking our scouts on a winter camp a little north of Strathmore. Winter camping is one of my favorite things to do because of the challenges it presents, and the ability to snow cave. I absolutely loved building and sleeping in snow caves as a youth. It had been about 5 years since I last built and slept in a snow cave, due to my schooling. Scouter Trent and I worked for 3 hours digging out this one so we could sleep in it. Here is the opening of our snow cave. I chose this location to camp because of this abandoned irrigation canal all drifted in. The conditions made it perfect for snow caves.


This is an inside view looking back towards the entrance.



Here is the inside. It was very warm and spacious.



The scouts didn't do such a bad job themselves with their snow caves until some wild leader of theirs decided to give them a hand and build them a larger opening.


One of the reasons I love winter camping is the ability to have large fires. One because it is freezing, and two because the chance of starting a forest fire is slim to none.

Breakfast

Winter camping wouldn't be winter camping without a traditional winter sport.

Carribou Lodge

My oldest sister Tonya recently bought an old ski lodge in Pocatello Idaho. The ski runs are slightly grown over and the actual lodge has been remodeled by an interior designer, but the rest of the property and the acres they own are absolutely breathtaking. I was the only one in the family that hadn't been to their place and I was initially interested in going to conduct an assessment for renewable technology. It turns out that they have potential for a mini hydro system, solar, and wind power.

I took this picture from a run that used to be open to inner tubes only. Below is a view of the entire lodge that Tonya's family now calls home.

After walking in the front door and turning right this is the view. These pictures don't do the lodge any justice. The kitchen and the living room are joined. The 10 foot ceilings and large timbers are what I really enjoy.

This view is of the living room and a partial view of the large rock fireplace.

The fireplace is about 8 feet wide and about 3 times as large as the average house fireplace. I loved it.

Tonya attended a rustic log cabin furniture fair and purchased this coat rack along with a few other really rustic and neat things. I really like the look of this coat rack.

The next thing they bought was this pioneer wagon wheel chandelier. It is absolutely one of the most coolest things I have ever seen.

I thought this shelf was pretty neat. It is a piece of barn board supported by 3 railroad spikes.

In Tanner and Jessica's bedroom bathroom the bathroom mirrors are framed with barn board and have pieces of rusted authentic barbed wire attached to them.

This little bar upstairs was framed in with old barn board planks and then covered with a lacker coating for protection.

This is a view of the counter top of the bar. I find it really neat how the lichens and moss were preserved and added into this piece.

Strawberry Lake in Utah

While attending a missionary farewell in Richfield Utah I went ice fishing with a family friend/cousin Dustin and his son Kyler, and Dustin's friend Mike who is the funniest and easiest going guys ever. I had never met him before, but enjoyed every minute we were able to spend together. Dustin took us out to Strawberry Lake. It was a really nice drive up a winding road through a canyon. I have never used an ice hut when I have gone ice fishing and so this was a

good experience.

Kyler who is 11 years old caught the first and only fish of the day. Dustin is pulling the cutthroat trout out of the hole while Kyler holds the rod. Dustin and I received 2 bites but that was it. It just wasn't our day. Kyler and I were in the ice hut that was heated by a propane burner while Dustin and Mike barred the elements outside. We had 4 holes in the ice hut, here you can see 2 of them.

This cutthroat was 17 inches long. Nice sized fish if you ask me, but too small for Strawberry. They have to be at least 22 inches long therefore we had to throw it back.