Once again, BSA Troop 514, La Grande, OR successfully prepared snow shelters and slept in them for the annual Klondike Derby at Mud Lake, opposite the Anthony Lakes ski area. Eleven hard working Scouts, in an excellent team effort, dug a forty foot by five foot trench down into six feet of snow. From there, they dug three snow caves into the sides of the trench. This preparation happened on Saturday and Monday of Presidents’ weekend. Last Friday night, February 22nd, they slept in the caves and then participated in the Saturday morning Klondike competition .
Troop 514 snow cave, Klondike Derby
Troop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyTroop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyTroop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyTroop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyTroop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyTroop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyTroop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyTroop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyTroop 514 snow cave, Klondike DerbyGetting ready to camp in a tree wellMy little tent in the snowy woodsBSA Troop 514 winter camping
After living without a dog for six years, Meg and I recognized it was time to invest love and time in a dog again. So in late August, we bought a mini Aussie shepherd. Leif is a delightful creature, full of love, energy, and intelligence. Winter hiking and snowshoeing with him in the Mt Emily Recreation Area and the Meacham Divide have been filled with his joyful exuberance for snow travel! And many of these times Meg and I enjoyed the added pleasure of having son Michael and his dogs with us.
“It was easy to love God in all that was beautiful. The lessons of deeper knowledge, though, instructed me to embrace God in all things.” St. Francis of Assisi
Meg and I recently saw the excellent movie, “Won’t You be My Neighbor.” This movie, about the life of Mr. Rogers, reminded us that amidst the “not good,” the evil, it is so important consciously to cultivate that which is good and loving. In our lives we must do more than merely avoid that which is bad. We must reach out and build up others, be healers and peacemakers, as best we can.
Boy Scouts from La Grande Troop 514, led by Dr Koza and myself, enjoyed a most excellent June Friday/Saturday backpack trip to Strawberry Lake. The trailhead is out of Prairie City OR, about a two and a half hour drive from La Grande. The hike is a gentle mile and a half. The boys worked extremely well together, setting up tents, hiking up to Strawberry Falls, cooking dinner (backpackers thanksgiving from scratch) and breakfast (pancakes and sausage), retiring a flag, and playing a great game, “Terrain.” It was an exceptional time together.
BSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORBSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORBSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORBSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORBSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORBSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORBSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORBSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORBSA Troop 514, Strawberry Lake ORStrawberry CreekStrawberry Lake ORStrawberry Falls OR, Strawberry WildernessStrawberry Lake ORStrawberry Falls OR, Strawberry WildernessStrawberry Falls OR, Strawberry WildernessStrawberry Lake OR, Strawberry Wilderness
Before leaving the Chalk Basin, Michael and I took one last hike. This hike took us cross county to an area above the lower Owyhee River knows as the chalk cliffs. On the float trips I have made on the lower Owyhee river, we have camped below these formations on the second night of rafting. I have always want to see this area from above. I finally fulfilled that desire.
PS I did successfully drive the Cherokee out to the road, although not as boldly as Michael 🙂
Chalk Cliffs , Owyhee River
Knap weedChalk cliffs OregonChalk cliffs OregonChalk cliffs Oregon, Owyhee RiverChalk cliffs Oregon, Owyhee RiverChalk cliffs Oregon, Owyhee RiverChalk cliffs Oregon, Owyhee River. Michael is standing on top of this dome. I joined him later.Chalk cliffs Oregon, Owyhee RiverChalk cliffs Oregon, Owyhee RiverChalk cliffs Oregon, Owyhee RiverChalk cliffs Oregon, Owyhee RiverI snapped this picture of Michael taking a picture of this lizard just as it ran, Note the dust and shadow.
“Teach me, O Lord, to make room for you in all the events and activities of my days. Then I shall find rest. Then I shall be at peace with my self and with you.” Norman Shawchuck
Sunday began with the kind of sunrise that spoke peace and oneness and concluded with a sunset that invited deep sleep. In between, Michael and I made a major hike through gullys and canyons amidst incredible ash and rock formations. The rain that had challenged us driving here left trickles of water in what are normally dry washes. The air was cool, the damp “dry” wash walk refreshing.
We reached the Owyhee river and ate lunch. I napped while Michael fished. Afterwards we discovered an exciting canyon with the most intriguing and colorful formations we had seen that day. Definitely like Moab, UT, but without the crowds.
Michael found a beautiful agate thunder egg. He hauled this thirty pound rock back to our campsite as my Father’s Day gift. What an outstanding son! Scott, the man we had extricated from the mud hole (see the first Chalk Basin post) came over before dinner. We enjoyed a wide ranging discussion about the presence of God in our lives, and the transformational nature of His deep love for us.
Campsite sunrise, Chalk basin, Owyhee RiverStarting the hike, Chalk basin, Owyhee River. Michael in side canyon, Chalk BasinThe damp wash we walked down, Chalk Basin, Owyhee Rivera slot canyon that is normally dry, Chalk BasinChalk Basin, Michael fishing the Owyhee riverChalk Basin, Michael below pinnacles, Owyhee RiverChalk Basin, Owyhee river pinnaclesChalk Basin, Owyhee river pinnaclesChalk Basin, Owyhee river pinnaclesChalk Basin, Michael between pinnaclesChalk Basin, Michael holding thunder eggChalk basin campsite, Owyhee river
