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+---
+title: Survival Journal - Week 4
+---
+
+Non-journal comment: Week 4 consisted of a forced march on Monday and
+Student Expedition the remainder of the week. Student Expeditions are
+smaller than group expeditions. There were about three students in each
+group.
+
+The staff finally came at 7:30 Sunday Morning. We held a short
+Priesthood meeting and then had our fast and testimony meeting. It
+lasted for three hours and the spirit was strong. We had to use berries
+for the Sacrament.
+
+At 12:30 they passed out food to each family group. First, we devoured a
+watermelon. Then we whomped up some oatmeal and lumpy dick to last us
+until dinner. Dinner was fried chicken, cooked vegetables, and cinnamon
+ash cakes. I was so full of oatmeal that I could hardly eat the dinner
+and soon after my Revenge started again.
+
+At 7:00 we had a meeting at which it was announced that our forced march
+would begin that night at midnight. We were to hike 25 miles to Eggnog
+Cabin as fast as we could. I wasn't exactly overjoyed but slept for a
+few hours with my bedroll rolled and ready to go. The gun went off at
+12:30 when the moon was out to light the way. Everybody took off; some
+began to run, and I was doing fine in second place
+
+when the Revenge struck a powerful blow. I lost 4 places and most of my
+will power. I began again with cramps in my stomach. It was an endlessly
+long, spooky walk through ghostly, moonlit desert canyons and mesas.
+After a while, my pains eased, and I settled into a steady pace. At 6:30
+I watched an incredibly beautiful sunrise and I think I learned a very
+deep appreciation of desert scenery. At 7:30 Lynn, Ted and I all walked
+into Eggnog together and first. We had covered 25 miles in seven hours
+of hard pushed hiking. I thought my legs were going to fall off and I
+grew some prize-winning blisters, but I was there and happy. I am now
+resting in the shade. Kids have been coming in all morning. Most of them
+were in by 10, but some of those poor kids are still out in the desert
+at 12:30. It's very hot here in the shade and I hate to imagine what
+those poor kids are going through. Kelly came in about 7 pm and Doug
+came in with a crutch and bad back at 10 pm.
+
+Monday night we made preparations for student expedition week. This is a
+period of 4-5 days where small groups of students are sent out on their
+own with maps and faith to cover 50-70-mile distances. Ted, Kelly and I
+are one of the groups. We were given food packs for the week and then
+each group met individually with the staff to discuss their expedition.
+We had a final fireside for instructions before we separated.
+
+Some groups left as early as 4 am Tuesday morning, but ours didn't leave
+until 7:30. Kelly was still exhausted from the forced march and the
+going was extremely slow. We finally reached the first water drop 8
+miles out of camp at 11:30. There were three other groups there too,
+some with ill members. We all planned to wait there at the water drop
+until about 4 in the afternoon when it cooled off a little. When the
+time came to leave, we found that there was barely enough water for half
+a pop can apiece. The nearest water ahead was 20 miles away and we were
+quite worried. Ted had begun to feel a little sick during the afternoon
+rest and Kelly was still tired. Since I was the only one with much
+energy left, I decided to walk two miles back to an old reservoir for
+water. I carried two canteens and two billy cans and arrived at the
+reservoir in 40 minutes. I got back at 5:45 and found Ted writhing in
+pain. The rest
+
+of the groups had left, so I was alone and quite helpless to do
+anything. Kelly and I gave Ted a blessing and set up camp since it was
+obvious that we would not be moving anymore that day. A car came by, but
+the most they could do for us was give us some good drinking water for
+Ted.
+
+Wednesday Morning Ted is feeling a little better, but he is still very
+sick. Our water is getting low and I am getting very worried. We are
+very far behind schedule now. I have no idea then we will be able to
+move or if help will ever come if it is needed. There is nothing I can
+do but pray out here in the middle of the desert. Frankly, I am a bit
+frustrated and discouraged.
+
+The back-up truck finally came by to pick up their water buckets at
+2:30. They were very surprised to see us still there and asked what the
+problem was. After examining Ted and talking to him for a long while he
+decided to continue on with Kelly and me. They told him he should depend
+totally upon the Lord to help him face this great physical challenge.
+They filled our canteens and said goodbye once again. We finally left at
+4 pm. even though Ted was in considerable pain. We had to walk some 16
+miles that afternoon to the next water and expected to be walking far
+into the night. It was nearly 10 pm when we made it to the junction
+where the water drop was. To our surprise, two of the other boys groups
+were there too. Ted was feverish and quite exhausted from our long
+uphill climb that day. I certainly admire his courage and determination.
+During the course of our walking, we crossed Capital Reef National Park
+and climbed the switchbacks to the petrified wood junction.
