Into the Wild

Mike was practically raised in the wild, so his current ward calling as Venture Scout leader is an excellent fit. This year he planned a backwoods backpacking trip through Yellowstone. It was a trip of a lifetime for the Scouts of our ward. They left Monday and returned Saturday night, dirty, tired, smelly, and scruffy, but I think they all had a blast. Fortunately, no one got eaten by a bear. (They did see one tough)

Like I said, they went on a backwoods, backpacking trip around beautiful and remote Shoshone Lake. They saw only two other people the entire trip…a kid from Florida who recklessly decided to back pack alone in bear country. He was scared spit-less and white as a sheet when he stumble upon Mike’s group, having been followed by a grizzly bear for a day. And they came across Ranger Ralph who was out doing his job patrolling the park. Mike said that being out there, they felt like they might have been the only people on earth. He also can’t stop talking about how beautiful the country was. After looking at the pictures I can see what he’s talking about.

Look at these scouts. Don’t they look quiet and contemplative? Quite a rare moment for these guys.

Mike’s got it in his head that he’s going to take me on this same hike next year. I was almost convinced that I might actually do it, until I heard about the requirement to tie your back packs up at least twelve feet high to keep the bears out, and, until I saw the only available restroom accommodations…

Mike said they were grateful even to have a toilet at all, but when Jonathan saw this picture he was horrified that there was no place for the campers to wash their hands (which is strange in and of itself because he isn’t one to feel inclined to wash his own hands all that often).

Yellowstone, being a Mecca of geo-thermal features, contains enough geysers to please anyone’s appetite for them. Mike and gang ran across this beauty (above) in their travels. It’s called the Lone Star and erupts about every three hours. Mike’s group was lucky, because just as they came across it, it spewed in all its steamy glory. I’m personally fascinated by geysers. I’m not that I missed out on the mosquitoes (which I heard were plentiful beyond belief) but I am sorry I missed out on the geysers.

After the back packing trip, the boys spent the next three days touring around Yellowstone and marveling in it’s unique majesties. Yellowstone is such an amazing place. I’ve only been there twice, but each time I’ve been amazed and astounded. We are lucky to live relatively close to such a place.

I’ll never forget my first trip down Uncle Tom’s trail….

Being one who is terrified of heights, my knees were literally knocking together as I hiked slowly down the see-through metal staircase, clinging onto the railing for dear life, trying my darndest not to look down at the bottomless canyon below were I was certain I was going to meet my immediate demise. The view of the waterfall at the bottom was spectacular, but I’m not sure if it was worth the 30 or 40 minutes of terror that preceded it or followed after it when I realized I had to climb all the way back up! I know one thing for sure, I provided plenty of entertainment for the Dickey family, who are all born half mountain goat. To them I am an anomaly.

One of the best views in Yellowstone is at Artist’s Point, named that for good reason. The waterfall and canyon are breathtaking. A picture doesn’t ever do it justice. You could stare for hours at the scene before you. (I for one, could stare for hours at this good looking guy standing in front of it)

And, look who Mike just happened to run into at Bridge Bay campground….

…his mom and dad of all people! The scouts were amazed that Mike’s parents were camped just a couple sites over, in Yellowstone of all places, but actually it’s not that surprising. Yellowstone is Dave and Lynette’s second home in the summer months. Mike loved being able to hang out with them for awhile.

On the last day, the troop enjoyed a heart pounding, white water rafting ride to round out their perfect week. I love this picture of all of them posing in their yellow life jackets. This was Mike’s favorite part of the trip. He always likes the thrills the best.

To finish this post I’d like to finally expose Mike for the kind of Boy Scout leader he really is and this time I have photographic evidence….

When the boys misbehave, this is how he deals with them. Can you believe it? He should be turned in! Actually, the boys love him, as do I, so I was ecstatic to see him all in one piece at the end of a long week.

I’ll let you know if that back packing trip Mike has planned in his head ever comes to fruition. I would like to see me some geysers, so maybe? But then again, there are bears… and mosquitoes…