Bridger-Teton National Forest (Jackson, Wyoming)
Day 1 - Friday
Our ArrowCorps 5 adventure started bright and early, way too early, at the Old North State council office. 13 barely awake but smiling faces gathered at 4:30am, loaded up and headed toward Raleigh. We stopped for an early morning feast at Biscuitville in Mebane. We were among the first customers just after it opened at 5:30am. We got to the airport in Raleigh which was surprisingly crowded. Our only problem with check-in and security was when Patrick Day tried to bring multiple bottles of water onto the plane. The stern faced TSA people took the bottles away.
Andrew Krasula's draws and socks needed to be washed in Salt Lake City after a bottle of body wash spilled because TSA inspectors didn't put it back in a plastic bag. The flight was long but enjoyable. Most of us got some sleep in. We got to Utah in four hours. We picked up rental cars and headed to a nearby Mexican restaurant for lunch. We are not sure why we bothered to eat there.Then it was on to Antelope Island State Part. It's a big island in the middle of The Great Salt Lake. We toured the visitor center, an old farm ranch and then headed to the beach. It was 100-degrees but the humidity was very low so it wasn't too uncomfortable.
The Dan Moore provided "shades" came in very handy and are cool, amazing, "happenin". We saw lots of buffalo. They were intimidating. We were surprised by how many flies (both live and dead) there were in the water. Alex Oliver ran by with the quickness and agility of a cheetah toward the Salt Lake, sprinting over 100-degree sand screaming like an idiot. That assessment came from the one and only Branson Brown. Ben Oliver, Ivy League genius, burned his feet because he didn't have sense enough to wear shoes on the scalding, sun-baked beach at the Great Salt Lake. We then checked into our five-star accommodations.
We then went to dinner at a local Applebees. Rob Kennerly was presented and unexpected and delectable treat from our waitress, Cheryl.Various observations:
Morale is high, supplies are good, and at least at this early stage, no one smells overly rancid.
"I like being a peon" Cody Harker…although he was tired, slurring and it sounded like he said "I like being peed on.
"Today, we were mistaken for firefighters, hunters, birdwatcher, and wildlife experts".
Its getting late….we've been up for about 20-hours……..Tomorrow (Saturday), we head to Wyoming and meet up with the rest of our contingent.
