Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Pre-Dig for the Klondike


 On Saturday, the Scouts ventured into Logan Canyon to dig their snow shelters.
They plan on sleeping in them this Friday.
 They donned their snow gear in layers, packed a day pack. 
In Arizona you never packed anything that would melt.
Well, in Utah, you don't really need to worry about that.
We did discover that Nature Valley Sweet and Salty
Granola bars freeze becoming hard as a rock.
Hmmm.  Won't be packing them.
 Who would have ever thought that the sleds Santa brought for Christmas
would become a way of transporting gear up a mountain side.
The boys (and Kirk) got a taste of snowshoeing.
Jared said they were the hardest things to hike in.
He said that he would rather hike 10 miles
in 100 degree heat then hike up the hill
in SNOWSHOES!
Now remember.......Jared is 16.  And opinionated!

 It was very difficult hiking up this hill because the snow
was like powder.
They call it "sugar snow".
 Crisp and Clean.

 The nice thing about this trip is knowing that there is a Yurt nearby
for if someone starts showing signs of hypothermia
and needs to be warmed up.
 These are a really nice group of boys.
The Dad's going, aside from Kirk, have been snow camping since college.
They know what they are doing.

They had enough snowshoes that we didn't have to purchase any.
 All the boys drew from a hat a slip of paper with the type of shelter
they were to build and sleep in.
Lunch break.
Looks like Fun!
Kaleb is on the right.
 Here Ian is tunneling into his snow cave. 
These boys worked real hard and burned quite a bit of energy.
 Jared is digging an entrance to his Trench and Tarp shelter.
Or otherwise known as a "Scout Grave".
He couldn't wait to go to Sunday School on Sunday
because the leader is always
asking the kids what they did that week.
Jared wanted to say that he "dug a grave".
 I have no idea how it would be to sleep in there.
The girls and I are going to be hanging out at home nice and toasty.
Actually I would love to have this experience.
Kaleb and three other boys built/dug a Quincy big enough for all 4 of them
to sleep in. They piled a mound of snow and then tunneled down and
then up into the middle.  Kaleb and another boy were inside it when it
accidently caved!  Kaleb's head was sticking out the opening.
They both said they couldn't move but the Dad's and the other boys had them
dug out in a matter of seconds. 
Makes a Mother worry.
With the snow fall that we have had this week
they are hoping to find the shelters in good shape.
More pictures to come after this weekend.

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