The warm temperatures from earlier in the day dipped just enough that you needed a jacket as the evening shadows cast across the campsite. The vibrant reds and yellows that all the fashionable trees are wearing reminded us that autumn was about to take center stage.

If I haven't mentioned it before, I love fall camping. Fire restrictions have been lifted and it's cool enough that it's actually comfortable to sit around the campfire telling stories late into the night. As evening approaches and tent sites have been established, there are numerous smells that tease the olfactory. Dinner is cooking and each campsite is a miniature Iron Chef competition. Whether it be Dutch Oven shredded barbecue beef sandwiches, chicken enchiladas with Spanish rice, or just plain hot dogs and chips (I must admit that I did sneak in some Hillshire Farms Cheddar wurst) dinner is always more savory when it is cooked over an autumn campfire.

On Friday, Sept. 21, the Deseret Peak District Boy Scouts converged on Middle Canyon for the annual Fall Camp-O-Ree. Troop 1109, serving special needs Scouts, was charted in May and this was our first overnight outing. I know I speak for everyone who was in attendance when I say that this camp is one that has left a lasting impression, not only on the attendees, but on everyone who enjoys Middle Canyon.

Since the dawn of time, any loose rock located in Middle Canyon has slowly migrated into small clans. These clans would form a social circle that would allow new rocks joining the clan to be piled on top. This social circle of gathered rocks made it convenient in the past for humans to build a fire in the center to cook their food and warm their backsides. Most of the locations where these existing rock formations existed were marked by Tooele County as prime real estate for new fire rings. This necessitated the relocation of these rock communities. For those of you who may belong to or support rock advocacy groups, there were no rocks harmed in this activity and all rocks were successfully relocated into their natural habitat.

As troops arrived to claim their campsites, each was given two 8-foot 2-by-4s and a metal fire ring. The lumber was cut in half and then nailed together to form a square, although I'm certain that there were at least a few rhombuses. Work then began on clearing out a bit of the soil to ensure that the frame was level with the top of the fire ring.

Having tested the new fire ring with roasted hot dogs and baked banana boats, I'm here to argue that the new rings were long overdue. In fact, I was almost certain that I heard angels from heaven singing as the fire burned Friday evening for our campfire ceremony. It turned out that it wasn't angels from heaven, but a troop singing about a purple porpoise popping into the pool while another purple porpoise popped out to the tune of The Battle Hymn of The Republic. You can see how I could be easily confused.

Saturday morning brought the real excitement. With rocks cleared away and a bit of soil removed, the forms were set around the new fire rings. A quick cement 101 course taught us about leveling and finishing and we were ready for the truck to arrive. Shortly after 8 a.m., cement started pouring. There was a certain satisfaction in watching the Scouts carefully smooth out the cement like an artist preparing his canvas. Not even the adult leaders could resist the urge to grab a trowel and play. And after all of the meticulous smoothing, edging and brushing there was one final touch remaining.

This was a project with an impact. Here, lying on the ground in front of us, was a work of art. One could not deny the feelings of satisfaction so with a nail our troop number was carefully engraved into a corner. When all was said and done, there were 18 brand new metal fire rings cemented into a 4-foot square pad of cement scattered up and down the canyon.

I would encourage everyone to take a drive up the canyon to see the handiwork of our Boy Scouts. Hopefully it's not too late to enjoy the fall colors. But if you don't get a chance this autumn, don't worry because these new fire rings will be around for years. Thanks to Al Merrill for organizing the event, thanks to Phillip Turner Cement, thanks to Tooele County and thanks to the Deseret Peak District Boy Scouts.