This post is long delayed (just like the last one). I've been having some fun outdoors. Unlike past outside activities, these all involve a LOT of snow.
I've had soooooo much fun spending time with the 16-17 yr old boys in my ward. As the Priest Advisor, I got to go on the recent "Klondike Campout". I don't know what Klondike means but it sounds cold.....and it WAS.
On one of the snowiest days of the past few years, we drove up into the mountains and hiked through the night to our campground. We blazed our own trail through knee-to-waist deep snow with packs on. It was my first experience snowshoeing and camping in the snow. All of the boys had a fun time razzing me about being a sissy AZ boy who couldn't hack the cold. They were pretty much right!
After an hour and a half of carrying our 50lb packs in the dark, we found our yurt. A yurt is a small, round dome with bunks and a stove. You can see it behind the group.
We woke up to the most peaceful sounds and scenery. We were miles from anything.
Before breakfast, one of the Scout leaders wanted to take us to see another yurt. What was supposed to be a quick and fun snowshoe trip turned into an "Are we there yet?- No, just one more mile over that mounatin"-type trip. Any Scout can tell you these type of exhausting and almost frustrating adventures are what they remember most!
This hill is a LOT steeper than it looks.
Finally, we made it back to our yurt for eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and sausage.
I love these kids. I have the best church calling ever.
A friend of mine and I took a trip out to Wyoming during the middle of January to do some fishing. It was so cold that every 10 minutes I'd have to clear the ice off my fishing pole. We didn't catch as many as we had hoped but we had a great time AND...
Alex wrangled in this 23" beasty brown:
During Christmas break in AZ I fished with Clayton Evans and Ryan Miller. We drove up to Payson and discovered their sacred fishing waters had frozen up!
Regardless, it was fun to hang out with my old friends and talk fishing.
Poor Ryan. This is the last time anyone saw his box of flies. A fly fisher without his fly box is like a mechanic without his tools.
What a rugged pose hahaha.
