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Camp Thunder Ridge, Utah National Parks Council, near Parowan, Utah

We arrived at Camp Thunder Ridge a beaten and disheveled crew. Following a steep crawl up the paved highway, we were treated to 15 cutbacks on a steep and slippery road that put us in a mental state that we're still embarrassed to talk about. The camp Program Director, Wayne Goodworth, a big fan of Scout Camps USA, enthusiastically greeted us, and we'll take this moment to apologize publicly for being less than enthusiastic and not at all our usual genial selves upon our arrival at Camp Thunder Ridge. Wayne seemed to take our discomfort in stride and put us at ease immediately. He proved to be an amiable, knowledgeable host, and we're most grateful for his dropping everything at a moment's notice to chaperone us through this fascinating camp.

Thunder Ridge's campsites and program areas are set on either side of a mountaintop valley, perhaps, we think, a crater. The ascent to the camp provides one of the most awesome vistas imaginable. Crimson mountains rise to breathtaking heights from the flat Utah desert. Here and there slender white rock spires extend like skeletal fingers from the mountains, creating a surreal landscape. The blood-red soil of the peaks is accented by clumps of greenery that look for all the world as if they are well-groomed hedges but are actually free-growth natural vegetation. We'll always wish that we had been traveling up those cutbacks in something smaller than a 30-foot motorhome, for this might have allowed us less tense moments in which to enjoy the singular natural beauty that surrounded us.

Program areas at Camp Thunder Ridge are all close to one another, with the exception of the aquatics area which is at least a good drive and probably a shorter hike from camp. We were impressed with the shooting sports areas, which include an action archery range, and with the wilderness survival area/scoutcraft area, which seemed to be very well developed.

Thunder Ridge is a patrol cooking camp, and staff is fed in the staff dining hall where we joined them for a superb dinner prepared by the inspired cooking staff. During dinner, we were treated to stories about the significance of the camp's name. It seems that its mountain peak positioning makes for some dramatic storm activity from time to time. Emerging from dinner and with the threat of impending thunder storms looming, we beat a hasty retreat down the mountain from Camp Thunder Ridge rather than face a slippery slide down the 15 cutbacks. It should be noted that we were in a 30-foot motorhome and it just might be fun driving up and down the camp hills in any other vehicle (4WD preferably). We stopped at a nearby KOA that night before heading off the next day to Camp Pahatsi.

Camp Thunder Ridge Return to Camp Tour 2001

Camp Thunder Ridge - Utah National Parks Council

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