Palouse Falls Campout 11/20-21/2009

Friday the forecast was rain snow mix. We did see some rain going, but none while we were there. It DID blow like crazy. Our carefully staked tents stood through the night. We had a great time. We raked the leavcs off the park for Ranger Melinda and then went exploring the canyon and falls, from the top to the bottom and back. This is one trip we will never forget. Thanks to James Clark and Michael Whiting for their assistance.

First Snow of the Winter of 09-10

Howard Ashby and I took an early morning hike to Rocks of Sharon, just south of Spokane from the Dishman Hills area. We left about 7:30 and returned home about 12:30 happy and excited from the time in the woods and together. I took what it would take to heat some hot chocolate along the way, but failed to bring the gas for my backpack stove so we improvised with a match built fire.....boy did that test our scout skills. We had a couple false starts and blew til we almost passed out and finally with lots of dry pine needles that Howard found, we had our cup of hot chocolate albeit with some ash in it. Hello winter!

Spokane City Council Meets Troop 323

Monday Nov 2, 2009 our Troop attended the Spokane City Council meeting. The agenda included the following: Presentation by an elder from the Spokane Indian Tribe-display of artifacts at the Masonic Temple Nov 3 2009. Three proclamations:Elevator and Escalator Safety Awareness Week and Women in the Military. Afterwards Madam Mayor Verner presented the 2010 City Budget. The troop under the leadership of Senior Patrol Leader; Zac MacMaster led the audience and council in the pledge of alligence. Afterwards each introduced themselves by name and rank to the council. Troop 323 represented the BSA and our sponsoring unit, the Spokane First Ward with honor and respect.

Stanley Hot Springs-Selway Bitterroot Wilderness

Good bye summer, hello fall. Here comes old man winter.

Howard Ashby and I avenged ourselves of an aborted snow shoe hike last winter with a very successful backpack trip into Stanley Hot Springs.

Spokane to Canada and Back Sept 2009

Derek, James Clark and I rode our bikes ( think pedal) from Spokane to Canada and back on Thurs, Friday and Saturday. It was cold, wet, fun, long, fun, beautiful, fun, long, trying, sweating, fun and lots of laughs.

Sullivan Lake Sept 11-12 2009

Here we are. Left to right. Darian Farnworth, Cullen Fletcher, Sam Ramos, Zac McMaster, Scott Farnworth, Cole Shirley, Chris Howell, Steve Nicolaysen. The plan was bag Hall Peak, approx 6,000 ft elevation, instead we hiked from the gate near Sullivan Creek to the trail head approx 3 miles each way. It's hard to fit a monthly overnighter in a very very busy calendar. We had Regional Conference this weekend. But it's all good. We traded a 5mile trail hike to the peak for a 6 mile road hike and cool shade for the view we would have had of the Selkirks from the peak.

Second photo, same players except substitute Matt Borders for Chris Howell.

Third photo, Courtney Goodey, Jake Scott and Matt Borders.

All in all a great campout. We had ice cream and cookies for our campfire at least those that stayed up til 10:30. We heard scary stories, sang a couple songs, had a spiritual thought and a scout masters minute commemorating 911 and Scott Strauss. Matt painted the picture of Capitan Moroni and how he was bold, powerful and armed to take on the enemy in his day. We also had a couple games of Run Sheepy Run, which cost Scott a nasty abrasion on his knee, but pre med student, Steve Nicolaysen did a nice job bandaging him up.