July 31 - Back Home!

July 30 - Final Campfire

Captain Ron wants everyone to know to meet their boys at San Gabriel Park at 1:30. Most people know where it is, but if not, go Austin Ave. towards the high school, turn right on Stadium Dr., left on Morrow, and right on Lower Park Dr. The bus will park at the end in the circle. He says "See everyone Thursday!!"

July 28 - Los Alamos, NM

The latest from Rhonda:
"More news from the mountainmen! They are currently in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Spent last night in Aspen Glade, Colorado and today visited the Narrow Gauge Railway in Chama, New Mexico. Tonight they will stay at the Bandolier National Monument and tomorrow will hike through Indian ruins and visit Los Alamos Bradbury Science Museum. The guys will head to Santa Fe tomorrow afternoon and cook steaks for dinner whille spending the night at Hyde Memorial Park. Tuesday they will drive to Lamesa, Texas and stay at the Skyview Drive-in Theater and then drive to Wolf Mountain Scout Ranch (near Llano) on Wed. for the final campfire. They should arrive in Georgetown by 1:30 on Thursday. (hot, dirty, smelly, and tired!).

NOTE: Parents, please bring some $10 and $20 dollar bills to reimburse Ron for loaning money to the boys when they ran out of money!"

ANOTHER NOTE (from Joe): Bring a clean shirt for them to put on in the car. They won't have one.

July 26 - Buena Vista CO

A message came in from Rhonda:
"Heard from Captain Smith today. The guys spent three days at Rock Creek, Montana and are now in Buena Vista, Colorado. They are washing clothes today and tomorrow will go white water rafting on the Arkansas River. They will leave for Santa Fe, New Mexico early Sunday. They should get back to Georgetown about 1:30 on Thursday, the 31st."

They should have received their third and final care packages yesterday in Buena Vista.

July 24 - Lander WY to Steamboat Springs CO

The latest message from Rhonda:
Last night the guys camped at a Boy Scout high adventure camp south of Hoback Junction, Wyoming. In the past couple of days they went to the Buffalo Bill Museum which was very interesting. The Grand Tetons were beautiful and breath-taking. The staff is saying that this is the best group of boys they've ever seen and that they are doing very well.   One week to go!

July 22 - Yellowstone

There has been no word from the bus for a while now, but our son Michael left a message yesterday saying they were in Yellowstone, on schedule. --Joe--

July 16 - Radium Hot Springs

The latest message from Rhonda:
"Ron called today to check in and told me that they are in Radium Hot Springs having a good time. They had hamburgers and cobbler for dinner last night and it was delicious! He said they would be entering the United States today and camp in Montana. He is very impressed by how well the kids are interacting. Sounds like everything is still going smoothly. "

July 15 - Banff, Alberta

A new message from Rhonda just came in:
"Hi Joe,
Ron called collect today and talked to Mandy. They are in Banff, Alberta. Today they are shopping and going to Radium Hot Springs. It's about 50 degrees today and pretty. They were caught in the rain last night. Yesterday they hiked the Atabasca Glacier and visited the beautiful Lake Louise. They also visited the Columbia Icefield. They saw caribou and a black bear and grizzly bear.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready for them to come home!" -- Rhonda

July 14 - Jasper, Alberta

No word from the bus, but they are heading away from Alaska, have traversed British Columbia via Prince George, and are now in Jasper, Alberta.

July 11 - Ketchikan, Alaska

Latest message relayed from Rhonda:
" Here's another update from Captain Smith:
July 11th, Friday
Campers are in Ketchikan shopping and getting ready to board the ferry at 7:45 p.m. headed for Prince Rupert. Should arrive there at 5:15 a.m. Yesterday they went to the Native Totem Pole Museum in Ketchikan. Temperature was 55 degrees and no rain. Last night they had a fish fry with dolly varden trout and silver salmon. It was wonderful! This morning the staff cooked biscuits, sausage and gravy. There was a ceremonial Indian naming session after breakfast. Ron told me that the boys are getting along extremely well and having a good time! "

July 9 - Ketchikan, Alaska

A message from Rhonda:
"Hi Joe,
Ron called today about 1:00 p.m. and gave me another update:

