dolliverc

It was a "DIY" outing. During the time that I was an active adult scouter, I encouraged multi-day trekking in addition to unit camping during the summer. I had the skills and experience and there were places I wanted to see, so I must confess that these treks were largely adult conceived/spear-headed/etc. Not sure I would have attempted the Ptarmigan, though!

I wrote up trek journals--they can be viewed at www.troop101-wa.org

Always struggled with the boy-led versus adult-inspired quandary. Still, I think we had a blast.

Camp Sheppard offered some incredible outings--from guided treks on the Pacific Crest Trail, to mountaineering skills culminating in summit attempts on Mt. Baker, Rainier and others, plus the addition of a downhill mountain biking program. I was stunned to hear the program had closed--something to do with lease agreement with the Forest Service, I was told.

SP,

Thanks for sharing the link. Took a small crew on a 6 day trek in the North Cascades several years ago. We did the Crater Mountain-Jackita Ridge loop counter-clockwise. Stunning scenery--saw only two other parties the entire time.

With the demise of the High Adventure Base at Camp Sheppard, I don't see much of an effort on the part of the Chief Seattle Council to offer rugged skill-based experiences via another venue. Sadder still (to me, at any rate) is that relatively few youth are interested. Perhaps the market just isn't there to warrant the effort.

Still hope to haul my sorry carcass up to Sahale Arm one day. though.

The Old Goat

More "Walking" Recipes

Walking Apple:

Carve out the core and innards of an apple...(as if you were going to carve a jack-o-lantern)

Fill the cavity with your choice of peanut butter OR cream cheese, AND raisins OR shelled sunflower seeds.

Walking Fruit Salad:

Toss well-drained fruit cocktail OR chopped fresh fruits with a little non-dairy topping. Scoop mixture into an ice cream cone. Go for a walk.

Sounds like a fun day camp theme.

Cooking--

Egyptian Egg: Butter both sides of a piece of bread. Tear out an egg-sized hole in the middle; lay the bread down on a griddle or skillet. Crack an egg into the hole and cook to taste. Much easier to flip a piece of toast than an egg by itself.

Kebab Cooking--this can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. I've done it with fancy marinaded raw meats or cut up hot dogs and chunks of bell pepper, mushrooms and fresh tomato. Build your own fruit kebabs are fun to do.

Hummus--the middle-eastern answer to bean dip. There are dehydrated versions available.

Pita (pocket) breads or chapatis (flat bread)--great for dipping or for holding fillings.

Program ideas--Drumming, heiroglyphs, dancing(contact a local belly dance troupe), treasure mapping, mural-making (draw outlines of each camper and then paint or color an Egyptian costume on them), costuming(beading, headresses, caftans)...

I haven't been involved in GS for many a year. I spent two summers at my council's resident camp back in the early 70's, backpacking with Cadettes in Olympic National Park.

Ditto on the HOT jello--the drink of champions.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, our guys love "Rainier Spotted Dog"--cheesy,buttery instant mashed potatoes mixed with either pre-cooked crumbled bacon, chopped ham or chopped up hot dogs. Heat the meat in the water as it comes to a boil, dump in the mashed potato mix, and you're done. Really sticks to the ribs and is great for either breakfast or dinner.

My favorite uber-snack for snow camping is Halvah--39% of calories from fat; 390 calories per serving. Kind of like eating sesame seed frosting.

I was standing by the rushing waters of the Duckabush River, enjoying a little quiet time after supper when one of the newer scouts came up and stood beside me. He was quiet for a few moments, and then he said, "Mrs. D---? I just wanted to say thank you." I answered "You're welcome. Thank you for what?"

He took his hands out of his pockets and gestured at the trees and the river, gleaming in the soft light of late afternoon.

"Thank you for choosing this place," he answered.

I've camped at several Washington state BSA properties in the summer. Summers are usually quite nice and rain is rarely the concern. Frigid lake waters and Hood Canal jellyfish are the major "de-motivators" for most of the campers.

We do have a tougher time promoting camping and backpacking in the other nine months of the year. My husband says I recite the Ten Essentials in my sleep most nights.

I am a medical technologist specializing in Transfusion Services at a 350 bed non-profit hospital in my state's capital city. Fairly busy cardiac surgery service and a 100,000+ annual visits to the ER (level II trauma center) keeps us hopping. Service to others in need of quality health care reinforces Scouting principles in my work life.

Currently ASM for a troop of about 30 fellows. My son is a Life scout--all "done" but for the project. I was a First Class Cadette GS--way back before Silver and Goal awards.

My best job was a summer camp staff position at a GS camp located 17 miles south of Camp Parsons on beautiful Hood Canal. My co-leaders and I took groups of 13-15 year olds on 4-5 day long backpacking treks in Olympic National Park's backcountry.

Seattle Pioneer,

Your program sounds like a great one. Igloos can take a number of hours to construct, and snow cave construction can be frustrating if the terrain and snow "density" are less than ideal.

Our troop does a winter overnight in the vicinity of White Pass every winter. We spend a day constructing snow shelters and always have a number of tents set up for gear storage and sleeping if the shelters are ineffective. One type of shelter that is easily built by a scout is the tree-well sleeping bench, where a shelf is carved out below the snow level under a large tree. With a tarp and some strategically placed snow blocks for a wind break, it is quite cozy.

We have also tried this outing up at Paradise at MRNP. There are group snow-camping areas withing several hundred yards of the upper parking lot, and the heated restrooms are open all night for emergency warm-ups. Conditions can be quite extreme, as you well know. Another factor to consider is that sometimes you have to wait for the snowplows to clear the 12 miles of road DOWN from Paradise to Longmire. One time, despite an ungodly early start from Olympia, we had to wait three hours for the plows and did not get to our camp spot until almost noon. That cuts into shelter construction time.

Snowshoes are a must have item until at least late April, as the drifts are fierce.

Carol Dolliver, ASM

Troop 101

Ordeal Member (June 2004) Squaxin Chapter, Nisqually Lodge 155.

Anticipate Brotherhood this autumn.

Greetings, all...

Currently an ASM for an Olympia area troop of 30 or so scouts. Work full-time as a medical technologist with a hospital laboratory transfusion service. Avid backpacker, snowshoer and winter camper.

I was a Girl Scout from 5th grade through high school and spent two summers in staff at a Hood Canal resident camp back in the 70's. My son is 15. I count some of my closest friends as fellow scouters and have learned a great deal from this forum.