Well, here's another one for the Troop's High
Adventure Crew history book, as we finished another 50 Miler / 5 day backpacking
trek with 8 men still standing at the end of the trek on 23 Mar 05. This
Crew followed the same trail (Foothills Trail from the top of Sassafras Mountain
(highest peak in SC) to Burrell's Ford on the Chattooga River) as the very first
High Adventure Crew did during Spring Break 2000. This Crew had it
just as tough to include heavy rain showers and thunderstorms on the last day
(it was like being in the Twilight Zone for Mr. Carbaugh and Mr. Colvin as
they'd already experienced it on the first trek and in the same
campsite).
With great pride and admiration for the effort just
accomplished, I would like to present the Crew members of Spring Break Trek
2005 who were able to go the distance and become part of a small group of
Troop 159 Scouts and Scouters who have earned the coveted 50 Mile
Afoot patch:
Scouts
Scouters
Jeremy B., Crew Chief
Carbaugh, Ron
Eric C.
Colvin, David
Will D.
Downey, Bill
David J.
Mac S.
All the above Scouts and Mr. Downey are first time
award winners, and all did a great job of trekking on in the most difficult
terrain (being part mountain goat would have been a big help on this trail)
and some very wet weather late on the 4th day and into the early hours of
the fifth day. Each Crew member lived up to our High
Adventure motto of "Crew First, Self Second." Great job guys!
You may note that the Crew which finished the Trek
is a lot smaller than the Crew we had ready to go at the start, as we lost (due
to the flu) Brent H., Will J., and Mr. Johnson just before the trek start on
Sat (19 Mar 05), and then lost Mr. Brian Carbaugh (a veteran
of the first 50 miler) to the flu as well while on the trail. Had
to call for help to get him home as he was really hurting. We also lost
another Scout (Chris D.) on Sunday, which whittled us down to the "Crazy 8" Crew
who were able to finished the entire trek. We were sorry to loose those
Crew members and there chance for a while to earn the 50 Mile Afoot patch.
Our Saturday trek day started in high spirits
from atop Sassafras Mountain, the highest peak in SC, which culminated in a 12.3
mile trek to our first campsite (Laurel Fork Falls) not far from Lake Jocassee,
and along a very nice cold water stream. Those first of many hills the
Crew would climb up and down on this trek soon reminded everyone why
we had to train so hard to be physically prepared, as the Foothills Trail is not
for those who have not done everything to "be prepared." A good hot trail
meal, along with campfire, followed by a good night's sleep got everyone
prepared for the next day's little walk we had planned for trek day number
2.
Our Sunday trek day got us on the trail by 9:00 AM
and we only had a short trek day of 5.8 miles planned, but of course, that was
up one very big mountain with lots of steep stairs. Naturally, if you go
up, you have to come down as well, and there were a lot more steep stairs on the
down hill side as well. However, knowing we were meeting our resupply boat
(crewed by our very own Horgans) on Lake Jocassee, provided a lot of motivation
to get the trek day done. We had a nice lunch and some sun soaking
along Lake Jocassee before tackling one of the tough climbs over a
mountain (and down of course) to our next campsite along the
northwestern end of Lake Jocassee near one of the lakes
headwaters. Thanks to the Horgans, we had a really great meal
of chile, hot bread, salad, bug juice, and one big chocolate cake at "Club
Ped" (that's what Mr. Horgan's sign said). A good campfire with
more cake and toasted marshmallows rounded off the day and it was an early night
to bed since we had another big day of trekking ahead of us.
Our Monday trek day got us up early and
on the trail as we had 11.9 miles to do this day before our next camp (Bear
Creek Camp). It was a tough day with plenty of hills and had
most of us huffing and puffing at one time or another, but the weather
was great and Crew spirit was the same. We had a few
good views from the tops of several mountains and ridges which always
makes the climb worth the effort. We also climbed lots of
stairs, crossed the Horsepasture River on a 115 foot wooden bridge and
learned that the word "gap" is really a three letter cuss word to a backpacker
(in a gap you go down one side and back up the other). Another great
campsite, hot trail food, campfire and again an early bed. No one has to
be told to go to bed on these treks, as you just naturally answer the
call of your sleeping bag after campfire.
