Hard to believe that after 6 weeks of dutiful planning that the High Adventure Spring Break 2008 Trek has finally come, and regrettably gone. But wow, it was really a great Trek!

Right up front, I want to thank and praise the great efforts by the entire Crew, but especially those that provided the leadership and training (see below) for this Crew to do so well. The Crew comprised nine Scouts, three of which were High Adventure "Rookies," and four Scouters as follows:

Our Trek began very early on Thursday, 27 Mar 08, with a 6:15 AM rally at the UMC. Everyone was pretty much on time and we only were a few minutes past our 6:30 AM departure time enroute to Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina (about 20 miles south of Asheville, NC). The weather was great and warming up fast by the time we arrived at the trail head (Turkey Pen Gap) to begin our 4 day backpacking Trek on trails none of us had ever hiked before. Consequently, the anticipation for new sights was pretty high, as was the anxiety level in our three Rookies, who I'm sure were busy wondering if they could go the distance carrying 30 plus pound packs 7 to 8 miles a day for the next several days.

We got on the trail about 9:45 AM and within 20 minutes had missed the first major trail change which added about a mile to our first days hike, but it did provide a valuable lesson to everyone about staying alert for trail changes, and not just following along. After all, every wrong trail means every man has to walk back out to get on the right trail again. Must admit, the turn was far from clear, especially on our topographical map.

Within a few hours of getting started on the right trail which had us doing a pretty good climb (least ways I think that is what some of that Advisor huffing and puffing was all about), we stopped for our first trail lunch at a trail intersection. During lunch Chris A. began his Crew training on the Leave No Trace principles, and Mr. Colvin familiarized everyone on Crew Bear Drill (just in case we bumped into a bear). After lunch, it was back on the trail, and within an hour we were faced with our first "how do we get across this 30 foot wide, two foot deep stream that did not have a bridge or any stepping stones?" Well, the only answer was to get out of those hiking boots, roll up the pants and ford the stream barefoot (a few guys did have some water shoes that made the rocks a whole lot less hard on the feet). Mr. Colvin lead the way across the stream, after having everyone undo their pack waist belt and sternum strap (hard to get out of a pack with them attached if you fall in the water). To say that the water was cold is an gross understatement of just how cold the water really was, as it was just short of having ice bergs floating in it. Any body part in the water knew just how cold it was, and how much that cold started to hurt. But you know what, everyone got across just fine and considered it a lot of fun. Now, it started being a lot less fun by the time we made the next two crossings of the same stream the same way in the same hour.

After the third barefoot, freezing water stream crossing of the day we found a great camp site on the opposite stream bank of Laurel Creek. At this stream crossing Trey found his trail name of "Dare Devil" for his exploits on the wire cable that was stretched across the stream as an alternate way to get across and keeping your feet dry. Trey's particular method (which I'd rather not see again) of using the cable earned him his Trail Name. Once we were all across and in the camp site, a quick briefing with the Crew Chief and Assistant Crew Chief, and the Advisors, provided the guidance which resulted in quickly establishing camp and completing all our necessary camp chores. A few guys even found time to catch up on a little sleep much needed from the early morning rise and miles of the day. Chris D. was also busy building a wilderness survival shelter (which he slept in that night) to complete Wilderness Survival Merit Badge (for his first Eagle Palm). After Chris completed his little home for the night of 100% all natural woodland materials, he gave a short class to all the Crew members on suggested building tips and materials, etc., so that everyone could benefit from his efforts. A trail dinner was followed by a quiet campfire during which, we let our three Rookies know that we were pleased at how well they had done so far on their first long day's trek carrying so much weight (something they had never done before). After campfire, it was to bed for most of the Crew for some much needed sleep. One thing about a High Adventure Trek, you never have to tell a Crew member to go to bed, as they are generally always tired and find their way to bed early.

Our Crew Chief got us up at 7:00 AM to get breakfast going and start breaking down the camp. We had a much tougher day facing us as we had to climb for several hours to get to our next camp site along Cantrell Creek. Under the Crew Chief and Assistant Crew Chief's guidance, everything was done in a timely manner and we were back on the trail just before 9:00 AM. Of course, within ten minutes of getting on the trail, we soon had to get our feet wet again by recrossing the same stream for the 4th time (last time for the Trek). If you were not fully awake by the time you hit the stream, you sure were by the time you crossed it. After drying the feet and putting the boots back on one more time, it was time to started a steady climb for more than two hours. By the way, our Rookies may have been tired climbing as this was a long climb and fairly steep as well, but they never complained and kept the pace. A very welcomed lunch was had at the top of the mountain (about 3,200 feet), and refueled everyone to continue the Trek to the next campsite. It was about this time that the Crew Chief decided to put the Rookies up front, with Josh in the lead, to set the pace for the rest of the Crew. This is how Josh earned his Trail Name of "Speedy Gonzales" as he set a pace, even some of the veterans had to work to keep up with. Now, remember that Josh is not really very tall, you might even say he's a little short, but he sure knows how to move those legs of his. I even think he may have even enjoyed working the legs off the rest of us!

