Western trip is over - Page 2

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 01:53 PM

Tonight we're at Grant campground. Another one of those out in the boondocks places. Up here it was getting colder. even this old boy from Wisconsin put his jeans and a sweatshirt on for the nite

We were informed by the park ranger that a grizzly bear was in the area but acrossed the hiway from where we were (couple miles). We didn't tell the boys so as not to scare em and have them all sleep in the vehicles that night.

Dinner tonight is Chicken and rice soup. MMmmm good on a cold night like this.

The boys had some free time tonight so they got the foot ball out and played some games

The other leaders and I discussed the bear situation and after an assurance from my hunting and tracking skills. Agreed that the bear would follow in the opposite direction going upwind looking for a food source rather than downwind hoping to find something.

This was another perfect night for Star gazing (that is if it wasn't so darned cold) All the constallations were visible and the Milky way was magnificent. the bad thing was the digital cameras would focus on anything and therfore wouldn't allow me to snap a picture of the stars. I was rather bummed about that.

DAY SIX

It got down right cold last night. It looked like any normal Wisconsin mornin in October. Frost everywhere and ice in a few places (got down to 34 degrees).

Even brought this lone female Elk into our camp.

During breakfast the ranger stopped in and confirmed what we discussed the night before that the bear had indeed gone upwind from our position.

Down the road again. This time our Stop is the Grand Tetons. oh whata gorgeous site thes are.

In order to get to our starting point we took a boat trip across the lake. It was chilly that morning and for some rather wet too.

As with any group. There's always someone who take an extra trip and gets injured.

It wasn't too bad. just a little scrape.
We hiked all the way to the waterfall

and then upwards to inspiration point about 7200 ft up.

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 02:16 PM

We were up at inspirtion point for a while.

The view at the top was teriffic. Snow covered Mountain tops in the beginning of August

The chipmunks (Alvin, Theodore, and the others) were very friendly. eating out of the hands of the kids who decided to feed them their peanuts and m&m's.
Like this guy saying in hyper language mode " com on got any more, com on, com on, I know ya got more, let me have some more, please please please!!!!

Just as we were about to head back down, we spotted a bear near other tourists on a bridge. too far for us to yell and have tem hear us over the rush and roar of the waterfall, so all we could do is watch. Somewhere in this pic below the trail and the white colored rock you can see a black spot which is the bear.

We waited and watched for a while then lost site of the bear so so we headed back down the mountian. On our way down we found him again. Right next to our trail and climbing.

As we got closer to the boat landing for the trip back across the lake, we were suprised by another bear eating on the trail. These guys had to be following the trail of food up top at inspiration point. I know I could smell the Peanuts and M&M'S they had up there.

Once we were out of the tetons and on the road. One of the other leaders spotted this fantastic site of a male Elk (as he called it. Looks like a buck to me) bounding along the roadway.

For more Teton Photos visit the slideshow Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 02:33 PM

Now that most all the hiking is out of the way. We found our Camp at Coulter Bay.
It was a little warmer here, but the campsite was solid rocks. We bent many a tent stake here.

Everywhere was rocks, even where we set up the camp kitchen

Here we had free time for the kids again so many of them went off in the woods to play on the fallen trees and logs. Just before dark I went out to get them. Along the noisy trail of sound I was following I found someones Cell phone laying on the ground with no one around. I put it in my pocket for later.
I got the kids back to camp where we had a fire already going. Sat everyone down and proceeded with our nites program.
I started off with the "Mackenzie River Ghost Story". By then it was dark and One of our reent Eagle scouts stepped up and began his game of "If I could bring anything to the Moon I'd bring......" This lasted quite a while. As it took a few adults a long time to catch on to the game. (Maybe we'll try it on this forum some nite.) From there we did a campfire Song, and the Scout Vespers while the fire burned down and we extinguished it.

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 02:43 PM

Everyone slept pretty good last night. A little warmer then the past few, btu still cool.
Today is the day all the boys have been looking forward to. The White water Rafting trip down the Snake River.
I don't have many photos of this yet. None of us wanted to bring the digital camera s along so we had a couple Water proof film cameras. Haven't gotten the film processed yet. here is what we do have.
Eating the Boatmans Breakfast at the rafting company.

Getting fitted for wet suits since it only 45 degrees this morning.

