Havasupai - Scout Camp - Day 1 - The Decent

Below is a map of the Havasupai trail.

A key to hiking in the desert is hiking when it's not hot. We got up early, I think it was four in the morning. We then drove for about an hour and a half to get to the trail head so we could get checked in and begin our hike. If you view the above map you can see that it's about 10 miles to reach the campgrounds. There were a lot of people at the campgrounds so we would have to travel about another 1/2 mile into the campgrounds to get our campsite that we used for this trip.


Above is a picture of the Havasupai Ranger's station. Repairs were being done on this morning as we began our hike. Also, in this picture are the Scouts who are anxious to begin the morning's trek. The hike will be about 10 1/2 miles this day.


While on the switchback's I took a picture of the trail that lay ahead. This is the trail before we drop down into the canyon's where it is cooler. It is important that we get into the canyon's before the sun breaks the mountain tops where we were at.

Here's a couple of pictures of the trail experience. On left are some of our group, Jim, Jim, Sam and Josh. On the right is a mule train. You must always be on the alert for a mule train. Because if you don't get out of the way you could get run over.

We took a break as the sun was just starting to get to us in the canyons, before the Supai village. Next was the most breathtaking view. We finally saw the first waterfall. This is a picture I took of Havasu Falls. It falls over 100 feet and is one of the most photographed falls in the world. I could see why, because we had just hiked over 10 miles and were in a desert and then all of a sudden is a waterfall that looks like it belongs in Hawai'i.

Here's the view we had in camp for our entire stay. Darren set himself up with his hammock. He was taking a rest after our long hike.

After setting up camp we went up to see the Havasu Falls again. On the right you can see Lane hamming it up. In front of his feet was a little chute you could go under the little falls and pop up in the pool below.

Havasupai - Scout Camp - Getting There

For our Scout activity this year we planned to go the Havasupai Reservation to behold the wonderful beauty of the Havasupai's land. We traveled from Lindon, UT to a camping ground that was not too far from the Havasupai trailhead. For those that don't know the Havasupai Reservation in in Northern Arizona and is quite a distance for us to travel. In order to get there we went down I-15 in Utah, through Las Vegas, Nevada and then across the Northern part of Arizona.

There are no camping facilities at the trailhead so we camped at a place called Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn. Which was about an hour's drive from the trailhead. Here's a map that shows where it is. Our camping party included 25 people. We took three SUV's and a small group traveled in a car with us.

The Grand Canyon Cavern's & Inn had all the amenities we required: dirt to sleep on, a restroom with running water, showers, a pool and lots of open space. The boys got into a great two-hand tag football game the first night, so Jim and I went to the camp pool. While we were swimming Nighthawks came within inches of us while they were hunting for their evening meal in the dark.

You could tell it was a Nighthawk because of the white marks on the tips of its wings. My bird nerd neighbor would have loved to have seen the pair we saw that night.

On the way to Havasupai we had to cross the Hoover dam. Above is a picture of the three amigos, Sam, Josh and Ethan. Then there's a picture of the Hoover dam. I'm sorry but my sense of humor hit me when we were at the Hoover dam, all I could think of was "Vegas Vacation" and the following lines...

Hoover Dam Guide: I am your dam guide, Arnie, please don't wander off the dam tour and please take all the dam pictures you want. Now are there any dam questions?
Cousin Eddie: Yeah, where can I get some dam bait?


In this first picture we have the camp brain trust of Jim, Lane and Ben we had stopped for some gas and they were discussing where we were going to spend the night. Side note - Doesn't Jim remind you of Charlton Heston?! In the second picture we have made camp at the Grand Canyon Cavern's & Inn and are eating refried bean tacos. This meal helped propel the scouts on their long hike the next day.

Alice In Wonderland - Lehi Parade

My sister-in-law and brother have some mad skillz in creating floats. The city of Lehi invited their neighborhood to be part of the Lehi parade. So they were part of the small floats in the parade which was for the children. They tell me that the whole was crazy, and that they didn't know the first thing in making a float. They made a wonderful float though. It took 2 1/2 months and a lot of work. It was a neighborhood project but it ended up being my brother Scott's, his wife Claudia and their kids making it. A few other people helped her and there. They won the Children's Favorite Award!!! I could see why because they did such a great job with the float and the costumes. Looking back they say, "I can say, Hey, I made a float once and walked in a parade!"

What a wonderfully done float catching the bright and delightful colors of the animated Disney Alice In Wonderland.

