The Boy Scout troop planned a big hike. Stay at Camp Wanocksett and hike from there to the peak. I was really looking forward to it, but it was not to be. Scoutmaster came down with a stomach virus and had to cancel. This was last year. This spring, we went up.
Leaving early Saturday morning, we drove into beautiful New Hampshire. We got camp set, got the boys ready, and twelve scouts and four leaders headed off. We hiked roadside for about a mile before entering the park near Gilson Pond. We paid the fee and continued on our way. A short while later, before the going got tough, one of the adult leaders had to turn around. Fit as he was, his legs were not agreeing with the walk. He headed back to camp to help the other leaders who were getting dinner ready.
The trails on Monadnock are very well marked. We hiked together as a group for the most part and made fair time. The youngers in the bunch needed to know how much further on every third step. When the going got steep, they buckled down well. The occasional overlooks were well received. I know many in the group had never been on a walk like this.
The going gets roughest as we approach the summit. Monadnock's bald peak (maybe I am repeating myself) was not created by nature. It was burned in a forest fire about a hundred years ago. Nature is slowly recapturing it but there is time for an easy above the tree line hike for quite a few more generations.
I stopped periodically to take stock of our group. Once in sight of the peak, two scouts said they could not go on any further. These boys ventured far outside their comfort zone and I salute them. One leader agreed to stay behind, so ten scouts and the two remaining leaders brought the rest to the top. It's cold and windy, and the view isn't much better than some of the other overlooks, but it feels good to see the top.
The trek down was uneventful except for the water situation. It was hotter than expected and many scouts brought the bare minimum. We told them at least one liter and they brought exactly one. Plus, many of them guzzled it in the first hour of the walk. I emptied my camelbak into some of the boys and a young 18 year old leader produced quarts of gatorade from his backpack and shared it. Back at camp, they guzzled water, had dinner, and slept well. We went home in the morning.
I leave with one photo. It includes unrelated scouts, but I already put it on facebook, so what's the harm.
No comments:
Post a Comment