Gold Strike Canyon

Garrett and his Boy Scout troop had a great camp out last weekend at Gold Strike Canyon just south of Hoover Dam.  It was an awesome 6.5 mile trip that ended at the Colorado River.   The hike included each boy carrying a 40 pound back pack.  As the boys went down they encountered a much more difficult hike than expected.  They had to do a lot of bouldering and canyoneering.

    Garrett and his friend Dylan headed down

About half way down the trail hot water started to surface and run down the trail.  It gathered into small pools some of which were 5 feet deep and about 100 degrees.  Some were even hotter and some were colder.

     Our camping spot.  I slept out under the stars it was great.

This was one of the hot pools just above our campsite.  A larger, deeper pool is hidden from view behind the big rock.  After we set up camp, caught a few frogs, and cooked dinner on our backpacking stoves we all changed into our swimsuits and jumped in the hot pots.  It's no wonder we slept well that night.

      The boys hiking down to the Colorado River.

Garrett at the point where the hot springs run into the Colorado River.  The water is real warm where Garrett is standing.

Garrett helping one of his friends up the boulder.  Garrett was the only one of the boys who made it back to the cars with his backpack on his back.   With about a mile to go all of Garretts troop started slowing down.  A couple of the leaders went ahead and came back to grab the gear of the boys.  Garrett leaned over to me and said Dad I am going to carry my own pack to the end.  I was so glad to hear him say that.  It was not easy as it got hot and the water was about gone but he was determined.  This is why I love Scouting.  It pushes boys to their limits and makes them do thing that they probably didn't have the ability to do.  I learned a lot from and about my son that day.