Johnson Family Dish

Mormon Battalion Trail

Scott went on his first real campout this last weekend with his daddy and Scout troop (and lots of other daddy’s too).  Naturally he was thrilled about this adventure.  So thrilled in fact that he was packed a week ahead of time. 

He also worked to earn a new hatchet to bring along with him.  This must be a male thing, if there is any tool, even if they really don’t need it, they MUST have it; to complete the experience, I guess.

They went to the section of the trail near Maricopa.  They camped out on Friday night.  I am not super clear on the details of this next little oddity, I will just let the picture speak:

And I should say that no, this is not normal camping behavior, in my experience (and perhaps is a tiny part of why I hate camping).  I, unlike my husband, cannot cause a mattress to come along for the camping experience.  The Gardner family brought this for him, from what I understand.  He said he slept really well on it too.  (Thanks Bob for capturing this priceless bit of camping eccentricity.  And thanks Gardners for being so lavish with your bishop.  He did enjoy it.)

Our troop worked hard restoring the trail on Saturday.  (Ethan aka Sunny, pictured here hard at work.  Courtesy of Bob Gray photography.)

They hauled out two heaping truck loads, as you see above, of old tires and trash that was dumped in the desert.  (This photo also courtesy of Bob.) 

Scott went on and on about the Mormon Batallion Soldiers who came through that evening to talk to them about the history of the trail.  They carried working replica black powder guns which they shot off for the boys. 

Scott’s first official Scout campout was really fun, something he will always remember, I am sure.