Steep Learning Curve

Heading out on a training hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Enchantments Area

Thriving and surviving on a 50 mile, 3-mountain pass backpacking trip in August is a goal that each member of our family hopes to achieve.  Tim and I agreed to lead a Scout crew over the Cross to Ross trek, along with our boys and several Scout friends.  For Zachary, this adventure has met once with a successful crossing, and once with a successful turning back due to unfavorable and dangerous conditions.

Reading signs and following directions

As with many big goals, the price to pay along the way can be quite steep.  Setting aside an entire day for a grueling training hike; leaving behind a lazy day at camp or a day in town for ice cream cones and playtime can seem fairly extreme, unless the ultimate goal of being prepared for the big trek is foremost in our minds.  The temptation toward taking the easier, softer way beckons; the reality of hard work doesn't always seem appealing.  But big goals have big payoffs, and big payoffs cost.

In big things and in little things, our ultimate aim should be toward reaching the ultimate goal of spending eternity in heaven with God.  May all the paths we take lead us toward heaven.

Mama mountain goat on a cliff with her young

A steep learning curve

Keep your gaze fixed on heaven.

Senior Patrol Leader

Offering a real-life training ground for leadership skills is one of the key features of Boy Scouts.  Our Life Scout, Joseph (15), currently holds the title of senior patrol leader for his troop.  An elected position, the senior patrol leader is the top junior leader of the troop.  Under the direction of the Scoutmaster (who happens to be his dad), Joseph takes charge of troop meetings, the planning meetings (PLCs), and the outings and adventures.

Joseph demonstrates lighting a camp stove before fixing dinner at Eight Mile Campground in the North Cascades.

With the title of senior patrol leader (SPL) comes heightened expectations for setting a good example for all the Scouts in the troop.  Practicing leave no trace on outings, wearing the uniform correctly and living the Scout Oath and Law are responsibilities of the SPL.

Joseph as exhibit A

Joseph's natural comfort zone does not include being on center stage or drawing attention to himself, yet as the senior patrol leader he has the opportunity to stretch his comfort zone a bit.  Not normally known as a morning person, Joseph as SPL holds the responsibility of rallying the troop for camp activities, including an early morning departure for river rafting on a recent camp-out.  Stalking near the tents where Scouts lay sleeping, Joseph clanged the pots and pans as an alarm bell and early warning system.  Prank-like yet necessary, this duty may go down as the highlight of his term!

Joseph on the shores of Icicle Creek

SPL Joseph serves as MC for the flag retirement ceremony at a recent campfire.

Following a script and enlisting assistants for important ceremonies in Scouts, the SPL takes charge.

Holding the key junior leadership position in the troop, Joseph has many opportunities to learn from his successes and from not-so-successful experiences.  Hopefully his six month term will prove to be fun and rewarding as well as challenging and effective.  May Joseph the SPL leave a lasting mark on the troop, as the troop leaves a lasting mark on our Scouts.

Triple Hamocks, Thunder & Really Dirty Socks {Camping}

Chuck, Judah, Collin, Joseph and Zac

Moments after the boys' tents were pitched, they hatched a plan to hike up the closest mountain, which they have named after themselves to celebrate a previous (perilous) summit success.   It's directly across the road from the campsite we visit each year for our annual river rafting family camp with the troop.  Judah's dad, Chuck, agreed to hike with the group of four ambitious climbers, and asked us to start a search party if they weren't back in camp by 8PM.  They arrived well before the search party was dispatched, soaking wet and dirty from the scramble over mount A-Wad.

Enoch and Peter along the shores of Icicle Creek

Campfires and plenty of tarps made camping pleasant despite the near constant deluge drenching our three day stay.  That and the wonderful company camping in our group site of course, comprised of a fine collection of Scouts and family members from our troop ranging in age from two-ish up to... adult.  We missed having a few of our super-sized families along this year, but serious health concerns for medically fragile children and newborns can put a damper on travel plans.  Our anchor family missed this year's camp-out as well, due to a family gathering in another state.  Drastic!  We had to call them from town to make sure we knew the right time to assemble for the river ride on Sunday morning.  

Caleb, Isaac, and Zac in triple hammock formation

The river rafters had a blast, despite the dismal weather for the first half of the ride.  Due to high water levels, the rapids were especially exciting this year.  Zachary was one of the first to topple out of a boat, apparently much earlier than he would have preferred, due to his feet slipping in the raft.  Peter's favorite rapids included 'boulder bend' and 'drunkards' drop.'  Passing an abandoned raft, jammed into a bridge support (crash site from the previous day's ride), our riders came face to face with the real dangers and hazards possible while river rafting.  Good news that none of those Saturday rafters from the crash into the bridge were seriously injured.

Tim (orange hat) with Peter (khaki hat) and a group of Scouts and family members ride the Wenatchee River.

One of our top stops when staying in or near Leavenworth: Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church

A Saturday evening Mass in Leavenworth enabled us to keep our Sunday obligation.  With great anticipation we journeyed into town for an annual Mass at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church. We met the new pastor, Father Alex Trejo, and learned that Bishop Tyson had consecrated OLS's new outdoor "Way of the Cross" and worship space only a few days earlier.  After Mass we accepted Father Trejo's invitation to walk the Stations of the Cross as a family, reflecting at each stop on the passion and death of our Lord and the suffering he endured for our salvation.  The project is immense and when complete will provide a wonderful haven for praise, worship, reflection and fellowship.

Joseph leads us on the Way of the Cross, under construction on the sprawling grounds at Our Lady of the Snows.

Sock soup

Laundry, laundry and more laundry have marked the days following our return from the adventures in Central Washington.   The endless loads of wash not only helping us recover from the weekend away, but also preparing us for the next job: packing for Boy Scout summer camp which begins next week.  Looks like the weather will cooperate for that adventure, at least in NW Washington terms.