Family fun during EXTREME heat

We’re having extreme heat warnings even high in the mountains in Arizona.  And wouldn’t you know it—we planned to have our family visit us in the tall cool pines at our cabin in Pine, where we thought we would escape the summer desert heat.

So what did all of we outdoor, adventurous Graybills and Borjas do when the temperatures reached the 90’s before noon?  

Well, first of all we got up early and found shady hikes in the Coconino National Forest—high on the Rim that give us spectacularly beautiful views….

We rested in the shade…and, luckily, Sebastian and Soren where there to help Grandpa stand up again.

Look what we sighted perched on the top of our camper at the end of our hike—a rare endangered Soren and Sebastian!

The next day we were excited because our Son-in-Law, Eagle Scout Sean (and Marketing Director for the Scouts) got permission to take us on a tour of Camp Geronimo.  This is a Scout Camp. It is nestled under the Mogollon Rim, and the 800 mile Arizona Trail crosses the camp entrance.  Dan and I had discovered this Scout camp while riding our bikes over a year ago.

It had intrigued us, but we had never thought that we would get to go inside the camp.  

So this was a very special day, spent with Emily and our three Scouts—Sean, Soren, and Sebastian.  It was Dan's and my very first time in a Scout camp.

Of course we had to stop at the camp snack shack and get ice cream cones for our grandsons and Grandpa.  And I had to check out the Gazucookie (sp), which was so huge that there was enough for all of us.  Believe it or not, I did share it.

Grandpa and I are going to become Senior Scouts so we can go this totally cool Scout Camp where we can hike, camp, rock climb, swim, canoe, ride horses…..and eat Gazucookies!

Camp Geronimo was built on the old Spade Ranch.  Here is the original Spade home and bunkhouse.

 

Scouts have been camping at Camp Geronimo since 1922.  For 101 years!  It felt like we were walking in history—in the footsteps of thousands of children, who had grown up, had lives, had hard times and good times, lived through the Depression, World War II, and had children and grandchildren of their own.  And all those Scouts that camped at Camp Geronimo for 101 years were better prepared to face life's challenges and joys because of their Scouting experiences.

We went to the Trading Post and got some really cool Camp Geronimo t-shirts. 

We will wear them with pride in honor of all the Scouts all over the world and our special very own family Scouts.

Here are our own Scouts—giving us the Scout salute.

More early morning hikes to try to avoid the heat—Pine-Strawberry Trail in the Tonto National Forest just a few blocks from our cabin.

Here are photos of more fun—family hiking back in the Coconino National Forest on the Rim above the Fossil Springs Wilderness area:

Soren may tower over all of us except Grandpa (at least not for another month or two), but both Soren and Sebastian are very sweet and loving.

Fossil Springs Wilderness Area stretches down below us, providing spectacular views into the canyon and beyond to the west.

Our family photo….note that we are all wearing our Rutgers University t-shirts.  Rutgers University is where Emily will start working in the fall as an Associate Professor of School Psychology.

We are so very proud of both Emily and Sean.  Not only are they the best of parents, but they enjoy and are highly successful in their chosen careers where they make the world a better place.

What else do you do during extreme heat?  We spent the early afternoons on our front shaded deck and talked and talked.  We shared stories both funny, nostalgic, and memories close to our hearts.  We joked and laughed and simply had a wonderful time just relaxing together. 

And when it got too hot outside, we gathered in our tiny (cozy) cabin and had an early dinner early so we could have plenty of time to eat lots (three cartons) of ice cream, my homemade chocolate chip cookies, and carrot cake.  When the tiny Pine grocery store’s freezer broke due to the extreme heat and all the ice cream in cartons melted, we switched to ice cream bars.

And we played some really fun games.  Games for all ages that we really enjoyed, because they were basically “conversation starter” games.  We each got to hear the thoughts, humor, and beliefs of each other, and everyone listened, not just talked, or spouted off. 

I think we all know and understand each other just a little better….and all because we were having an extra hot summer.  Who would have thought that growing even closer as a family would have resulted from being too darn hot!