2015 Lake Powell Houseboat Reflections

It is one feat to wake up at 5 in the morning and get ready for a trip but it is another for the drivers to drive 11 hours just to reach our destination. My driver, ASM Edward, incredibly drove almost non-stop. In the middle of drive we took short breaks and carried on with our expedition to Zion national park. Along the way the troop had mishaps with flat tires and car problems but it was not surprising to have reached Zion National Park before anyone else. Soon more cars from our troop began to pile in but there was still no sign of Mr.A and others. After waiting a bit we decided to head off to the narrows without Mr.A and wait for him there.

The narrows is a fun hike that is not hard. The path is mostly paved for you until you reach the narrows. It was about a 2 mile trek to the narrows and from there it's endless. We waded in the water to for about 30 minutes and headed back. On the way back we saw Mr.A so we waited for Mr.A to finish the hike and went back to our campsite. There we set up our tarps and stoves to cook dinner on. Rohit was the cook for the night as he mixed in a bunch of random ingredients such as cup noodles, sausages, and sauces. It turned out to be alright and we ended the night there.

The next morning our goal of the day was to hike Angel’s Landing. The hike to the peak of Angel’s landing was a strenuous hike as there were a total of 35 switchbacks leading to the top of scouts landing. The next part took into your account you’re bravery and your precision. Every step you took was a decider of your life. It wasn’t hard but you had to be confident throughout the deed. At the top the view from the peak was a sight for sore eyes after a 10 hr drive. You could see across the whole canyon within one glimpse. We then had lunch and returned to the campsite to leave for the marina.

We spent a night at the bay and talked about our plan for next day. Once we reached the marina we immediately packed the boats once and set off as Anthony and Kyle filled their positions as captains of the boats. Predicaments began piling up as soon as we left and half of the troop was separated from each other making it hard to communicate. Even though radios were provided speech was not clear and there was no service to make phone calls. The only resources we truly had were the skills that were taught during boy scouts to solve the problem. We soon found each other’s boats and waited for Mr.A to arrive in his motor boat.

Once Mr.A arrived we set off for a place to dock. While we waited we played card games and listened to music to make the time go quicker. After we finally docked, everyone started jumping into the water. The next 5 days on the houseboats we worked on finishing merit badges and doing competitions. One of the highlights of the trip was learning to wakeboard. At first it was hard to stand up on the board but as soon as you get it; it is a cinch standing up on the water. Another one was visiting rainbow bridge (the biggest natural arch) and taking pictures there. After the five days we parked back at the marina and left for the grand canyon.

We spent one night at Lee’s ferry and I ended my trip there. The view was excellent as you could see the river run through the canyon. On the way to North Rim Campground we met another problem. The trailer blew another tire along the way and needed repair. We quickly repaired it but yet another situation flew in. As we fixed the tire the others were informed of the news and try to issue help. What they didn't know was that the tire was already fixed and half of the troop was waiting at the campground. Soon enough both halved met up and they carried on to hike the grand canyon's trail.

The trip was unbelievable as we traveled through land and water. We witnessed many monuments and natural creations. Overall the trip was really fun and made for a great adventure.

Gallery 2015 Lake Powell Houseboat Summer Camp