Canyon Creek Ice Caves

This last weekend we took our scouts into the Kananaskis Country camping. We left on Thursday April 10 and returned Saturday April 12, 2008. We hiked into our camp from the Canyon Creek parking lot approximately 5 km, and then headed directly south into the forest 1 km from Shell Canada's access road and set up camp. The hike nearly killed Trent and I as we found out how tremendously out of shape we were.

Here is a few of the 11 scouts just beginning there 5 km hike to the campsite.

Here we have marked our territory. The Wolverine chosen as our troop emblem signifies endurance and strength. Both of witch we accomplished on this camp. We were not prepared for the amount of hiking we accomplished but all 30 km were well worth the blisters and back aches. My hat goes off to our boys for what we were able to accomplish.

Our big plans to construct the optimal shelters went right out the window for Trent and I as we arrived to our proposed camp site around 10:30 pm. Two of the scouts worked hard and built this shelter. At the end of the camp they received awards for the most natural shelter. During every camp Trent and I look for behaviors and traits from the boys that show exemplary service and skill. At the end of the camp we gather the scouts together and go over the awards. The scouts receiving the awards then have a chance to choose from any number of items (knife, sling shot, matches, flashlight, candy, multi tools, hatchet, swag etc.) Many of the items come from the contractors I work with. I am not a big fan of swag and usually end up putting it in a box and later giving it out as an award to the boys. We gave out 7 awards at this camp.

These two scouts were the second runners up for the most natural shelter.

Here was the leaders optimal shelter. We were so beat! Nothing fancy but it did the trick.

The other 6 scouts constructed shelters very similar to this one. On Friday night all the boys built reflector fires just outside the door of their shelter for warmth.

I was quite impressed to see that this stump was being utilized. All of the scouts have gone through the axe and saw safety training. At every camp location a stump such as this one is prepared in the area where the wood cutting takes place for this very purpose. If a hatchet, axe, and saw is found in a live tree, laying on the ground, or in the ground every scout is required to bring in 3 dead trees to camp and cut up two of them. I find if you make them all responsible they will look out for and discipline each other. The best kind of hatchet to buy your scout(s) shouldn't cost more than $12.00. If you look in this picture the wooden handled one is not recommended. The best hatchets are the steel shafted ones.

Canyon creek offered us some of the purest water I have ever tasted. This rock out crop was one of the best locations I have ever seen in all the years Ive camped for accessing a stream for water. This particular pool was approximately 2 feet deep.

Typical young men.

Here is a picture of our group hiking to the ice caves.

While on our way to the ice caves we passed through some limestone shale areas where the scouts found literally dozens of fossils including; trilobites, corals, leaf/invertebrate impressions, clams etc.

Here is an example of one of the fossils they found. Look Closely.

The three stooges................

Ahhhh.......... at last after 10 km we have arrived at the ice caves. It was very deceiving. When I first looked at this crack in the mountain it didn't look like a cave at all, until I walked up inside.

Lunch time. Some of the boys had instant meals and needed to boil water. We used a combination of back packing stoves and fire to cook our meals. The entrance of the cave was also quite chilly approximately -10 to -15 degrees Celsius so the fire came in quite handy. The place chosen for the fire was perfect as all three walls reflected the heat directly out making it very hot with minimal firewood.

Just inside the entrance of the cave on the west wall is this giant crack. If you are careful you can climb up to the top approximately 80 feet and look out over the canyon. Two of the boys climbed up in this photo and pretended to be superman. At the top is a large slate of rock and fastened in a crack is an anchor for those of you who like to repel off rock walls.

Looking down from the ledge.

Here is a view looking east towards the opening of the cave. I was laying on the slate of rock. The distance between the rock ceiling and the rock slate is approximately 1 1/2 to 2 feet.

Here is Scouter Trent and one of the boys looking out over the canyon 80 feet in the air.

This is the view of the Canyon from the rock ledge. If you look as far as the eye can see down stream you might see our camp.

On the west end of the slate outcrop is this hole. Trent calls it the snake hole because you pretty much have to slither like a snake to get through it. Once on the other side you can view the canyon from a whole new perspective. I managed to slither through it with only a little trouble.

Trrreeeennnntttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This picture is of all of us before going deep into the cave behind us. Notice our head lamps it was very dark. Inside the cave approximately 300 meters in was a huge column of ice. It was really neat. Going further you eventually come to a wall of ice which Trent said hadn't changed much from the last time he was there 10 years ago. Once you get to the wall of ice if you are feeling ambitious head to the west and you will find a small crawl space 1.5 meters in length. On the other side is a whole new cave that extends back approximately 250 meters. From they're on you need to have ropes etc.

Coolio's

If scouts aren't burning things they're climbing something, and if there not doing that they are simply whittling away at a piece of wood in this case a walking stick.

What is he thinking about?

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.