Troop 159 Scouts, Scouters, and Scout Families,

Another High Adventure (HA) Trek is in the Troop's history book, and what a Trek it was as you'll read further along in the text below!

We rallied as planned at 5:00 PM on Thursday 16 Oct 08, and within about 20 minutes we'd loaded our equipment, said our good byes, asked the Great Scoutmaster to watch over us, and were on our way to Turkey Pen Gap in Pisgah National Forest, in the Flat Rock area of North Carolina. Everyone was eager to get there as we'd been planning this trek for close to two months and were ready to put our plan into action. Our eleven man Crew comprised the following Scouts and Scouters, four Scouts of which were HA Backpacking Rookies:

Once we arrived at the Turkey Pen Gap trail head around 7:15 PM, we quickly uploaded our packs, to include one large piece of firewood (expected none at our first camp site), onto our backs and hit the trail with headlamps on to find our way as it was already dark. We hiked in about three fourths of a mile to a riverside campsite some of the Crew camped at when we hiked in Pisgah during our Spring Break backpacking Trek. It was a campsite worth returning to, but was just a little harder to find this time in the dark, but find it we did. Steve S. and Will W. (Crew Chief and Assistant Crew Chief, respectively) quickly took the lead to get camp established (tents up, water purified, bear bags up, and all gear secured). After the work was done it was time to sit around the campfire and plan the precise route the Crew wanted to hike. With that mission accomplished, it was time for just talk and comradeship around a warm campfire until each Crew member felt the need to climb into his sleeping bag as part of being prepared for the next day's hiking.

We always say in Troop 159, "that it never rains on a camp out, but we've been known to get some heavy dew." Well that statement held true at around 3:00 AM Friday morning as some of that "heavy dew" started coming down. Fortunately, it was not too heavy for too long, but did get our tents pretty wet just the same and made them a wee bit heavier by the time we packed up in the morning and got back on the trail. Our route took us along the South Fork Mills River for a couple of miles, then up along Cantrell Creek The mornings trek included a river crossing via an 80 foot swinging bridge. During the morning's trek, two of our Rookies earned their Trail Names. Josh P. is now known as "Pace Maker" as at the head of the pack line he keeps a steady pace for the Crew, while Noah T. is now known as "Jolly Green" for the huge pack he has covered with the biggest and brightest green rain pack cover I've ever seen. Hunger caused the Crew to stop for a quick trail lunch at another previously used Spring Break campsite.

After lunch it was time to get back on the trail, and the Crew elected to hike the Squirrel Gap Trail. Now the Squirrel Gap Trail caused some serious huffing and puffing as it started up hill for a long ways. It was the first long and steep hill on this Trek which soon proved to all why the Advisors stress physical fitness. Despite a few stops for some Crew members to let their breath catch up, we made it to the mountain top and enjoyed a relatively easy walk down to Squirrel Gap on the Claw Hammer River where we found a great campsite. Again, Steve and Will got everyone busy taking care of the necessary camp chores so that we could eat dinner and relax around our campfire. Getting the camp fire started was a bit dicing since the wood was a bit wet on the outside from that heavy dew we had in the early morning. However, it's amazing what a few drops of "BSEF" (Boy Scout Encouragement Fluid) can do in pinch to get a fire started and ward off the cold and wet. It was not too long into the campfire when one of our Rookies (Nathan C. ) who had worked harder today than most days before in his life, stated he was going to "lie down for a minute or two," which was the last we heard of him until the next morning. The Crew agreed, with Nathan's concurrence, that his Trail Name should be "Sleepy," based on his early night. Mr. Warlick noted that since Nathan's brother Turner's Trail Name is "Doc" (for Medic reason), and Nathan is now known as "Sleepy" we could use the other five remaining names of the Seven Dwarfs if they only had 5 more brothers at home (they do have one more at home as it is though, so we still have five names left to choose from when he comes into HA). By 1030 PM or so all the Scouts had gone to bed (trust me, we never have to tell an HA Scout to go to bed), and the Advisors were not far behind them as it had been a busy day and tomorrow was expected to be the same (little did we know just how different it would really be).