One of our Eagle scouts in his wet suit

The whole group in front of one of the rafts we'll be taking

All out and waiting for Lunch

Got a few more pics of the rafting trip. we piucked up my sons disposable waterproof camera photos today. so here ya go with the on the water portion of the trip.

I'm in for a swim

The water round here is so CLEAR, but also so COLD at only 54 degrees.

The hard part was pulling poeple back into the boat especially if they were bigger than you.

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 03:09 PM

From the rafting trip we had a long haul to Rawlins, WY. Set upa movie for the boys and turned up the heat for a while to take the chill off from being in the river.

Next stop was the KOA campground in RAWLINS.
We arrived as dusk fell. erected all the tents and camp kitchen.

The pool was closing as we got there, but the owners graciously opened it for a little longer for the boys to use. For that we thank them very Much.

The sad part about today is that our Scout Master became ill a day or so ago and we've been tending to him. We convinced him to go to a hotel for the nite for a warm bed and quiet rest. We also found out that his medications had run out. our Assistant scout master called around and found a walgreens in the next town to fill his prescription again, but we would have to wait till morning to get it.

Day Eight

Wow!!! Seems like we just started yesterday and we're almost done.

Breakfast today was French toast and Bacon. We cooked the french toast on our camp stoves and took the bacon over to the KOA Camp kitchen. Very Nice.

Our Scout Maaster was feelin a little better after a good nites rest.
We went on down the road and picked up his Meds and were on our way again.
Another long driving day so more movies for the boys.
We arrived at Cabela's in Sidney, WY (our scout masters favorite store, and the headquarters of the operation)

This store wasn't as big as a few of the others I've been in, but it was still pretty large.

Then it was back to the road. We had time to make up and another 215 miles to go yet.
More movies to keep the boys entertianed and the adults sane.
As we arrived in Kearney, NE we treated the boys to the one and only indoor meal of the trip. We stopped at the USA Steak Buffet.
Watching these guys eat was somthing else. I would have swore they hadn't eaten in days, but I know they did. I ate the same things.
Hungry looking herd aren't they?

everyone ate well. And some too well.

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 04:26 PM

After everyone stuffed themselves on steak and all the fixins. We hopped on down the road to the Great Platte River Road Archway. There we met up with Ronnie our Indian Lore merit badge director.
She explained to the boys what they needed to do. Build a scale model ofa Pawnee mud hut. She took them on a short tour of the full sized one they had help building (Pawnee and Arikara indians built it by hand for the Museum).

They were given the propper tools of the time and set out to build themselves a scaled model.

They gathered sticks and grasses to build what they needed. set the main supports in place and set them in mud

Then on to thatching and mudding the roof

The boys worked into the night but got the roof done. The rest will wait till morning.

The boys climbed into their sleeping bags inside the real mud hut and dozed off to sleep.

DAY Nine

Early Morning. I asked the boys if the Museum came to life last night. But not one of them caught on. Guess they're not very brilliant that early in the morning. Had to explain that we must have needed the golden tablet of Ak Mun Rah from the movie "Night at the Museum"
After that they did say they had some pleasant dreams in the mud hut, so they're some good vibes coming from it.

Today they finished the sides and applied the rest of the mud to the scaled model.

The mud hut is to be used as a educational center as well as a sleeping facility for the museum

From there we went inside the museum to work on ancient indian clothing. Todays item was Leggings.

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 04:41 PM

After the Indian Leggings, Ronnie brought out some old Indian games they would have had back in the day. Very Simple games, but the boys enjoyed them.

This one is similar to rolling dice. Some seeds had dots others didn't. You rolled them out and counted the seeds with spots. That was your score.

This one is a test of reflex and skill. You have to balance a number of sticks on the back of your wrist. Then quickly flip them in the air and grab as many as you can. One of the boys was up to 10.

. Instruction was now over and the boys got their passes for the museum. they were allowed to roam where ever they could.

The head sets were short range recievers. As you wlaked through the museum eacah dispaly would transmitt its verbage to the headsset for you to listen to. Kinda cool.

They even had real live charcters in the museum. Like this fella

For more of the Great Platte River Archway visit Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 05:14 PM

We've survived Nine full days with the boys now, and only have a little time left.