+
+I must tell you about a desert thundershower we encountered along the
+way. First, the air becomes very still, and you see these huge billowy
+clouds come rolling in. Then, the wind begins to blow in violent little
+gusts, and you can smell that newly wetted dirt smell in the air. Next,
+you watch a sparkling sheet of rain roll toward you and before you know
+it you are enveloped in a downpour of huge warm rain drops while the sun
+is still shining and making the wet desert rocks glisten. It's all over
+in about 20 minutes and the desert becomes as dry as it was before.
+
+Thursday morning, we cooked a delicious lentil and dog food (TVP) stew.
+We left camp at 10 a.m. Ted\'s condition was somewhat improved, and we
+made good progress. We followed the Petrified Wood road to the Veda Mine
+Road. Then we finally entered Wolverine Canyon where we shortly
+discovered a beautiful little spring and made camp at 5 pm. We arrived
+in very good spirits and had greatly enjoyed each other\'s company and
+the terrain that day. I was filling the role of head cook which I
+greatly enjoyed. We had a big pot of cracked wheat and milk with brown
+sugar. We finally retired after a good long fireside chat. It is very
+difficult to explain just how much I am enjoying my student expedition
+now that everything is going so well. My feet are fine, the revenge is
+gone, the food is quite good and we have not even been worried about
+where we are or whether we will have water yet. It's all just so great,
+and sadly enough drawing to a close.
+
+Friday morning, we broke camp early because we had a long way to go
+before the day was over. We followed Wolverine into Horse Canyon. There
+we traveled most of the day through high walled canyons and dry
+riverbeds. Towards evening we started to follow the Kings Bench trail,
+hoping to find a cattle trough of water as our camping spot. We found it
+at the base of a steeply ascending canyon at 5 pm. Our meal was lumpy
+dick over TVP (texturized vegetable protein) and it was very good. We
+expected to make the last leg of our journey up the ravine and over
+King\'s Bench tomorrow morning. When we arrive at Base Camp in the
+Gulch, we will have traveled somewhere around 250 miles. Our student
+expedition alone was in excess of 50 miles I believe. The last mileage
+we will have to cover from the Gulch will be our 12-mile run in to
+Boulder from the Gulch after solo.
+
+Sunday\-- Ah, solo is so peaceful and relaxing, but that's getting ahead
+of myself; back to where I left off.
+
+Saturday morning, we rose and had a leisurely breakfast. We napped a
+little before breaking camp and were in no hurry to leave because we
+anticipated a short hike into base camp. Leaving at 9:30, we started the
+steep ascent up the ravine which led to Kings Bench. It took us an hour
+of heavy panting to reach the top, but it was certainly worth it. From
+the top you could see for miles in all directions.
+
+In looking across the bench we could see Long Canyon. Long Canyon
+branches off from the Gulch so we decided to drop into Long and follow
+it to the Gulch. However, several attempts to descend ended in steep 200
+ft. cliffs. Finally, we came to a point where we could see the entire
+canyon. The whole thing was walled with cliffs and there was no way in.
+It was nearly noon when we discovered this and it was getting very hot.
+We had expected to be in base camp by noon so we hadn't carried much
+water.
+
+Worry started to furrow our brows, but we decided to bear southwest and
+try to enter the Gulch through a long narrow canyon. We hiked for
+several hours and entered the top of the narrow canyon. We came upon a
+water pot which had hundreds of polywogs and little green flecks. I
+drank my fill anyway because of my thirst.
+
+The going was pretty tough and several times appeared to be foiled by
+drop-offs. Each time we would discover a ledge or a crack in the wall
+which would let us pass. Finally, as we followed a ledge we came into
+view of the Gulch and shortly found a way down. We came joyfully walking
+into base camp soon after. It felt like a long-awaited home-coming to
+see our leaders and those cheerful girls again. All the girls groups
+were already there, but we were the first boys group to arrive at about
+5 pm. When we got there the girls were rappelling down a 150-foot cliff.
+I was very anxious to rappel too, so we prepared our solo food packs and
+were about to take the path up to the top of the cliff when misfortune
+came.
+
+Great storm clouds had moved in and it began to thunder and lightning.
+Then the rains came in such floods that soon the whole canyon floor
+began to flow. The lightning was spectacular, and the thunder was
+deafening. Most of us were thoroughly soaked before long. I managed to
+stay a little dry by standing under a little overhang. The storm passed
+after about an hour, but it left behind a muddy mess. What was earlier a
+cool, clear little canyon stream was now a muddy red little river. I had
+visions of having to drink that stuff all through solo.
+
+By this time the other boys groups had arrived and we began to organize
+to go out on Solo. Those of us who hadn\'t gotten to rappel would do so
+Wednesday after solo was over. We boys followed the leaders up the Gulch
+where they left us one by one at our own little sites along the way. I
+was given my site about 9 pm when the light was beginning to fade. It is
+a little ledge about 30 feet above the creek. A large overhang juts out
+over it and gives me just enough room to stand. From my little perch
+here, I command a view of the stream below. Nothing can pass below me
+without my notice.