West Falls Wilderness

One of the most wonderful things about Camp Loll is that there is an adventure everywhere one turns. For years, Leonard Hawkes, a past Camp Director of Loll, has been trying to get our crew to try a hike to the west of camp toward Boone Creek. With this year's challenges fitting our troops into hike parameters set by Yellowstone; we decided to give it a try. The results have been wonderful. We call the hike, West Falls Wilderness, because it crosses into the Jedediah Smith Wilderness, and it has a host of lovely waterfalls along the way. It is about seven miles long. There is no trail and all wilderness rules apply, so it has challenge, but is not excessively difficult. This seems to fit nicely into the BSA's hiking guidelines. I read with great interest this past week from the 1911, first edition. Quote: "Several things should be remembered when going on a hike: First, avoid long distances. A foot-weary, muscle-tired, and temper-tried, hungry group of boys is surely not desirable. There are a lot of false notions about courage and bravery and grit that read well in print, but fail miserably in practice, and long hikes for boys is one of the most glaring of these notions." Not every one at Loll would agree with W. W. Gibons, but West Falls Wilderness Hike gives bragging rights without danger.


The hike actually begins at CEYHO Basin. This is Loll premier climbing and repelling wall. It was first integrated into Loll's program in 1986, when Todd Wangsgard and Trent Warner went looking for caves and came back to report a repelling rock that would make Copenhagen Basin, where we rappelled at Bartlett, eat its heart out. Hence - Copenhagen Eat Your Heart Out Basin CEYHO Basin. A couple of weeks ago I drove past the Teton High Adventure Base in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson. They have quite a COPE course there. As I contemplated the telephone polls and cables I couldn't but help think that CEYHO could just as easily mean Cope Course Eat Your Heart Out Basin.
.

From the top of CEYHO one can see Survey Peak and beyond into the Tetons.
.

One soon enters the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. There are not trails, nor will there be any made by the carefully passing feet of Camp Loll Wilderness Hikers. We leave no trace.
.

From the ridge line one sees wilderness everywhere.


.

The forest primeval stretches to the edge of vision and beyond. Keep your map, compass, guide, and buddy handy. This could be an easy place in which to get lost.

.

Everywhere one turns there is some new wonder. These mighty Douglas Fir trees have fought for centuries to look out over the valleys our hikers now survey.

.

There is every imaginable terrain. Here is a mountain meadow.

.

A hard rock face.
.

Below the canyon is carved deep.
.

Our adventures avoid stepping on living things or in each others' foot steps.

Often the canyon stream drops over cliffs to form beautiful waterfalls. This is Withrow Falls which singles the turning point in our loop through the forest.

What a wonder to contemplate and enjoy

.

There are many ways to appreciate beauty.

.

Many adventures to be had in the wilderness.

.

Shadow Falls marks the west most point of the hike, it is over three miles from Loll, if you were a crow.

.

Heading back toward the east and Lake of the Woods, the hikers follow Beer Bottle Creek.

.

It flows from the rich marsh lands above.

.

Its color suggests its name.

.

As one approaches Camp they find Lost Falls and Preacher Pool.

.

The great wonders of the wilderness are made up of billions of tiny treasures. One must look wide and narrow to see it all. This is a Leopard Lilly.

.

Blue Camus Lillies in July.

.

At the top of this final gorge is Camp Loll Marsh and home. What an adventure - "it would take a thousand days to say what we have seen."

Can You Hear Me Now?

As I finished the post last week on some of the many who have given gifts of time and substance to Camp Loll, I got to thinking about the system that makes our comunication with the outside world possible. It will be impossible to begin to mention all those whose service make Camp Loll work, but we owe a great debt to Don Ormsby, Kaleb Kunzler, Jeff Stork, Greg Lundel, Byron Hellewell, Dave Jolley and many others who have provided us with a comunication system that links us to each other and to the world. The primary purpose of this system is to help insure the safety of our campers, but the ability to comunicate for business and pleasrue is invaluable.


Don Ormsby is the driving force behind the dedicated group of supporters - we give our thanks to him and all whom he has marshaled in our support.

This is our coumunication tower - our link to the world - which makes it possible for telephone and radio links to "civilization".

For years I had to drive to Flag Ranch or to Ashton to make a phone call, now the phone sits by the office desk.

We also have radio communication throughout the camp, to the trail head at Cascade Creek and many places along the trail to Union Falls, Terraced Falls, Survey Peak and elsewhere. The raido box behind the desk now enables us to keep in touch everywhere in camp and with our campers on hike day.

The hand held units are valuable in all ways.

.

There has been another gift to Loll this past week, another kindness.