Just before the Crew found a great camp site along Cantrell Creek, Advisor Mike Warlick took a nasty fall crossing the creek and did a thorough job of getting most of his lower half pretty wet and shedding some shin skin. Like I told him, those water proof boots only hold out the water until it runs over the top. Once we got into camp everything that needed to be done was quickly completed at the direction of the Crew and Assistant Crew Chiefs. Guys were soon taking naps, sitting around talking, playing cards, and a couple were even doing some Merit Badge work, and Mike Warlick was busy drying his boots out over an open fire. Another great trail meal and campfire, followed by some more Leave No Trace training by Chris A. which closed the evening as guys then started heading for bed. By the way, it was a nice clear night with a sky full of stars and a half moon. Well, at least it was when we sacked out.

The next morning at 6:10 AM while lying in our tents we started hearing the pitter patter of rain drops, not a good sound when you are about to get up to break camp and get on the trail again. Fortunately, the rain stopped shortly after we got up which allowed us to do breakfast and brake camp without being rained on. However, once on the trail, the Great Scoutmaster turned the faucet on again and we were soon hiking in the rain, but at least we broke camp dry and were wearing our rain gear when the rain started again. The hike this morning was a snap, short of the rain, as the trail was wide and level just about all the way to where we linked up with Mr. Koontz's group of Troop 159 Scouts along the South Mills River. Much to our joy, we even had bridges/or duck walks at the stream crossings or marshy areas and everyone kept their feet dry, except one. Yes, you guessed, it, Mike Warlick got one of his feet wet again just as we were walking the final 100 yards into camp. After getting his boots wet twice, it became real easy to find a trail name for Mike, who is now known as "Splash."

We shared a great camp with Mr. Koontz and our brother Scouts to include introducing them to a "High Adventure Campfire Program." One of our Rookies (Josh S. ) even used a just learned skill to teach the non HA Scouts with Mr. Koontz how to chemically treat water to make it safe to drink (his instruction was as professional and detailed as any). Mr. Koontz even shared with the HA Crew, a new technique to hang Bear Bags when there are a no good tree limbs readily available to hang them from. Speaking of Bear Bags, one of our bags became a magnet for what had to be a very brave and smart racoon determined to get inside the bag where the goodies were stored. He had to be 15 feet in the air, have his hind feet perched on a three inch long lower limb, while reaching out about three feet and holding onto the suspended Bear Bags as he chewed two holes into the bag winning himself a tasty morsel from Mike Warlick's food supply. Just goes to show you that were there is a will, there is a way.

Well, now it is Sunday morning and time to break camp and head for home. Things were still pretty wet, but were soon packed up just the same. Steve and Zach got us on the trail shortly after 9:15 AM to make the 30 minute Trek to our cars. At the cars it was time to change into those dry clothes we left behind if we came off the trail wet (which we did), and then it was time to celebrate the end of another successful Trek in good HA tradition with cream soda, backed up by lots of Oreos and candy. We noted when we did our final head count back at the cars, that a funny thing had happened. We had started out with three HA "Rrookies" and eleven veterans, but ended up with fourteen HA veterans by the end of the Trek. Just goes to show you what a good HA Trek can do for a young Scout. Our three "former" Rookies did very well on the trail and all can be proud of their hiking efforts. I'd like to make special note of Josh S. , now an HA Veteran, who despite his lack of height, did a man size job and maintained a positive can do attitude the entire Trek. Unfortunately, we did not come up with a Trail Name for Nick M. , who will have to wait for at least another Trek to get one.

On the way home it was a quick fast food meal (least ways for those that went to Burger King versus those that went to Hardees), and then the final hour drive to get back to the Scout Hut. We got back about 1:30 PM and soon had the gear sorted out to allow everyone to get home and get a much needed shower.

Special thanks to Advisors Mike and Ben Warlick, and Tim Stewart for their great support to our HA Program. We will miss Ben's help when he departs for active duty this summer with the US Navy, but we know that our loss is the Country's gain.

This Trek was a great effort by the entire Crew, and one I hope can be repeated on the next HA Trek. We know for sure we are going back to Pisgah National Forest to trek some more of their great trails. If you missed this Trek, you missed a good one! Make sure you come out with us the next time!

High Adventure Pushes Scouts To Points Beyond,

DAVID E. COLVIN
ASM, Senior Advisor, High Adventure Program