A 7:00 AM rise Saturday morning got the Crew up doing a hot water based breakfast and breaking camp at a cool 45 degree temperature. Just before 9:00 AM we were back on the trail looking at a bright sunny day with either a level or slightly declining slope for the next few miles while following the Claw Hammer River back towards the South Fork Mills River. We were soon faced with a river crossing without the advantage of a foot bridge or stepping stones so it was off with the boots and on with the river shoes to ford the river. Mr. Stewart showed us the technique for skipping a river shoe (like skipping a stone) across the river to a Crew member who forgot to pack his own. Fortunately, the water was not nearly as cold as when we crossed rivers and streams in this area last Spring. As our trail continued to wind back and forth across the river, we either waded, rock hopped or in one case, built our own rock stepping stone bridge across. We built it so well that it started backing the water up and the last guys across had to hurry before the water went over the top and got their boots wet. Really quite an effort as we formed a human chain passing stones from man to man to fill in the gaps on the river so we could get across. The effort was highly successful and demonstrated that where there is a will, there is a way, especially when you apply a little team work.

It was at about river crossing number six while rock hopping that things suddenly went bad. Trey "Dare Devil" S. slipped and fell into the river, which was only a foot or so deep, but unfortunately, he hit his right shin on a sharp edged rock very hard as he fell into the water. With some help, he was able to extract himself. Our field triage of his injury determined that he still had right knee and ankle movement, swelling and discoloration were quickly setting in, and that he could not support his weight on the leg. We feared the worst as for a possible bone fracture and treated it accordingly. While Mr. Colvin protected the injury with Steve S's foam sleeping pad, the other Crew members quickly assembled a stretcher using some strong saplings they were able to cut down with Nathan's C's pocket saw, and using one of our plastic rain tarps as the stretcher surface. The Scout Crew members knew exactly how to build a field stretcher as they've all practiced it so many times, and now, all that practice came into practical use. In 10 minutes the Crew was ready to transport Trey back to the Turkey Pen parking lot about 6 miles away. We had a long haul ahead of us over some difficult and often narrow walking terrain, which included several more get your feet wet river crossings and two swinging bridges. The carrying crew (some with their own packs still on, with others being carried by non stretcher bearers) comprised no less than 2 men, and as many as 6 men when the terrain allowed it, and always with a seventh man carrying Trey's pack. Even with 6 stretcher bearers, the load (135 pounds of patient and stretcher materials), terrain, and distance was taking it's toll. However, everyone hung as tough as they could to get the job done. On our way out, two mountain bikers who passed us took a message from us to try and contact Trey's Dad to let him know what had happened, what we were doing, and that he needed to rally with us at the parking lot to pick up Trey. Once we intersected with the trail on Cantrell Creek, we selected the first available campsite and dropped all packs, except for Trey's. Mr. Warlick, along with two other Scouts (Caleb A. and Nathan C. ), stayed behind to establish camp and safe guard the stretcher bearers packs until they returned, which would not be until well after sunset. The stretcher bearers quickly grabbed their head lamps, a coat, and some trail snacks from their packs for the return trip, then were on their way again with Trey to the Turkey Pen Gap Parking lot, which was still about 3 miles away.