Here our Director of Camping, Bill Wangsgard and his "trusty sidekick" Kent Clawson install our new waterheater. The steady supply of hot water to the lodge is a boon to the entire staff. Thank you Bill and Kent.

Give and Take

Camp Loll is blessed with a host of hard working, self sacrificing, true charity motivated friends. Their gifts of time and substance to Loll make all the efforts of the council and staff possible. They help keep our campers safe and happy, and give the staff the example and the support that make there experience at Loll possible.

Our first week of the summer, Dr. Steve Johnson provided Camp Loll with a gift of this shade structure. This is the third such gift from Dr. Johnson; he also provided us with the shade structure in camp Washaki and our very much used camp supply tent. Dr. Johnson's visit to Loll was cut short, as he needed to return home to be with his 100 year old father. Dr. Johnson was on staff at Loll its first summer, in 1959!!!


The new shelter is in Camp Yakima.

It is a great improvement on the old and weather damaged tarp that has been there for many years.

Thanks Steve.

Some storms bring destruction, but Ann and Fred Hansen are a hurricane of help for Camp Loll. They arrived Tuesday morning and didn't stop working in the service of our camp and all of us, until their lamented departure Saturday morning. Fred was still hanging doors at midnight on Friday night, and Ann was at his side.

Usually, my biggest challenge is finding enough to keep the Hansens busy. This time I had a list ready, they would go far beyond it.


The first project I requested was some kind of dishwater strainer. Fred designed this wonder. Here he is with Ann and their son, Justin. Fred produced 25 of these beauties.


Jody took charge of staining them and the troops will have this safe way to easily deal with a dangerous bear hazard. No more burning dish water!

Another problem here at Loll has been our ugly bulletin boards. Here are the old ones - accumulated from years of scraps. This mess, piled together by the staff is on its way to campfires across the camp.


Teddy Stronk gave us a good deal on some plywood, we dug some ruff cut out of the wood pile, and Fred was on his way.


Ann is there to help, when she isn't helping elsewhere with cleaning or washing the windows.


Loll now has twenty four beautiful, matching boards.


Beautiful and functional.


While waiting for the paint to dry, Fred wired lights under the stairs.


Teddy Stronk sold us five solid wood doors at $10.00 each. Fred set about fitting them to the lodge. Each door had to be cut to size and hing points routed out. Fred is always willing to teach. Here Wes masters the tools of the trade.


The last door - hung by midnight.

Thank you Fred and Ann.

There are other gifts to Loll, they are not as easy to touch, they are not crafted by hands, but they too will out last the years. Long ago, a boy named Jeff Wilcox worked with me at Camp Treasure Mountain. His father, Jim Wilcox, is one of America's greatest artists. Jeff directs his families wonderful gallery in Jackson Hole. For the second year, Jeff offered to take the entire Camp Loll Staff on a rafting trip down the Snake River. He provides the rafts, their transport, and his invaluable expertise on the river. After some basic training, they're on their way.'


Here the crew attempts to navigate Lunch Counter. Jeff steers the lead boat.


Under his strong hand, it's through the rapids with the joyful crew.


Not so lucky for the second boat.


Only Matt keeps his place. But, for a bunch of Lake of the Woods swimmers, the Snake River is just so much fun.

After taking half the day's crew through in the first two boat loads, Jeff returns to West Table Creek to pick up the rest.

'
Friends we are and friends we'll ever be.


The next batch hits Lunch Counter.


The second boat loses its Nate.



Jeff brings all to safe harbor.


Here is Jeff with Jackson. Jackson's dad worked at Treasure Mt. with Jeff back in 1982 and 1983.

Thanks Jeff.

One of the great friends of Camp Loll over the years has been Donna Hutchins. Last winter I was contacted by her son Rod, who worked at Loll back in the 70's. Rod offered to give a gift to Loll in her memoriam. A gift from Donna's family. After some consultation a fireplace insert to replace the fireplace that was destroyed years ago when the room collapsed was decided upon.



This is how it has looked for nearly eight years.

Once more Loll was blessed. Brian Preece of Gas Products-Boise worked at Loll back in the early 90's. He agreed to donate his labor to install the beautiful gift the Hutchins have given. Brian arrived early Saturday morning; having spent the night in Idaho Falls. He and his crew went right to work. They were still at it the next morning.


They made the hole to fit. They were extremely careful not to make a mess.


The insert is a big one. They were not even available in this size until this spring.


Brian puts in the switches.


Brian measures for the trim, and will have ready to install at the Alumni Reunion this August.


Our generous friends and helpers bask in the warmth of the new fire, and of our gratitude.

Thank you Donna, Rod and family. And thanks to Brian and his crew.