Re: Waterfront Conditions at Goshen
PABLO_MANUEL (PABLOM@N4.OPNAV.NAVY.MIL)
Tue, 25 Jul 1995 07:55:39 EST
Peter Farnham solicited comment on Goshen waterfront. I took
Lenhok'sin High Adventure at Goshen the following week [9-16 July].
As backpackers, we had the opportunity to pass by every camp on the
lake. The good news is that every camp has a waterfront program
except Baird, the High Adventure base camp. But as a high adventure
backpacking camp, Baird only needs waterfront to do swim checks, and
they are done at Olmstead when needed.
Olmstead and Bowman still have a lake, and while the water is a little
farther from the shore than normal, waterfront programs are proceeding
normally. Lenhok'sin has even opened up the Kayaking Outpost
[situated by Olmstead]. PMI and Marriott must rely on the Little
Calfpasture River. They can still use canoes and rowboats, and have
enough room for designated swimming areas. The rope swing at Marriott
is high and dry, but the river is still there. Even Ross, at the
upper end of the [former] lake has enough water for canoes and a
designated swimming area.
On Trail, we pulled the Huck Finn Outpost, which is directly across
the lake from Marriott. If you chose the swampy area, you could sink
up to your knees in mud as you went fishing. But if you strolled over
to the Marriott side of the lake, downstream from the Marriott
waterfront, you could wallow [literally] in mud flats. Then step out
to water over your head to wash off. My guys loved to coat themselves
in fine black mud silt, then threaten to hug the Marriott campers on
the nearby shore. It was all great fun.
But the best fun we had was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hike
across the lakebed with full backpack on. [After I schmoosed the
Marriott staff to row us across the Little Calfpasture River in a
rowboat.] We hiked back from Ross to the Baird waterfront by picking
our route carefully. The water never got higher than mid-thigh by
choosing well.
Summary: from Camp Post, by the dam, it looks like a regular lake with
wide shores. From the concrete bridge at the upper end, it looks like
a little river meandering across a marshy, exposed plain. The water
is moving fairly rapidly, and is clear. We saw BIG carp at the upper
bridge, and a turtle swimming up to sun himself on a rock. [I use
'him' arbitrarily- I don't know boy turtles from girl turtles.] Just
my impressions. Hope to read of others'.
Manuel Pablo, ASM Troop 1518
Springfield, VA
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
