Tent Pitch 09

I'm certain that no one enjoys Tent Pitch more than Abby Lou. We spend the weekend convincing ourselves that a little (or a lot) of dirt on the face never really hurt anyone.

Once again, our fearless leader -El Presidente- Chris Graham, organized a perfect weekend get-away. This was the 5th annual Tent Pitch, though only the 3rd time the Kinnaman clan has been in attendance.

Eighty-four people camped at Gold Fork, ID (near Cascade) and more than half of them were children. Families mingled, played on the creek bank, shared camping food, and enjoyed fellowship in the truest sense; in what has become a valued tradition for many families in our church. We visited the legendary Gold Fork Hot Springs and the kids pruned for about 3 hours in the mineral pools. I think Lisa could live in the hot springs!

Notable traditions have emerged from the annual weekend getaway. One of these is the mile-long fire pit, designed to accommodate campfire time for eighty-four people.

The Man-sized Challenge is another storied tradition which provides much entertainment for the group as a whole. After training for a number of months to win the coveted traveling Man-sized trophy, I finished (bitterly) as the runner-up to Ben Kneadler. This is an event that requires strength, endurance, skill, and a little luck...seeing as you never know what the competition events will be until the challenge begins. This year my Achilles heel was the steer lasso. How could I have trained for that? (Grandpa Kinnaman would have been ashamed by my woeful ability to handle the lariat) Next year, the trophy will be mine.This year the kids instituted the "kid-sized challenge." They completed the same five events--relay style and with kids sized obstacles. Not to be out-done, two teams of ladies relayed through the challenge course, as well.
Lisa was a champ.
(I believe that her time was better than mine)Ah-yeah... that's right, a large group of Nazarenes droppin dance moves in the mountains. Not saying we were the Solid Gold dancers, but we had a whole lot of fun, regardless. Even Ryan's parents were a bit surprised at how uninhibited he was, and rightfully so; that kid has MOVES! Tony DeVall furnished a dance floor surrounded with multi-colored rope lights and the Vance Kellogg party van pumped out the tunes late into the night. We are all hoping that this too will become a tradition:
The Tent Pitch Dance Party

Tent Pitch is the best! What a great way to close out the summer with family and friends. A tradition that we hope to be a part of for many years to come. We are so blessed.