Someone spent a lot of time making those outstanding costumes. I especially like Alice (Madison) and the Queen of Hearts (Chantel). Tweetle-Dee and Tweetle Dum (Ashlyn and Meikela) and King of Spades (Eden) look cool too.

In the second picture you can see my brother Scott making sure everything is ready to go on the float.

Skate Park - Demo

The guy who videoed the Cul de Sac of Fire is Lance Reeves he put a demo out of his filming and editing skills. I've included it here. This video reminds me of my brother-in-law Rob in AZ. It's the type of thing he's good at.

Cul de Sac of Fire

For those of you who were not able to be at the Cu de Sac of File here's a video of the event!

4th of July Activities

The 4th of July started out early for our family. I was able to get the teenagers up but it wasn't easy. On the 4th of July the balloon launch early in the morning. I told the teenagers I only make them get up early once a year so they could do this once a year.

Here are a few shots that I liked best of the air balloon experience. Oma, Grandpa, Tante Erna and all of our family were there minus Julie because she worked all night. She said that a number of babies had already been born on the 4th where she works.

After the balloon experience we hurried over to the Freedom Festival parade in Provo, UT. One of the first entrants were these men dressed as revolutionary war soldiers. I caught there guns shooting at just the right time. The blast of these guns were quite loud, but not the loudest blast in the parade.

I included some of my favorites of the parade. I like the military starting the parade carrying the American flag. I took this shot of our Governor giving his daughter a piggy back, running to the side of the road giving people hand slaps.

Here are a few pictures of the family that gathered to watch the parade. It was kinda of overcast this morning so it wasn't as hot as it has been in years past. These shots were taken just after the F-16's flew over followed by the Air Force refueling tanker. I believe both flights were less than a thousand feet over us. This was loud but still not the loudest noise of the parade.

Here' a picture of a truck like the type of truck my father-in-law drove when he was in the Army. Here's a picture of my favorite horse, the palomino.

Here's a picture of my favorite float and my favorite HS marching band, go Vikings!

Here's a picture of my favorite balloon float and my favorite sports float. Go Cougars!

Looks like the BYU football players have been working out this summer. Looks like Fui's arms are as strong as ever. (Check out the guns on number 1#!) My favorite band in the parade and they were playing Scotland the Brave. (If you've heard Praise To The Man, you've heard Scotland the Brave.)

Here's my favorite real people in the parade and my favorite military vehicle, a fully restored M1P Hellcat tank.

The parade started and ended with a loud bang. Well the loudest bang in the parade was George Q. Cannon pictured above. After the parade the family gathered at our home to have a wonderful dinner. We had lots and lots of good food.

We took some serious pictures of the family and here's a silly picture we took. After the family left we attended our annual Cul de Sac of Fire! An inspirational message was given by our neighbor and former bishop Karl Bowman. Next to Karl, was the Reeves entourage. Their family puts a diorama of fireworks together each year. This year it was a diorama of Hannah Montana lets just say it went up in flames.


Across from us was the Maddox entourage and next to us were the Peters, Steels and Parsons. Later in the evening we lit fireworks off in front of our house with the our neighbors the Cleggs. Ryan and McKay were in heaven lighting of their fireworks until there were no more.

Favorite 4th of July Dessert

Fourth of July Trifle includes fresh blueberries, fresh strawberries, angel food cake, vanilla pudding and whipped cream. This dessert included the patriotic colors of America and tastes great. My wife is to thank for the creative genius and wonderful treat. This dessert did not last past the 4th of July.

Fireworks - PES

Our son loves fireworks! Last year before the 4th of July, the primary (church class for children under 12 yrs of age) was singing songs about what they are thankful for. The person leading the music, randomly picked children from the primary to say things they were thankful for. Kids would say things like, Heavenly Father, their family, their mom or dad, etc. Well our son wasn't paying attention so the song leader asked him what he was thankful for. Remember he had no idea what was going on, he turned to the music leader and he blurted out without hesitation, FIREWORKS! The song leader had a tough time continuing the singing because they were laughing so hard. So, to get ready for the Fourth of July here's a video on fireworks that McKay loves.

Where the Heck is Matt? (2008)

Where the Heck is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

"Matthew Harding spent 14 months visiting 42 countries in order to produce "Where the Heck is Matt?", a four-and-a-half minute video featuring Harding (and anyone else he could rope into it) doing an incredibly silly, high-energy dance in some of the most breathtaking scenery around the world. This may be the best four minutes and twenty-eight seconds of your week."


This video makes one think, why did I go to college when I could have been perfecting my geeky dance and seeking gum companies to pay me to travel around the world?

This is a good video about humans being!