Monterey Bike Trip, October 2012

We had a wonderful time on this trip, the weather was perfect and the 2 adult leaders and 11 Scouts who went on the trip all enjoyed it. The 18-mile bike ride was beautiful, and Bubba Gump's (AKA "The happiest place on Earth", according to Stevie) was as good as ever.
We had a great time for the 2nd year in a row, and we hope to return next year!

Return to Kibbie Lake, September 2012

7 Scouts and 3 leaders had a beautiful trip into Yosemite Wilderness for the second time this year.
All of us want to return next year.
Check out the photos in the gallery.

Great Sierra Mine Hike

We had a fantastic hike last Saturday to the old Great Sierra Mine site, located near Tioga Pass.
The 5-mile round trip hike was a bit steep at the beginning (especially at 10,000 ft.!), but the scenery was spectacular. The 2 small alpine lakes we passed were beautiful, and we had a great time exploring the mine site, which dates from 1883. Luckily, no Scouts fell down the 35-ft deep mineshaft that we found.
The pictures tell it all. Many thanks to the 7 Scouts and 4 adult leaders who came along for the adventure.

 

Yellowstone High Adventure Trip

This year I had the greatest privilege of embarking on the most ambitious scouting trip that our troop has envisioned, going to Yellowstone. It was hatched from a conversation that Mitch and I had with a scoutmaster at Camp John Mensinger in 2011 about a scout camp in Wyoming, and one that Mitch then went on to pursue. Mitch's research revealed that there was not much our scouts could accomplish at this camp so he though maybe we could just do a trip to Wyoming. After several discussions the Wyoming trip turned into a Yellowstone trip and the more we discussed it the more we started believing it could work, and once we pitched it to the High Adventure aged scouts, they were interested too. We started meeting early in the year to discuss the many details that would make this trip a reality, and as the months started getting closer it no longer was a plan or a dream, it was a reality. Over 3000 miles were driven, thousands of pictures taken, precious moments of video captured, and memories created that will span a lifetime.

Thank you for a being such a great group and sharing in these memories with me,
Shaan

Mother Lode Ranch, July 20-22, 2012

Arrived Friday. The Scouts got to it immediately, and started to clean the firepit as soon as we got there. MLR owner Don Rumsey provided a small tractor for the ashes and weeds from the cleanout.
The Troop set up camp in the shade of the trees lining the creek bed, had a Cracker Barrel in the evening, and later, had a great campfire under the bright Milky Way.

On Saturday, the Troop hiked to a (clean) water trough up the road about 1/2 mile and splashed around in it while goldfish nibbled at their feet (they eat the algae.) Back at camp, sharps were practiced and a BBQ chicken dinner was prepared for the families that came over for a overnight campout with the Troop.
Sunday morning, the Scouts made a pancake breakfast for everyone at camp before packing up and heading home.

MLR is a great place in both the frost of November or the 100 degree heat of July. Don is always a wonderful host and loves to see the Scouts use this peaceful site. We had a wonderful time, and hope to come back soon.