Caving -- the Rest of the Story

So, the thing about caves is that they are all below ground level. That's OK for going in, but it means a whole lot more work coming out. Add in the fact that you're scaling boulders the whole way, and it's a pretty good workout.

We went through several caves: Pictograph, Charcoal, and Bat Cave I and II. Pictograph was by far the best. It had several entrances, long passages, and several nooks and crannies. We slept in Lost Woods which is a minor cave -- only about 100 feet or so of actual cave, but with an area large enough to sleep over a dozen amid the rocks, under a large overhang. The scouts were really into the night caving, which was made more exciting by the ever-present danger of falling into a cave opening (usually a 30-50 ft drop onto large boulders).

As with all scouting campouts held by our church, we had a devotional fireside. This time I was asked to speak, and I felt prompted to talk about the power of the Spirit. I illustrated this by first having everyone remain quiet for a full minute, then pointing out that in our world of noise and bright lights, the most powerful moments we have are moments of quiet contemplation, when the Spirit of the Lord can communicate with us. After some words about what the Lord expected of those of us who hold His priesthood, I challenged them to make opportunities to allow the power of the Spirit to work in them, so they could be prepared to meet the challenges the Lord will have for them. At least for me, it was a message I needed to hear. That may seem odd, since I was the one speaking, but although I prepared a general outline, I was hearing the words right along with the scouts.

All in all, everyone had a good time, and breakfast was better than anything I'd had before on a campout (and I've had plenty!). We're all looking forward to next year's trip.