By 6:30 PM with both daylight and strength at a low ebb, and with at least another 1.5 miles to go, the Great Scoutmaster provided some well needed relief in the form of some half dozen very strong and fresh young men camping along our evacuation route. They immediately recognized our need and urgency to get Trey out of the woods. They took over the stretcher bearer mission, and with their Satellite Phone (our cell phones had no service) we were able to establish contact with Trey's Dad through their base camp. We determined that Trey's Dad had received the alert notice from the mountain bikers, that he had EMS on the way, and that he was en route to the pickup point. Needless to say, all this was good news to a very tired group of five Scouts, two Scouters, and one hurting Scout. On the final leg out, our new friends group Crew Leader informed me that his group had just that day practiced making field stretchers and learning how to carry injured victims. Ironically, we then we come by with a real life situation for them to apply what they'd just learned. With Trey now in the hands of fresh stretcher bearers, Mr. Colvin was able to talk with the leader of the relief Crew as we continued to hike out. He was most surprised to learn that each of the young men in his Crew had been in the field for more than 30 days doing a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program using nature as a basis for self and group reliance. This even included their Crew Leader who himself was a recovering alcoholic and now working as a counselor in the recovery program. This knowledge was shared with our fellow Crew members as an example that it may never be too late to get right with yourself and the world as these men were trying to do. Let it be said and understood that the Great Scoutmaster still does work in mysterious ways, and can provide help from those you'd least expect it from.

Just as we arrived at the parking lot, the EMT ambulance arrived, along with the local Fire Chief and a police officer. The EMT's triage confirmed our field triage and concurred that carrying him out was the right thing to do while pending an X-Ray (better carry than risking a broken bone acting like a knife inside the leg). We established cell phone contact between the EMT and Trey's Dad (still en route) and determined that Trey was okay to go home with his dad once he arrived and could seek medical help at home. Mr. Stewart led our tired (and proud) Scouts back to camp along with the relief Crew, while Mr. Colvin and Will W., who volunteered to stay back with Mr. Colvin and Trey, waiting for Trey's Dad to arrive. Trey's Dad arrived about 50 minutes after the two Crew's departed back to their respective camps, and Will and Mr. Colvin then made a very quick pass off of Trey to get him homeward bound. Will and Mr. Colvin then started the three mile hike back to camp with one head lamp between them as Will's battery had died. Getting back to camp and some hot beverage, food, and a warm sleeping bag was great for everyone. Many thanks to the three Crew members who stayed behind to get camp ready for a very tired group of Scouts and Scouters.

Sunday morning was a later wake up with temperatures hovering around 37 degrees and a pretty tired Crew still in recovery from the prior day's maximum effort. The Crew agreed that a cold breakfast was enough so we could break camp and get back on the trail towards home. It did not take long to pack up and hike the three miles back to the cars where we knew that the traditional end of trek cream soda and Oreo's awaited. It was also a beautiful morning to be hiking and we quickly covered the distance back to the trail head and our vehicles. We did our end of trek celebration, packed the cars and hurried to the first Burger King we could find for a fast food lunch. After lunch it was about a 60 minute drive back to the UMC where we sorted things out, and called it the end to one of the best treks we'd been on so far. I think we'll be talking about this HA Trek for a long time to come, and I know those who participated in this Trek have found new strengths to grow on.

In my role as the Senior Advisor to our Troop's High Adventure Program, I must tell you how proud I am, and I know I echo the same praise felt by both Assistant Scoutmasters Mr. Stewart and Mr. Warlick, for what these young men accomplished. They performed at a level much higher on this trek than their age (the oldest Scout {Josh P. } is only 16, and several are only 13 years old) would merit, even while facing a challenging medical evacuation. I commend each of them for their strong efforts, as each Scout gave all they had, even when it hurt, to help a brother Scout in trouble.

Additionally, we thank the Great Scoutmaster for his help, and for providing the young men of Four Circle who without their help, we may have needed stretchers for the stretcher bearer team. We wish each of those young men success in their road to recovery, and we know that with the strength and kindness they afforded our HA Crew, they have the stamina to go the distance.

Thanks also to our Crew Chief and Assistant Crew Chief for helping to get the Crew ready for the Trail. Thanks as well to ASM's Stewart and Warlick for all their strength and assistance as well as who without their active participation such treks could not happen.

High Adventure Builds Strengths In It's Scouts,

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