Chinklacamoose Wilderness Canoe Trip BSA (PA)

[RememberSchiff 3666]

In 1968 (1967?), 11 Scouts from an area troop floated 80 miles down the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. Their council leaders thought it was such an epic trek that they offered a patch to troops that also tried the “Chinklacamoose Wilderness Canoe Trip.”

Chinklacamoose is the Native American name for Clearfield. The Bucktail Council BSA (Boy Scouts of America) sponsors the special patch “Chinklacamoose Wilderness Canoe Trip BSA” for those who complete the trek. (see below)

In June 2022, Troop 26 of DuBois completed the five-day journey, earning the Bucktail Council patch and the BSA 50-Miler Award. The Scouts and leaders launched from Clearfield on June 1 and made it to North Bend on June 6. Scouts saw beavers, deer and many birds, including several bald eagles along the scenic waterway. Water levels were low so the paddlers encountered many rocks but experienced excellent weather for camping along the way. ...but they also tackled Class II whitewater rapids at Moshannon Falls. All paddlers safely negotiated the fast water.

More about Troop 26's recent 2022 canoe journey at news source:

https://www.thecourierexpress.com/news/area-boy-scouts-complete-five-day-journey-on-susquehanna-river/article_3fb11424-f318-11ec-b509-63e3ad4ff205.html

2020 trip:

https://www.thecourierexpress.com/lifestyle/area-scouts-conquer-chinklacamoose/article_e9fd92ad-b61e-5465-abeb-8cb74c331598.html

Other sources:

80 Miles of Wilderness Adventure: Chinklacamoose Canoe Trip – Clearfield, Pa. to North Bend, Pa. by O. Lynn Frank. Link to 28 page planning reference (good stuff!)

https://www.personal.psu.edu/~gal4/Chinklacamoose.pdf

https://www.susquehannagreenway.org/80-miles-wilderness