River Cover - Winter Camp

February 17-19, 2011

Our Acquiring of the tubes.

Arny VanWierren was approached by our leader and he went out of his way to connect with folks in the know about tubes. He managed to get us Tubaloth and another regular sized tube free of charge. There is a "Tiger Pirates" tire shop behind his work and they helped him out by saving and fixing up these tubes. Thanks a lot guys, these really made the event great and memorable one.

Sledding Hill Hike

Almost directly across from our camp is a cut line that goes from the top of a hill down to the river bed. We showed the boys and it seemed a fairly easy hike to get there. So we got our tubes inflated and dragged along our collection of crazy carpets and snow boards. We made sure to bring along Tubaloth. He presented a significant challenge when it came time to bushwhacking though the denser parts of the hike. The "easy" hike ended up a bit more challenging, but we all eventually got there. The snow was still soft, fluffy and deep. We took the trouble to groom the trail with a few runs with Tubaloth and he did a fine job of getting a wide even path down the hill. After each run our speed and distance increased. Having the soft snow was a real blessing as bodies were flung off Tubaloth and some were even run over by him. Everyone came out reasonably unscathed.

Photo Library

Grouping at the cut line.	Looks like a big enough hill from up here.	Snow seems a bit soft for these smaller crafts.	That's better, one swath with Tubaloth and were pretty much there.
Got it. Walk up right side, avoid traffic.	Tubes rule man.	There goes the saucer...	Hey , watch me snowboard now...
Still vertical!	Comfort rules...	Well, these saucers may seem a bit fasted, but my buts killing me.	Better hurry, there's a snowboard heading for your head.
The slalom team hits the bottom	Tubaloth clearing the run...	taking anyone out along its path.	Only a couple ended up eating snow.
I didn't know you could breath snow in?	Look, tire tracks over my legs...	So I'm real glad the snow is soft here, cause that was a major face plant.	Can you dig some of the snow out of my ear, back and neck please.
Video going down on Tubaloth.	The view from under Tubaloth.	Can you get off me please, I'm here under the tube.	That's better, I can breath now.
Working the slalom, little left, little right.	Video of a Tubaloth run with minor casualties.	Nicely groomed trail boy, that Tubaloth is a regular Zamboni	You want to carry him up, How about you, Come on someone needs to bring him back up.
Another run with lots of carnage.	A few more bodies left along the run.	If I can go sideways I can knock all these guys down.	That its boys, lets hit the trail back home through the bush.
Are you going to take Tubaloth through the bush this time?	There's the hwy guys, last one there gets to deflate Tubaloth.	There's some prickle bushes back there.	but I'm ok, had my super tough ear flap hat on.
Look mom, I missed every tree and bush.	Watch out for that prickle bush...	Could have sworn that tree just came out of nowhere.	That's the last of them.
Hey let's have a snow brick fight.	Oh, and watch out for the electric fence!