They were boarding the ferry Taku headed from Petersburg to Ketchikan. Yesterday was a very fun and exciting day. The guys hiked to a beautiful lake and caught about 15 cutthroat trout. They also took jet boats out to the LeConte glacier, which is 21 miles long and one mile high! It's the southern most advancing glacier. They watched a huge piece of ice break off and crash into the ocean. It caused gigantic waves!! They saw beautiful blue and gray colors on the glacier and it looked surreal. Ron said there were fur seals and sea lions on the iceberg. Some of the guys helped with a boy scout service project through the City and Parks Dept. in Petersburg. They installed rubber covering for a playground. I don't know how they had time to do all of these things in one day, but apparently it was a wonderful and exciting day. Captain Smith reports that the boys are doing great and all is well! Until next time.................. Rhonda"

July 6 - Petersburg, Alaska

The Mountain Men are still in Petersburg. Here's another message relayed from Rhonda. This is actually from yesterday:
"He called from Petersburg at 12:30 p.m. here which is 9:30 a.m. there. He said the boys were still asleep after getting in really late last night (actually early this morning). The weather is drizzly today and cool. While coming into Petersburg, they were traveling through a very narrow passage, only 300 feet wide and 28 feet deep! The boat takes a 17 foot draft and is 408 feet long. The navigation lights were fascinating as was just being aware of the expertise it takes to navigate through that narrow of an area! The water was beautiful, crystal clear. The boys were able to sleep some of the time on the ferry in the solarium. It's a covered area with lounge chairs and heaters. They were very comfortable. Today they will go fishing which should be fun! Ron said they will stay 3 nights in Petersburg. The town is attractive, but only 3 blocks long. I'll let you know if I hear from him again today."

July 5 - On the Ferry Matanuska

"Hi Joe, here's another report I had today from Ron around 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.

Ron reported that they were on the dock at Ketchikan, Alaska and about to get back on the ferry. They were headed for Wrangell on the way to Petersburg. The should arrive in Petersburg about 12:45 a.m. They will be met by the Petersburg high school principal and he will escort them to the high school to spend the night. They are traveling on the Matanuska Ferry and it's huge! It has 4 decks and a cafe and travels at 19 miles per hour. They have seen bald eagles everywhere. Ron watched a float plane land while he was talking to me and said it looked really cool! Porpoises are following the ferry and quite fun to watch. The boys have been passing the time playing cards and games, doing well." -- Rhonda

July 4 - Prince Rupert, British Columbia

Here's a new message from Rhonda:
"I heard from Ron again today. He called at 1:00 p.m. from Smithers, British Columbia. He said that last night they camped under an incredible glacier called Baker Mountain. Today they honored the 4th of July by pledging allegiance to the U.S. flag.

He called again at 7:30 this evening and said they were in Prince Rupert. They will board the ferry at 3:30 a.m. and begin the trip to Petersburg, Alaska. He told me again that the boys are doing really well. It's a great group of boys. Ron said they are calm, respectful, and helpful!! You can't do much better than that!"

-Thanks Rhonda!-   They will be traveling the Alaska Marine Highway, riding one of its 11 ships, the big venerable Ferry Matanuska up to Petersburg.   It's almost a one-day voyage through the Inside Passage, with stops at Ketchikan and Wrangell.   Here's the Matanuska's schedule for the day:

July 3 - Houston, British Columbia

Here's Captain Ron's latest message, relayed from Rhonda (-thanks Rhonda!-). It refers to yesterday the 3rd:
"The campers left Williams Lake, British Columbia this morning after camping last night at Chief Williams. (They were on site of a native Indian ceremonial dance pavillion). The boys had a great time there playing football and throwing the frisbee. This morning they saw a pair of bald eagles and a gray wolf. At the time Ron called me they were about to load up and drive down the Skeena River Valley towards Houston, British Columbia. Ron said the boys were trying to figure out how to convert from customary to metric measurement. He said it was entertaining to watch them. They will have hamburgers tonight. Tomorrow afternoon they will go to Prince Rupert. Ron said it's been pretty hot during the day, about 91 degrees, but at night it's in the 50's.

"Ron said this is the best group of boys he's ever had! Everyone is getting along extrememly well. His cell phone service goes in and out, so I don't know when he'll call again, but I'll let you know when I get more details."

July 2 - Across The Border

There was no news from Captain Ron yesterday. This may occur more frequently as the Mountain Men move into wilderness where cellular reception is spotty. Here's today's map:

Today they will cross the border and drive up to the very colorful Williams Lake, British Columbia. They just missed (over the weekend) the famous annual Stampede rodeo.