Scout Camp!

[RockChucker]

Earlier today we got back from a trip to Moab with a group of Scouts. Among hiking and biking, we did a little bit of wheelin' with them. We had a fairly large group of vehicles, I think there was 11 or 12. That may seem small, but when 6 of the 11 had never driven their Jeeps offroad, and a couple more only a little bit, it was a big group and there was lots to keep an eye on. We did Hell's Revenge. This is a great trail for beginners. It is really an easy trail if you take the bypasses. But it is intimidating. It gives you a pretty good feel what your vehicle can be capable of pretty quick though. I didn't get many pictures. Actually I didn't get any since I was near the front of the group and helping everyone through. We took those who wanted to through the carwash to get there blood pumping a little bit. It was good. I have been wanting to try Escalator for a while now, and today was a good opportunity. And the scouts weren't opposed to watching It is quite big. I haven't seen too many videos of TJ's making it up, and those I have seen it seemed like they fought it. There is a pretty narrow margin for hitting a good line with that short of a wheelbase.

I'll let the video do the talking for the rest. I'll get more pics up as I get them. It was a good time. I think many of the scouts are hooked and a few of the other leaders that were passengers too...It gets in your blood for sure...The video is uploading now. Hopefully it processes quickly. I'm going to hit the sack. It has been a long couple days...

Enjoy!

[video=youtube_share;6RPeJp_zm9A]http://youtu.be/6RPeJp_zm9A[/video]

 

[jeeper]

All the scouts sure thought you were the Coolest!
My favorite comment was "just look at that axle bending!"

 

[blznnp]

i wanted to try and get my rig running back home so we could get some guys together and take the scouts wheelin, thought that maybe it would have help gotten them a little more interested.

 

[RockChucker]

It was a good trip. The scouts had a good time and I hope they learned a little bit about responsible recreating whether it be camping or anything else outdoors. That was my favorite line too haha.

 

[sixstringsteve]

great driving! I'd love to take my scouts wheeling. We don't have enough people in the troop with crawlers. I think a Mineral Basin or Forest lake trip would rock.

 

[blznnp]

great driving! I'd love to take my scouts wheeling. We don't have enough people in the troop with crawlers. I think a Mineral Basin or Forest lake trip would rock.

im sure you could get a couple guys from RME to go with and take them, I know I would if my blazer was ready

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'll have to look into the rules for scouts and see if the drivers need to be trained (in scouts, stranger danger, etc) first.

 

[benjy]

I think many of the scouts are hooked and a few of the other leaders that were passengers too...It gets in your blood for sure...

It was a mountain biking/wheeling scout trip to Moab that got me into this... something like 12 years ago

 

[blznnp]

I'll have to look into the rules for scouts and see if the drivers need to be trained (in scouts, stranger danger, etc) first.

i wouldn't think so cause parents can come on scout outings no problems, at least we never had a problem with it. but we always had parents come so other people might be different.

 

[RockChucker]

I'm not exactly sure what the rules are on that. I would assume it is ok as long as all the rules are followed. ie leaders in separate tents and what not.

 

[TJDukit]

I did a trip up forest lake two years ago with some scouts. It was an awesome trip and would love to do it again.

 

[RockChucker]

Saturday we broke off from the scout group (it wasn't our group, so I guess this rests the whole, "is it ok to go if you aren't in the group leadership" issue to rest haha) and went up Onion Creek and from there up Rose Garden Hill. It is gorgeous up there. As much as I love doing the hard trails, it is nice to to a scenic trail and enjoy the back country. Not that you can't do that on a hard trail, but usually you are focused on the obstacles ahead, not the scenery around you.

It was the first time I have been up rose garden hill. It is quite the climb. There are some quite large ledges on it, at least for my little Jeep. You would have a hard time getting a stock vehicle up it. It could be done, but time consuming.

There was still snow at the top of Onion Creek up by the ranch. Over the time that passed while we were doing Rose Garden Hill, the snow melted and the road became a sloppy mess. Combine that with the dusty lower part, splashing through the creek and being the tail gunner, my Jeep turned from black to Moab red. I gotta say, I could own a Jeep that color! All these pics were taken with an iPhone and an HDR app. They turned out pretty stinkin' good considering they are from a phone. Maybe a little grainy, but great nonetheless. Enjoy!

Yes the river really was that green. I have never seen it that way before. I'm used to seeing it muddy red during run off.

At the bottom of Rose Garden Hill.

At the top.

Just off Hwy 128 after turning onto Onion Creek Rd.

Another just off the Hwy after we came back down.

My dad, my uncle Dan, and me in the back. My dad's Jeep did awesome! The new front 60 we just finished worked like a dream. No problems at all. All of our double checking paid off in the end!

If you look closely, you can see Fisher Towers on the right side. This is again from Onion Creek Rd. The Fisher Towers are something like 900 feet tall if I remember right.

That's all I have so far. Possibly more to come. Once again, Scouts and wheelin' is a good thing. If for no other reason than to get them outside and get them interested in something other than video games It was a positive experience for everyone involved and I hope I can make more trips like this with Scouts. It is a good time for sure.

 

[mesha]

I love taking scouts wheeling. We set up a rock crawling course at little moab with cones and they all drove through it. They loved it! I am hoping to take them out this year during spring break. Right after I take them on medieval chamber.

 

[Houndoc]

I have thought about doing a trip just like that for my Venture (16-18 year old) scouts. This summer settled on a canoe trip instead, but likely on my to-do list with them for 2013.

 

[blznnp]

I have thought about doing a trip just like that for my Venture (16-18 year old) scouts. This summer settled on a canoe trip instead, but likely on my to-do list with them for 2013.

I never understood why when trips are scheduled, like big ones for the summer. you could only do like one or two. when I was a scout leader i never had to deal with that cause my boys could care less about camping so they never got interested and wanted to go. other than getting leaders to get vacation time off. but when I was in scouts we always wanted to go camping and wanted to do more big hiking trips or canoe trips during the summer. so a group of us would just go without the scout troop since we wouldn't schedule more.

 

[Houndoc]

Last year we did two week like camps (one at a BSA camp plus 6 day Kings Peak attempt), monthly camp outs, multiple day hikes and short overnight trips, half a dozen bike rides (10-50 miles.)

Limitiations really are boys interests, leaders time off and budget.