Colorado Hike - Young Men's Summer High Adventure

Trennon's Varisty Scout troop went on a 'High Adventure' week long hike through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. They boarded the bus Monday - July 11th at 3:00am and drove to Durango, Colorado where they entered the trail. There were 16 young men and 6 leaders. The goal was to reach the Summit that was 14,000 feet elevation. They made it to the 13,500 elevation mark and it was simply amazing.. This hike was about 35 miles through the beautiful mountains of Colorado. The stories they came home with are amazing. The first night they didn't get as far as they hoped so they set up camp about 5 miles in on the bank of the river. I'm summarizing the story for time sake (it literally took them and hour and half to tell us when they got home). Trennon started unpacking his pack while his friends were setting up their tents and getting dinner. Trennon heard an 'Oh my gosh'...and that was it so he kept unpacking. Once he was finished he stood up and looked over at his friends and they were standing there frozen. Trennon looked around and noticed there was a 'Bear' walking through the trees about 50 yards away. Trennon very casually said 'hey guys' there's a bear...the guys said 'a yea..and it walked right by you...it was like only 10 feet from you'..Trennon was like WHAT..ARE YOU KIDDING ME...a No...didn't you hear James say 'Oh my gosh'...yea but..yea well James saw the bear said 'Oh my gosh...and DOVE into his tent and zipped it up. I guess he thought that would protect him...LOL. Anyway...the bear had some fun with the boys as it took one of the boys packs and then climbed the tree where the other food packs had been hoisted 20feet up trying to protect them. The bear was pretty smart and got away with 3 food packs to feed her and her cub. If you want to know the whole story just ask Trennon or one of the boys that went...it was pretty scary.

At the start of the Hike...geared up and ready to attach the Mountain.

Hiking through the wilderness..it's beautiful.

Trennon and the front leaders...they were always way ahead of the rest of the pack.

Z-Bo - Trennon's best friend Zach. He moved to Utah last summer which has been really hard but he was able to come back and do this big 'High Adventure' hike with all his friends. Trennon was so pumped to have Zach on the trip with him.

Looking down at the river on day 2 - on the way to the summit.

The three leaders...James, Zach & Trennon. Taking a break to give the others time to catch up.

Camp set up on the river banks.

What was left over from the 'Bear'. They said it was like she took each pack and carefully used her claw and opened each pack like a can-opener and then ate the food and moved over to the next pack. I think she's done this before.

You can only see this amazing country by hiking through it...no vehicles of any kind are allowed.

The lead crew..

on the way to the summit..

Zach and Trennon...looking a little tired.

They said because of the elevation you could only hike so far and then you would have to take a break. Due to the difficulty of the hike the lead group was about an hour and half a head of the last group. It ended up that the second group didn't make it to the point to stay on task to reach the summit so they ended up splitting up the 2nd night because they just couldn't make it.

At the top of the summit, the tree lines are gone but they found these beautiful lakes at the top. Amazing..who would have thought there would be lakes at the very top of a mountain.

On the way to the summit...the lead group went on the 3rd day to the summit as a day hike while the second group continued to make it to the 2nd day camp.

Mountain Goats were EVERYWHERE...Trennon said there were hundreds and they had little babies that were really cute but so annoying because they sounded like those 'Potted Plants' in Harry Potter that when you pulled them they screamed like crying babies. We laughed. Not to mention that whenever you go 'pee' the goats come running. It was told that they like the salt in your urine...so the boys were told to go on a rock instead of the grass but the goats would still come running. Trennon said they were so annoying...he said 'Mom it was terrible...nothing like taking a dump and having 10 goats around watching you'. We laughed so hard.

This is a great picture that depicts Trennon's point about the goats were everywhere.

A view from one of the break points as they head to the summit.

James, Trennon and Zach...almost to the top...tons of snow on the ground.

They are pretty cute (when their babies). It's also shedding season so as you can see the Mom is losing her coat.

too bad they grow up...

Trennon's the stud alongside his friends Chet, Zach and James

I guess the days were beautiful, but the nights were a little chili. So here they are warming their hands.

He's such a cutie..

Father, Son

The whole troop back together again.

Wow...we made it...waiting for the train to take them back to Silverton to come home.

It's a REAL old fashioned train...

The roaring river...

They made it back safe and sound..no injuries..and what an accomplishment. Way to go Varisty Scouts...this will be a trip you will never forget.