Todays drive wasn't very long since we did all the activities at the Archway. We arrived at the S.A.C. museum in time for a few hours of walking around. They had plenty of Aircraft indoors for the boys to see, and some displays to climb in or on. This one is by far my sons favorite.

They even had some sci fi fliers.

Many of the aircraft in here are in some stage of exterior restoration, but will never fly again.

Our Scout Master paying his respect to other combat veterans

SAC simbal

A few of the rockets stationed out side the museum.

And the boys made their own fun after they got bored in the museum. The sat around the "hurricane" and had races with pennies to see which direction went faster down the tube.

Buffalo · 08-18-2010, 05:35 PM

Great pictures and narrative Fuzzy. I'm glad you and the boys enjoyed the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs.

BlueStreak · 08-18-2010, 06:43 PM

Fuzzy,
Sounds like you had a great time and I am sure the boys did as well. A very full 10 days of learning and I am sure they will not forget most of what they learned. It will be shared with their kids, many years from now, with fond memories and happy smiles.

RUN ROD RUN · 08-18-2010, 09:18 PM

Fuzzy,
From looking at your pictures plus reading all that you wrote ... do you think you could lead us old folks on such a wonderful 10 day trip?

Dang ... which I was young again.

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 09:20 PM

Oh I enjoyed my time away from the shop and all the other bad things happening round town.

This was my kinda trip too. All hustle and very little down time unless we had to drive for a distance to get somewhere. I even learnt a few things here and there during the trip.

I'll send each of the boys' parents a link to the photo site for them to view as many times as they wish.

FUZZY · 08-18-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUN ROD RUN

Fuzzy,
From looking at your pictures plus reading all that you wrote ... do you think you could lead us old folks on such a wonderful 10 day trip?

Dang ... which I was young again.

Rod. Unfortunately it wasn't all me organizing this wondeerful trip, and it wouldn't have happended without the help of a few others. All the adults that went along pitched in and worked as a team which I hope the boys saw as the week went on. That's one thing were trying to impress upon the boys is Teamwork makes things go better and more smoothly.

As for leading the rest of you on that trip. I would simply borrow the itenerary, but have to add in time for extra oxygen breaks and tank refils

Believe it or not folks. We were able to take 18 people on this 10 day adventure for a grand total of $3,872.00. That included rentals, gas, food, entrance fees, and camping fees. I'd have to say we did an great job for being a bunch of amatures.

DakotaDocMartin · 08-18-2010, 09:40 PM

The worst one on your list is the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time going out of their way to see that place. Even if you are driving right by it anyway I still wouldn't recommend it.

FUZZY · 08-19-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DakotaDocMartin

The worst one on your list is the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time going out of their way to see that place. Even if you are driving right by it anyway I still wouldn't recommend it.

Doc, Thats rather harsh words for an oppertunity for kids to view an ever changing work of art.

The cost is free and there isn't much inside. I did admire the amount of time and creativity it took to come up with the designs each year.

Besides, we were camping in Mitchell anyway, and this gave the kids something to do instead of sitting at the moskito infested campgrounds.

DakotaDocMartin · 08-19-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUZZY

Doc, Thats rather harsh words for an oppertunity for kids to view an ever changing work of art.

I thought the place stunk and I'm a native Dakotan. (But maybe the boys liked it... mine didn't.)

The doll museum down the street was way more interesting and I don't even collect dolls.

Sort of like a side trip we made one time to Pella, IA. There's another place to burn right on by.

FUZZY · 08-19-2010, 10:26 PM

Pella, IA. would that be where the pella window manufacturer is?

I don't believe it was even on the map we had

DakotaDocMartin · 08-20-2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUZZY

Pella, IA. would that be where the pella window manufacturer is?

I don't believe it was even on the map we had

When we lived in Iowa we tried to see and do everything there was to see and do. We did find a lot of interesting things. The Grotto of the Redemption at West Bend, IA being one of them. I'd rank that right on up there with some of the better places I've been.

Pella, IA was touted as being a Dutch community and we had high hopes. I figured it would be a lot like the Amana Colonies... only with a Dutch flair. I'd just put it on to the don't waste your time list.

If you ever do get the chance, you should go to the Amana Colonies. And, nearby is the Amish village of Kalona. Way fun.