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Troop 1849 BSA Springfield Virginia |
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The Freeze-O-Ree Chatter
Despite a warmish start, the winter weather cooperated with us so we had an authentic winter campout. The temperature Saturday hovered in the low twenties at Catoctin mountain, dropping to 11 degrees at bedtime. Now the disappointment; it only dropped to 8 degrees by morning so no crystal bead for 0 or below. Bummer! We will issue the white snow bead as there was a qualifying snow shower as we arrived at the park. Our assigned campsite this year was a little further out and on a more exposed hill site, so we made good use of the trail tarps we brought with us by hanging them as "curtains" on the windward side of our cooking pavilion. It was about 12 degrees when we broke camp Sunday and started our mostly up-hill trek out.
The Scout stalwart campers, Aaron B., Ross B., Michael E., Yong K., Travis K., Tristan P., Curtis P., Ben R., Max S., and Alec S. did great! They lugged their gear, pulling sleds with patrol gear, the hilly mile into the camp site without a grumble. After setting up camp, and having a hot soup lunch, the primary activity of the day was sledding. They took a break from that to do a patrol fire building contest. The contest was to see which patrol would be the first to boil a measured amount of water in a pot. The fire was to be built with all natural tinder. Although Ross B.'s patrol got its fire going first, after much huffing and puffing, Travis K.'s patrol flamed ahead and edged out Ross B.'s patrol by just a couple of first appearing boiling bubbles.
While this was going on, Pete D. (all-terrain Pete) led a bunch of the adults on a 6 mile hike to Cunningham Falls. The way was both scenic and slippery with ice on the rocks. Aaron B. and Michael E., SPL and ASPL respectively, did a great job in leading the boys and getting the camp set up, meals going, etc. The patrol leaders, Travis K. and Ross B. both did well, especially in running the very spirited fire building contest. A special tip of the hat to the grubmasters, Alec S. and Yong K. Some great stew was stewed! All the Scouts cooperated with each other and assisted in the camp chores. Ben R. did a special good turn in voluntarily assisting the clean-up patrol. Hot chocolate and hot donuts later in the evening warmed up the campers before bedtime.
Many thanks to the adult campers, Bob B., Pete D., Susan E., Steve K., Rob S., and Jeff S. who assisted in many ways in organizing the camp and cooking activities and guiding the boys. A special thanks to Rob S. for taking on the adult grub gathering and cooking task - that was one outstanding beef stew!
Congratulations to all for surviving the 2009 Freeze-o-ree - bragging rights are hereby bestowed upon all who partook with shiver and and shook.
