Girls Camp Hike

In preparation for our upcoming girls camp, we needed to take our girls on a hike. Beverly Burgess planned the hike. On Sunday she told us that we would start from Brad Larsen's cabin, go on a 4-wheeler trail for a about a hour, turn around come back, and then drive to her cabin and eat dinner. Her husband, Joe, would be in his ranger driving up and down the trail in case any one had a struggle. We could wear shorts as there would not be any brush. A bottle of water would be sufficient for the hike.

We had most of the girls. A couple had to work. Tara along with two others were attending EFY.

We arrived at Larsen's cabin and began. We had only gone about 5 minutes when Bev said we were not on the trail and we needed to turn around and go to the other side of the cabin to begin. We were standing at the top of a large mountain, up on the other side was the trail. She pointed out the 4-wheeler trail we would be on would take us around the top of the mountain.

Some of the girls said it would be a fun adventure to go down the mountain and work our way to the top. They took off and everyone followed. I said I felt we needed to stick to the plan and the trail that had already been tried, but I was voted out and the hike began.

We soon found that because of the very thick prickly brush our legs were cut up and bleeding. We would step in huge giant red ant piles, with large red ants crawling up our legs and biting us. The ravine was so steep that many fell, and we had to hold on to tree branches for support. It was very difficult.

Some of the girls wanted to go one way, and others another way, so we were now separated in two groups. Some of the girls who were further down were struggling with which way to go. Those of us up higher could see from our vantage point exactly how they needed to go, but we could not make them hear, or should I say listen to us as we called out directions for them.

The other leaders felt another direction would be better. About that time, I saw a young girl from the 8Th ward. (The 8Th wad girls and two leaders came with us) take a fall. and her friends just seemed to keep going from what I could see. So one other leader, Shelly Cox and myself made our way to her. She was crying and shaking, and said she could not go on. She was covered in hives from head to toe. and was was over heated. We gave her water, and explained we had to get her out. We had to talk her into every step she took. After a while, Bev yelled down to us that someone had to make it to the top of the mountain where Joe would be, or he might think we had not come and he would leave.

Shelly took off as fast as her exhausted self could go and I stayed with Aubrey. We had to hold on tight to tree branches and pull with all our might to the next place to put our foot. Each step was difficult. We had now been hiking for about three hours in hot sun and difficult terrain. Aubrey was crying and really did not think she could continue, her breathing was difficult, as the hives were in her throat as well. We were scaling up a very huge mountain and it was very hard. After what seemed like forever, we finally made it to the top where Joe and Shelly were waiting with the ranger.

As we drove to Bev's cabin, I was thinking a lot about the adventure of the afternoon.

First: When we first got off the path, right from the beginning, we should have turned right around and corrected our selves. Instead, it was exciting for the girls to go into the unknown, even though they were not prepared. How often in life does this happen? It seems too exciting to turn around, and come back to where it is safe.

Second: When we could see the girls down below, and could see from our vantage point how they needed to go, they would not listen, they kept thinking they knew what they were doing, and wanted to do it their way. Another life lesson. Often parents, leaders, the Prophet, etc., know how to guide us to safe ground, but how often is the council ignored because we think we know what is best for us.

Third: When the hike became so difficult and we were extremely exhausted, the only way out was to keep going up and putting one foot in front of the other. Many times in this life, it seems like we cannot keep going, we want to quit. But we cannot do that. We have to keep going and pushing forward until we are out of the difficult situation we found our selves in.

Fourth: During the hike, the groups separated. If we had stuck together, we could have been a great help to each other. During hard times, it is important to stick together and help to lighted one an other's burdens.

Fifth: We were not prepared at all, not with the right clothing, not with band-aids, not with pain reliever, or benadryl, and certainly not even close to enough water. How many times have we been warned to get prepared. If we had been prepared it still would have been hard, but it would have been so much easier and less painful.

Once we were at the Burgess's cabin and the girls had delicious dinner, they were once again laughing and happy. Benadryl helped Aubrey and she was even happy.