Brady's High Adventure

After Helaman's camp Brady left with his Boys Scout troop for High Adventure. The leaders picked up the boys from Helaman's Camp at Pinetop (near Idaho City) and then went to the Sawtooth National Forest. Helaman's camp was July 30th through August 1 and High Adventure was August 1 through August 4th.

 

This year I put all the responsibility on Brady to pack his backpack and figure out what food he was going to eat. I didn't even check it. I figured it was time for him to step up and pack it himself. I directed him to our 72 hour kits to get supplies and told him he should take some MREs for food.

 I got tired of rotating food in our 72 hour kits and opted to purchase MREs instead. I told Brady that he should try them out. He liked everything he took. He also took Ramen noodles and Honey Nut Cheerios with powered milk for breakfast. However, Brady starved. He didn't pack enough food. Plus for lunch he assumed they would stop and make a fire to cook the items he took - but they didn't and he didn't take enough granola bars and snacks to hold him over. Oh well .... he learned a lesson on packing food.

The other great thing we had in our 72 hour kits is this fabulous water filtration bottle that I purchased from LDS.org for $22.00. It was worth it. He was able to drink stream and lake water without any problem. It was nice that he tested it out.

 

This is what LDS.org says about this water bottle: This advanced bottle removes up to 99.99 percent of pollutants and contaminants found in drinking water. Produces up to 100 gallons of filtered water. Kit contains one 28-ounce water bottle and two filters. Bottle includes an insulator sleeve and clip.

 

It was a great purchase for our 72 hour kit and totally recommend it!

Isn't this photo beautiful? It's the Fourth of July Lake in the Sawtooth National Forest. My friend, Becky Parkinson, who is an awesome photographer took this picture above. You can visit her site and enjoy her beautiful photo's here: 

Here is a group shot of the boys and leaders from our ward who went on the High Adventure. Brady is in the front row in the white and plaid gray jacket. It was great that the leaders took pictures and I was able to get a copy of them - YEA! Not all the boys hiked the tough journey the Priests did. This is a picture of all the Boy Scouts who went from our ward. 

Brady climbing up a mountain. It's my guess that this is Devils pass because the ground is so rocky. Brady indicated that to get to the top that one person had to hike up and then the next one due to the rocky/unsteady trail. 

Another look going up the rocky trail. 

Reaching the peak. Brady is the white boy in front without any shirt. Brady never goes without a shirt because he is so modest - thus he has no tan - totally white - LOL!. I'm surprised his shirt is off. 

Jeremy and Brady.
Jeremy's dad, Micheal is a wilderness expert and he lead the boys through the Sawtooth National Forest. Here are the places they hiked through:

 

Fourth of July Lake

Blackman's Peak

Born Lakes

Devils Pass

Shallow Lake

Scree Lake

Quiet Lake

Base of Castle Peak

Noisy Lake

Slickenslide Pass

Castle Lake (although they never saw it .. just the falls coming out off the cliffs)

Castle Peak Pass

Chamberlain Lakes

Germania Pass

Washington Lake



 Brady was there on his 18th Birthday, August 3rd. I told the leaders to make sure they sang to him. I was kinda sad that I wasn't going to celebrate it with him.

 

 On his birthday they set out on a hike and it ended up harder and longer then planned. I think they hiked for 12+ hours. They missed a lake they thought they were going to and they ran out of water because they were off the trail they thought they were going.

 

One boy, Blake, got sick and they boys who were recently ordained to Elders concentrated some oil and gave him a priesthood blessing. It was a really tough day and one he will never forget that happened on his 18th birthday.

 

That night they slept out under the stars and froze their tooshies off.  

Brady and the fish he caught.  

 

When I found out that Brady needed a fishing pole, I sent out an email plea to see if anyone had an extra fishing pole so that I didn't have to purchase one. Between Helaman's camp, High Adventure, and college - I felt money was just flying out of my wallet.

 

We had to go purchase a fishing license at Walmart and while we were there we looked at fishing poles and bait. We ended up purchasing a fishing pole for $15. Now he has a fishing pole.

 

Here is what his leader said that sent me the picture: The Shakespeare rod and reel are good quality. They should serve for many years to come.

The fish in the photo is cleaned so it looks smaller than it really was. It was big enough that Brady originally thought it was a snag. Between Brady's and Edwardo's fish, there was enough meat for 7 people.

(this isn't a photo of the boys - it's from enlightened marketing from an image search)

 

On Saturday August 4th they ended High Adventure with a rafting trip. They had a blast. The water was perfect and they all ended up in the water. OK... they all wanted to be in the water.

 

They had a great time and the leaders were wonderful! We have been really blessed to be in such a great ward with so many great leaders who have nurtured Brady through his scouting years and have taken him on so many grand adventures.