Well, here is that tippy top of the Wasatch mountains I mentioned in that long ago last post... Camp Cloud Rim. It's one of the two official Girl Scout camps in Utah. The elevation here is 9,200 ft. And believe me, I know this. I reeeallly, reeeally, wheeezz, know this. It's a hike from the lodge here down to the lake, and then back up to our cabins. Lots of walking and hiking, followed by more walking and hiking. When I got to wherever I needed to be, I felt like I needed an oxygen machine for a minute. Walking was kinda like being on the stair stepper machine at the gym-- when it's set on "Climb Mt. Everest". Jeeeez, Louise.
I kept thinking if I did this everyday what great shape I would be in. Or else I'd be dead. (I don't know if there would be anything in between those two options for me). After a couple of the climbs, I started to wonder what would happen if someone (like myself) had a heart attack at camp Cloud Rim. I decided they could probably airlift you out in a Life Flight helicopter. And then I decided the perfect landing spot for a life saving rescue mission was on the grassy area over by the flagpole. This is one of the problems with having an over active imagination, but after playing out my dramatic rescue scenario in my mind, I got over it :)
Anyway, the girls had a great time. One of our little Brownies is an adorable girl named Megan. Megan is painfully shy and timid. I wondered if she would make it through the whole camp. But Paulynn, my other leader, and myself couldn't get over the transformation of Megan while we were here. She really came out of her shell, totally not shy, and she tried and did everything-- from kayaking to rock climbing. So it was really rewarding to see the girls learning new things and overcoming fears. Except for killing spiders in their cabins, we still need to work on that one.
I sometimes wish I was more of a granola girl. I'm not a girly girl either, mind you. I guess I'm just somewhere in the middle, just like my life. But at least I do kill spiders okay. I really doubt I'll ever make it to granola girl scout leader, because I almost cried when I came home and saw my bed. And it wasn't like I was gone forever either. But no sleep is no sleep, and I came home pooped, and stayed pooped for the next couple of days...
Anyway, here is gorgeous, Girl Scout filled Utah:
The lodge.
Made by a local artist with scenes of the camp on each panel.
The view from the lodge.
And at the other side of the lake, our cabins.
We took our troop banner I made, and hung it by our cabins.
Roasting smores the last night.
And learning to rock climb the last day. The lodge fireplace is also made for rock climbing lessons. Very clever, I thought.
That would be my girl... she even rock climbs wearing pink :) A few of the girls climbed all the way up and rang the bell at the top.
The last morning at Cloud Rim some of our girls participated in the "Polar Bear Plunge". Which means jumping into an icey cold lake at 7:00 am. Everyone who did it got a badge and hot chocolate for breakfast. I asked Sophey if she was going to do it, and she said, "I'm just not that crazy, and we can have hot chocolate at home, and it will be better hot chocolate than at camp." And I agreed. Besides, someone needed to take the photos, right?
They all survived, no hypothermia or anything. And right at the moment, that water doesn't look so bad- it's been cracking 100F here lately.
So that's my grand camping adventure. But I'm heading off again, this time to N. Carolina and the beach. We've rented a beach house, the whole family is going, and we are all so excited. We've been planning this trip since February. Thank you Mike, and all your frequent flier miles-- we're flying for free!
Hope your having a really lovely summmer.... xoKelly
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P.S. I'll post a "Fair Trade Friday" giveaway this Friday, and I'll pick a winner by Monday, August 2nd at 2:00 MST. Then I should be back to better blogging. It's just been so nice to have a good summer-- last summer I felt like I just survived, losing my Mom in the middle of the summer and all, there was so little joy for me. I will get back to more creative things, but I've decided this July is meant for enjoying my family- and vacationing.
