Family Camp 2024 - Glamping at Brian Head #20

This picture shows most of the people that came for Family Camp.  We are missing Landon, Derek, Brynnli and Ryan, Kennis, Brady, Ellie and Bryan who came after this or did not go on the hike.  

L to R:  Beacher, Gem, Supe, Kaia, Kaebri, Brynn, Eden, Madi, Essie, Jared, Clara, Tahlia, Lou, Koen, Joel, Noah, Trigg, Zade, Tasia, Bonnie, Paul, Lorin, Eliza, Brenden, Kai, Lance, Julene, Zion, Sarai, Afton, Ferf, Torin.  A total of 41 people in all came at one time or another.  We missed Tavin and Gaige who could not come at all.

This year it was Supe and Beacher's turn to plan for Family Camp (with a lot of assistance from Mom and Dad).  Supe decided that we should go to the Sheffield's Cabin at Brian Head.  It was arranged that Paul would do some repairs on the artificial stonework that needed to be done in trade for the time at the cabin.  We have done that in the past.  The work got done in June and we went to the cabin on Wednesday - Saturday, July 17-20th.  We had a really good turn out only missing a few people.  Some could only come up for a day, or even just part of a day, but we only missed Tavin for the whole time.  Some came, but had to leave a little early for other family activities.  But actually, it was a better turn out than most years. There were only beds for 28 people at the cabin, so there had to be some bed additions like some girls sleeping in the sauna room and we brought out little camp trailer that Bean slept in.  There were some cots and airbeds used too.  But, since we were inside, I think everyone was pretty much more comfortable than when we camp outside in tents!

We had great meals as usual and for outside the cabin activities we did a beautiful and family friendly hike at Cedar Breaks and went to Yankee Meadow for a kayaking outing.  It was wonderful weather in the low 70's most of the time with afternoon rain showers. We did our outside activities in the mornings and then played games at the cabin the rest of the time.  Some took walks at different times of day.  We had a fun S'mores night on Thursday after dinner for dessert.  Saturday morning we had a big cabin clean up (part of our agreement for the trade) and it ended up spic 'n' span looking even better than when we arrived.  Everyone that was still there worked very hard on this.  

It ended up being a really great time and it was nice to be inside because these dates that everyone could be available for are right during Monsoon season and it was easier to be inside out of the rain for it.  It made cooking and many other things a lot easier.  Staying at the cabin may have been a big reason why we had such a good turnout.  It will probably be Lou and Bryan's turn for 2025.  (It would be Mom/Dad/Bean's turn next, but Mom and Dad pretty much did it this year since Supe was way too busy being up to his neck in a new job.)

 

I think it is pretty amazing that through thick and thin we have managed to keep doing Family Camp, one way or another, for 20 years now.  I didn't even realize it was the 20th year until I started writing this up.  Sometimes I want to quit when I get really tired of some people's being less than helpful or enthusiastic about doing it.  And sometimes when some people are crabbing at me about it I just want to bag it, but I hope we can keep doing something until Paul and I are not longer in the picture.  I doubt we'll be around for another 20 years.  

Working for Family Camp

 Paul and I had a good, cool time working up at the Sheffield's cabin doing repairs to the artificial stone in trade for Family Camp time there.  He did the skilled labor part and I did the clean up, unskilled labor part.  It was so beautiful driving up and back and while we were there in the 70 degree zone that it felt pretty good getting away from the St. George heat!  It was a lot of kneeling and bending over for Paul especially, which isn't fun, and it was "phoney" stone, which he hates, but it was good to get it done and know that it was good repair work and we would have our part of the trade out of the way.