Kobae and Man Camp

Man Camp has returned and as participants size up distance and wind direction on the tee to #4, Kobae continues his constant quest for food. Ooooh, a five year old camel turd, doesn't get any better than that.

Nine Days of Let's Play

Sunday comes to a close. When morning light arrives the last of the Let's Play family depart. It's been a full two months of non stop adventures full of incredible people with unlimited heart. Now, at Base Camp there is a short break. A lodge needs cleaning, a body needs healing, there is corporate Let's Play work to do, and perhaps a day or two to go hiking with the Kobster.

The Way Back

Amaza Back

Gary and Tom make Amasa Back.

Sunday on Cliff Hanger

On Sunday Gary and Tom attempt Cliff Hanger on the trials bikes. When they arrive, it's a mess.

The River Gives and Almost Takes

On Friday Will, Jim, Pete, and Tom kayak the river. Attempting to put ashore on Gold Bar Beach the river suddenly triples in speed pushing Will and Jim's kayak into the brush while Pete and Tom are sent flying onto the rocks. As Will and Jim struggle to make land the river grabs Pete and Tom's kayak off the rocks and flips it upside down. Pete and Tom go under multiple times. The river is trying to claim them in the undertow below the overhangs. Jim makes land and is able to pull Pete ashore. Tom, already swept away twice is losing his one arm grip on a precarious overhang. Jim grabs an arm but the river will not release Tom. Will grabs hold, then Pete, and it takes all three to get the river to give back it's prey. Earlier in the day the river released the last drowning victim she had been keeping since June of last year. A few short hours later she unsuccessfully invites Will, Jim, Pete, and Tom to join her. There will be other opportunities. She won't be lonely long. When Saturday comes, with Pete having departed Moab, Gary joins Will, Jim, Tom who have unfinished business with the river and kayak to Base Camp.

The Chosen Ones

There are 18 indoor soccer facilities around the country that stand heads and tails above the rest and these are the people that run them. Without adding any new locations those before you have accomplished double digit internal growth (again), 20% plus net profit on gross, and first place in nearly every city they are in. Tom has known many of them for 15 plus years and the quality of people that are part of Let's Play is almost unimaginable. Sometimes, what is before you, doesn't have words that make it right. This is such a case. These, are the best of the best, the Chosen Ones.

Proctor Academy

Saturday through Wednesday our friends at Proctor lived, on their own, individually, in the canyons outside of Base Camp. On Wednesday when they came in, all had made it, smiling, proud of what they had accomplished, and rightly so. When so many folks their age can't set their iphone down for a couple minutes, these ladies and gentlemen have accomplished something that will be with them throughout the years. We're happy to have hosted them and proud to call them friends. Any time my friends, any time.

The River and the Night

Though dark has come the Let's Play family isn't done with the river. At 10:30pm Amanda, Ed, Jose, and Tom launch kayaks just outside of Moab and take a moonlit journey to Base Camp. Each wore a glow stick should one make a watery kayak exit and each kayak was affixed with a different color should they lose a boat. With headlamps, and glow sticks, they arrive at the Base Camp boat ramp at 1:17 am. A record 2 hours and 47 minute kayak from town.

Brit, Jen, Jami, and Kevin

The gang hits the river and kayak back to Base Camp. The toys again lay exhausted from another days full workout from the best Let's Play has to offer.

Pinto, Louise, Collared and the Toys

Tom was unable to initially recognize Pinto and Louise after their haircuts and a new ewe has been added to the family. First collared lizard of the year on the way to Skinny People, and the Base Camp toys lay exhausted from the beating they have taken the last three days with 34 people using them.

Jacobs Ladder and the Amaza Back

The Let's Play managers have returned for the fourth consecutive year. 34 people this time as the Let's Play family continues to grow. Wednesday morning comes and Pete and Tom climb Jacobs Ladder where Pete takes a break and then Pete and Tom come across a couple of bike riders, hike a bike to the top, and down Cliff Hanger.

The Disc Weekend

Saturday morning visits and the Proctor Academy departs for four days to do solos. During the night players for the two day disc golf tournament arrive with two singles rounds on Saturday and a doubles round on Sunday, it's a difficult tournament, but despite it all on the second round of Saturday, playing the course as all Par Three's, Cory Sharp shoots a course record 43 with 11 two shot birdies and 7 three shot pars. 50 something players, 100 something campers and guests, Base Camp has another incredible weekend. Thank you all.

More Heart

With warmer temperatures snow melt has accelerated and the Colorado has reclaimed lost territory. The Base Camp beach vanished and won't be seen again until July or August. Proctor Academy from Vermont has returned and Saturday morning their students will head off into the canyons where they will be separated and live on their own with no human contact. Base Camp will not see them again until Wednesday. Once again Base Camp is privileged to host incredible people with amazing amounts of heart. Mother Nature appreciates heart and puts on a little evening show before departure.

Incredible (Cameo by Kobae)

Moab from Max Schulze on Vimeo.

Cometh the Monster

Take Off

Day in Pictures

Rock Acrobats

Not

Kobae chills on the front porch while Tom runs his water for the absolute favorite thing Kobae enjoys, his bath. Not.

The Time of Spring

The same bush by the front gate is the first to bring flowers for each Spring that Tom has been here. The lambs, both rams, have been taken from the pen, as at less than four months old they have already begun to show interest in Louise and begun to challenge Pinto. The snow melt has begun and the river is taking the beach, though each day, something comes ashore and rests, either beaver or otter. The sun has moved far enough north it casts the shadow of the Saddle on Hurrah as it sets. The driveway entertains an average of ten riders a day, lost, looking for direction, or suggestions for things to see as they visit the accommodations of Base Camp. The larger lizards remain hidden as are the snakes. Smaller lizards have arrived and last week began the nightly return of the bats. A juvenile eagle visits nearly daily and the ten female big horn that entertained most nights over the last two weeks appear to have moved on. It is the time of change, the time of warmth, it is the time of Spring.

Windy Day

Despite gusts of 50 mph, matters not to Kobae, there is sun.

Week of the Unicycle Ends

Tom suspects this is not the last time Base Camp will see them. Heart is a big deal around here, and there are few people with more.

The End of Thursday

The Day in Pictures

Jackson

Jackson Butte, Jackson Hole, and Jackson Trail.