Day 1 – Travel Day (Saturday)

Travel day is always a tough one and today was no different. Most of us were working on an hour or two of sleep and little food. We met at BWI at 4:15 AM for our 6:15 AM flight and it turns out we got there just in time. We landed in Cincinnati with just enough time for most of us to grab something quick to eat before boarding our next plane. In our typical hurry-up-and-wait mode of operation the plane sat at the gate for an hour while the maintenance technicians cleared up a small problem. We landed in Utah on Saturday at around 11:00 AM Mountain time (1:00 PM our time) and rushed off to find the rental vans. Loaded up and on our way to Flaming Gorge we finally stopped at a Subway for lunch and Wal-Mart to load up on everything we either forgot or decided not to travel with on the plane.

We arrived at our camp site in Flaming Gorge at approximately 6:00 PM, just after the trailer pulled in. While the Scouts and some adults set up their tents, others organized the trailer. We ate dinner and finally got to bed about 11:30 PM our time. Hopefully our bodies will adjust for the time difference tomorrow.

Day 2 – Flaming Gorge (Sunday)

After waking up we took the Dam Tour at Flaming Gorge Dam then went to Red Canyon Lodge Visitor center where the group ate lunch and took a quick hike before heading back to camp. One group left for fishing and another left for swimming before everyone took a shower and we ate a wonderful spaghetti dinner.

Day 3 – Travel to Grand Tetons (Monday)

We packed up camp first thing in the morning and headed to bear country. Along the way we stopped at Fossil Butte National Monument , the second national monument ever created. We stopped in the visitor center, ate lunch at a great picnic stop, and then took “heart-attack” hike. Several of the adults questioned the parks decision to deem that one of the easier hikes. We were a bit disappointed that we weren't able to watch them dig for fossils but we saw several different types of wildflowers, animal tracks, and saw two yellow-bellied marmots.

We settled into camp in the Grand Teton area where we were scared straight and learned about Mr. Jack's credit card while being reminded about the rules for camping with bears. We setup our tents in the shadows of the Tetons. Dinner was London Broil and we all got a good night's sleep.

Day 4 – Horseback Ridding & White Water Rafting (Tuesday)

We woke up with a moose in the field right behind where we were camping.

Today was a big day and will probably be remembered as one of our favorites. We headed out for two hours of horseback riding beginning at 9:00 AM. The Scouts were doing so well that we were allowed to take a side route that large groups usually can't take. Nathan impressed all of us with his skills when his saddle twisted sideways. He jumped off without harm, one of our guides fixed his saddle, and he got right back on that beast. Mr. Skip's and Julian's horse depressurized the entire ride adding to the sites and smells of the experience. At the end of the ride the guides told us it was the best group of Boy Scouts they'd ever taken.

Three adults and two Scouts didn't go horseback riding; instead they went for a two-hour grocery excursion. We ate lunch at Sidewinders in Jackson Hole and walked around the shops for a little while.

Next we went to the Teton High Adventure Base where we met a bus to take whitewater rafting. We separated into three groups. Several Scouts jumped into the 52 degree water on their accord, RC pushed his brother out of the boat, others were thrown in. Conner did a wonderful job of protecting his boat's water gun but Brad may have some bruises from the experience. While Conner laid down some cover fire, Mr. Jack boarded the enemy's ship. His took out two renegades before succumbing to an attack. Cory sacrificed himself to take him out. Mr. Pete then had to rescue our rescuer from the icy waters. During the trip down the river we came within 25-feet of a Bald Eagle perched over the river, saw an inland surfboarder, and survived the Lunch Counter rapid.

After rafting we were allowed to take our second shower of the trip at the Boy Scout camp before heading to Pizza Hut for dinner.

Day 5 – Gondola ride & Jenny Lake Boat Ride (Wednesday)

In the morning we drove to Teton Village in Jackson Hole where we were disappointed that the tram to the top was being replaced and instead we would have to take a Gondola Ride. When we got up the mountain we were able to have our much anticipated snowball fight and hike around a bit. Several troop members, both youth and adult, watched Para gliders in awe and wished we had time to partake. While the troop ate lunch several Scouts participated in an activity that involved jumping on a trampoline while being propelled by bungee cords.

In the afternoon we took a pontoon boat ride across Jenny Lake where we decided to do some exploration. When we first got a glimpse of the water fall we were filled with exhilaration. That's when we decided hiking to the top was a temptation. Mr. Bill, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Jack decided to do a little restoration when they filled their water bottles in the flowing water. Upon learning about this others were filled with exasperation and yelled with exclamation. There came a point when we could all see our goal and we became rife with anticipation. Some of our adults experienced frustration when their bodies told them it was time to stop and turned around in frustration. For the rest of us before we knew it we had reached our goal and climbed over 400 feet to the top of inspiration point (altitude 7,200 feet). There was much infatuation with the Chipmunks which accompanied us at several points along the trail. On the way back down Mrs. Kathy lost her concentration and took a tumble down the trail. Having reached the bottom again the entire congregation rode the boat back across the lake and took a scenic route back to camp where we feasted on tacos before bed.

