Could this week get any crazier???
Zach went on an over nighter with the scouts. Loren also went as a parent volunteer. The scouts were to back pack in to their camp site which was supposed to be about a 5 mile hike. Loren and another Dad drove to the camp site to set up camp and get dinner ready. To their surprise a site had not been reserved and the place was full. So they travel further on and found a place that they thought was free camping, got everything set up and fires going, in time for the ranger to show up. The ranger asked what they thought they were doing and they told them about the scouts. Apparently, they site was reserved and had been paid for by someone else. The ranger hung around until everything was taken apart and put away.
Loren then proceeded to call one of the leaders on the hike to let them know...only to find out that they weren't sure how much longer it be until they made it into camp. Hours went by....and still no sight of them. The leaders finally decided that they must have taken a wrong turn and where LOST. Loren told them to turn around and come back the way they had gone in and he would meet them at the trail head. This was at around 11:00 P.M. Loren kept in touch with them most of the way back down the mountain (when they had reception). Loren called me to let me know what was going and and told me to pray for their safe return. So of course I did. I was worried and stressed. Loren and the other Dad where very concerned about the boys and how they were doing and if they would be able to find their way back down. So they got in touch with the Sheriff, who told them as long as they were headed down the mountain, they would make it into Provo. The Sherif how ever went out to look for them in his truck with night vision goggles. The boys made it back to the trail head around 1:00 a.m. tired, hungry, and exhausted. Loren and the other Dad had jerky and some other snacks and drinks for the boys. The boys where then told to call home and inform their parents that they where headed home to wait for them. Loren and Zach made it home about 2:30 after dropping off some of the scouts and explaining to sleepy parent what had happened. I of course couldn't sleep until I saw them in my house safe and sound. Not a lot of sleep for us last night.
The 5 mile hike turned out to be more like a 13 mile hike. Zach says that he is never going camping again. I don't blame him. He will be going camping again...just wait and see.
I am very grateful for the power of prayer and to my Heavenly Father for watching over all of the scouts.