Our Tuesday trek day started early again and the
Crew all began watching the sky for the rain we knew was coming, so rain gear
and pack covers were kept handy. We could not dawdle this day as
we were trying hard to do 11.6 miles and get camp set up before the rains
caught up to us. However, the terrain was very tough and the climb
out of Whitewater Falls (largest water fall in SC) is as steep as it gets
without being roped in, which was then followed by a long switch back climb over
Grassy Knoll to get to the next camp site, and it was just a bit
longer than the weather would allow. The rain finally caught up with us
around 3:00 PM and we were still a few miles short of camp, but the rain did not
slow us down as the Crew knew it had to get to camp to before the rain got any
worse (which it surely did and colder as well). They say that "necessity
is the mother of invention" and we soon invented a method to get tents up in the
pouring rain without getting them wet. Use of our emergency tarp
stretched out by 4 Crew members allowed the other four members to
quickly set up a tent, and we did this until all four tents were up and
protected by their rain flys. This was truly and example of a Crew
pulling together to protect itself. Since we were all wet
from both rain and sweat and the temperature had significantly
dropped we had to get changed into dry clothes and warmed up, as everyone
was shivering from being wet and cold. We were all quickly
reminded how warm our little two man backpacking tents are and in no time at all
everyone was no longer in risk of hypothermia. Supper was under our
emergency tarps with the rain beating down, and before 8:00 PM everyone was
tucked inside their sleeping bag to stay warm and recoup. By 2:00 AM
we were able to experience the lightning show and the very loud pitter
patter of the rain on our tents, but at least the thunderstorm ended the rain
we'd been under for almost 12 hours.
Our Wed trek day started with an early sunrise (although
we were deep in the mist), and a roll call verified we were all still alive,
although Will D. was suffering from a bad sore throat and cold. We
packed up our very wet camp and headed out early to do our last 10 miles
and rally with our pickup crew at Burrell's Ford. Not long into the
trek, the sun came out and the Great Scoutmaster seemed to smile on us,
as we'd had a pretty good test of Crew unity the night before and I think
he figured we'd done just fine so he gave us a great final trek day. Our
motto for this day was "everybody makes it, no one gets hurt," and fortunately,
that's just what happened as this final section of trail was mostly
very easy and we made great time. We came down the last hill at Burrell's
Ford by 2:00 PM to the applause of Mr. and Mrs. Cianciolo and Mr. Hollar
who had clean dry clothes, cookies, potato chips (boy did that salt taste
great) and the traditional (started by the first HA Crew) HA cream soda
for us. It all tasted great and the Crew were all pretty proud
(with just cause) of what they had just accomplished. And soon the trek
was over and we were on our way home.
I know I speak for the other Crew Advisors when
I say how well this Crew performed as a Scout Crew during this entire trek,
and want to make special recognition to Jeremy B. who served as our Crew
Chief, to Eric C. who watched over needs of "A Scout is Reverent," to
Will D. who kept us faithful to the principals of Leave No Trace, and to David
J. who took up extra pack weight as we lost Crew Advisors due to the flu, and
to each Scout Crew member who always went the extra mile in all tasks without
complaint, just because it had to be done. Also, many thanks to Jane and
Fred Cianciolo, David Hollar, Rhonda Warlick who provided our transportation,
and to the Horgans for our Sunday resupply and a great meal at restaurant "Club
Ped."
This Crew's tale is now well placed in the
Troop 159's High Adventure history book and it will be told along
many a trail and around many a campfire yet to come.
High
Adventure Challenges Those Scouts Willing To Try,
DAVID
E. COLVIN
ASM,
Senior Advisor, High Adventure Program