Day 6 – Travel to Yellowstone & see Old Faithful (Thursday)

We got early, packed up camp, and ate breakfast in the vans on the way to Yellowstone . Mrs. Pauline woke up on her 50 th birthday to realize that her van and her tent had been redecorated for the occasion. Mr. Jack woke up to realize that vandals posing as Dons had drawn a large “L” over the Cardinal Bird on the back window. The glass paint was then confiscated and all evidence of the crime was washed away at the next service station.

Mr. Mike's now decorated van drew plenty of onlookers are we made the trek to Yellowstone

National Park . One man who was also celebrating his 50 th birthday asked to have his picture taken with the van. After dropping the trailer off at the campground we took a group picture at the Continental Divide, the point at which water on one side runs off into the Pacific Ocean and water on the other side runs into the Atlantic Ocean . Then we were able to witness Old Faithful 's display twice. The first time was a bit of a disappointment for most but the second time the geyser did empress. We ate lunch by the vans and then toured part of the park's Southern loop.

Back at camp there were so many misquotes that some of the boys decided to make a game out of how many they could kill. Brett and Chris announced they were proud members of the over 50 kills club.

Hawaiian shirt night was polished off with a barbeque chicken dinner, a laundry marathon, and our third shower of the trip.

Day 7 – Cody, Wyoming (Friday)

Those that didn't get a chance to take a shower or do laundry last night did so first thing this morning. We had a good breakfast and then loaded up the vans for the long drive to Cody Wyoming, the home of Buffalo Bill. Along the way we stopped at the Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center for some quick pictures. After driving past the 5' x 5' drive through Espresso shed and the Dollar Store, both of which drew some attention from our group, we arrived at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Touted as five museums under one roof, we ate lunch and explored various wings devoted to firearms, Buffalo Bill, Plains Indians, Western Art, and natural history. Several in our group were excited to find a kiosk in the center of the museum offering free internet access.

Next we spend some time shopping in downtown Cody before eating a great dinner at a local establishment and moving on to the Famous Cody Rodeo. There we got a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Old West cowboys and cowgirls. There were bucking broncos, cows for roping, bucking bulls, barrel riders, and more. Julian, Andrew S., and Conner, Ryan, John, and Andrew G. were featured in a calf scramble where they competed with others to be the first to take a ribbon off one of two calf's tails.

The Rodeo ended late and after driving two hours it was about midnight when we got back to camp. After some negotiating with our alarm clock, aka Mr. Bill, it was decided that we'll sleep in some tomorrow.

Web links to today's activities
http://www.bbdvc.org/
http://www.bbhc.org
< http://www.codystampederodeo.com/  http://www.galenfrysinger.com/rodeo_in_wyoming.htm >

Day 8 – Yellowstone (Saturday)

After sleeping late we ate a good breakfast and headed out to see some more of Yellowstone. We saw Mud Volcano and afterwards got caught up in a traffic jam the Yellowstone way. Cars were stopped taking pictures as a herd of buffalo, or Tatanka, wondered through the traffic. (Tatanka is a Lakota word meaning bull buffalo.)  Next we took a hike along Uncle Tom's Trail to Artist Point that provided a great view of the Upper Falls. We are lunch and continued touring. Stops today included the Madison area, Upper Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pot, and the Norris Geyser Basin where we took another hike. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and didn't get to see the Lower Falls.

It was about 8:00 PM when we got back to camp so we decided to have left-over's and save Mr. Henry's stew (?) for tomorrow night.

Day 9 – Departure (Sunday)

Our group of three “one-weekers” woke up at midnight and drove themselves 6-hours from Wyoming, through Montana and Idaho, to Salt Lake City Utah. On the way they attempted to wash off evidence of 35 Scouts off the food van without success. The car wash was broken at the first two gas stations and at the third the computer crashed and they couldn't even get gas. They ended up giving the van a squeegee bath before turning it in and heading to the airport. Their plane was delayed an hour and forty-five minutes and their gate was changed twice before they finally left Utah for home sometime after noon.

The rest of the troop (32 people – 19 Scouts and 13 Adults) woke up early and packed up camp. They stopped at Old Faithful for a Catholic Service on the way out of Yellowstone. View the geyser for yourself online here - http://www.nps.gov/archive/yell/oldfaithfulcam.htm.

On the way to Bear Lake the Troop visited Periodic Springs. Usually, Periodic Springs stops its flow after a period of time and after 12 to 18 minutes it resumes its flow. Troop 746 did not experience this but still enjoyed the hike. We ate cold cuts at Moose Lodge Visitor Center and finished off the tuna and chicken salad. We got into Bear Lake in the early evening and set up camp. Mr. Henry prepared a gourmet beef stew that everyone raved about.

Day 9-12 Bear Lake Summer Camp

The Scouts have been very busy earning merit badges. Nathan and Adam survived Wilderness Survival and the other Scouts have been enjoying their time at Bear Lake. The food at Bear Lake has been acceptable (except for the Hawaiian Haystacks (a favorate in Utah). Some of the adults took an adventurous ride to Logan to do some laundry. We have been busy and have had major difficulties finding Internet access to update this site.