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Pismo Beach May 2008

Posted by troop_leadership on May 12th, 2008 filed in Uncategorized




Pismo Beach
Troop 57
May 9-11, 2008

By Geoff Dodson

    After a rigorous week of school, sports, and other activities, twelve scouts from Troop 57 divided up into three cars for the long 3+ hour drive down to Pismo Beach. The drive took us about 10 miles south of San Luis Obispo into the North Beach campground. For the majority of the group, we did not arrive until about 11:00pm due to delays departing for specified reasons. Upon arrival into the fog-covered campground, we found ourselves a comfortable flat to set up our tents, and hit the hay shortly thereafter.
    Saturday morning we found ourselves up bright and early making breakfast. After enjoying scrambled eggs, sausages, bagels, and oranges, we took a quick walk down to the nearby beach. We quickly divided into two teams, and proceeded to play football on the sand. Within our improvised boundaries were small sand dunes, which made for some exciting and interesting play. After discovering how out of shape we all were, we took a break from football to walk down the expansive beach towards the water. While there, many spent time looking for sand dollars that were still fully intact. Most, however, were unable to find any.
    As we continued to spend our late morning by the ocean, we walked to an area of the beach where there were tall and steep sand dunes. We then spent a significant amount of time engaging in a variety of activities, including jumping off the dunes, racing up them, or playing ‘King of the Hill’. Eventually we wound up playing catch with the football while in midair from a jump off of the sand dunes. To say the least, we all spent our morning taking full advantage of the sand dunes that lined the beach.
    Shortly after noon-time we headed back to the campground for lunch. We enjoyed chips and dip, and sandwiches, which the scouts had the luxury of choosing between peanut butter and jelly or turkey and salami (or whatever other combination one wanted). After satisfying our stomachs with lunch, about two-thirds of the group drove off from the campground to go horseback riding, a pre-planned optional activity. The other third of the group, myself included, spent our time relaxing either at the campsite or the beach, while enjoying the calm breeze under the clear sunny sky.
    Once the rest of the group returned, we all headed back to the ocean to spend time with various activities. One highlight included taking turns handling a large kite, brought by the Moses family. As time went on, and the evening approached, we enjoyed our last few hours of daylight simply relaxing by the water. We were lucky to have great weather and lots of open space to run around on the sand, as the beach only had small amounts of people scattered about.
    Soon after we headed back to camp to begin the dinner process, while there was still daylight. Dinner included the cooking of way more steak than we could eat, salmon, cooked potatoes, and baked beans. This was all complimented with a variety of condiments including steak sauce, sour cream and cheese.
    As darkness came, us scouts gathered together to go play ‘Zorch’ in the dark on the sand dunes. This was followed by spending the rest of the night sitting by the fire talking and sharing stories. Not long after we retired into our tents after a long day of fun.
    The next morning was a simple eat breakfast, pack up, and go home day. We hurried our way out of the campsite to hit the road for the long drive, and get home nice and dirty to our mothers’ on Mother’s Day.
    The overall trip was a great experience for all of us. If you are into relaxing on the beach for a weekend, and getting to know fellow scouts, then this trip is for you!

Snow Camping 2008

Posted by troop_leadership on May 12th, 2008 filed in Uncategorized




Snow Camping 2008

By John Olson 

      The bravest members of Troop 57 trekked through the snow near Bear Valley on the weekend of February 16-19, marching with bulky snow shoes on a trail that was not on any map, marked only by blue tags on an occasional tree, pulling their gear laden in sleds behind them. 

      This was the beginning of a 3 day journey on Troop 57’s most challenging annual outing.  On the first day, Saturday, the crew packed their sleds with personal gear, food, and equipment to last them through the weekend and then embarked on a quest for adventure.  After hiking in snow shoes for about a mile, easier said than done, the crews reached the camp site and set up tents.  Shortly thereafter the two crews built kitchens in the snow by digging out flat surfaces and benches.  Then some decided to get a head start on the snow caves they would sleep in the next night while others relaxed or started to cook.  Here is where the first challenges began to arrive.

      One crew, led by Ryan Y., decided to have pasta and sauce for dinner but just as they had finished the cooking they drained the water, and then, screams, “NOOOOOO,” cried Mason H. as many of the freshly cooked noodles fell onto the snow.  However, the crew was able to keep the majority of the pasta and had a filling meal. 

      The other crew, lead by Nick G., also had a difficult first meal.  As the sun set the temperature dropped quickly below 40 degrees and the dual burner propane stove failed to do much more than melt snow. This was not enough to boil enough water for all of the cup-o-noodles that were planned for dinner.  Fortunately, Bruce Gaya brought a single burner gas stove which quickly brought the water to a boil.  Enough boiling water was heated to feed the entire group including a little help from broccoli water provided by the other crew. 

      After dinner the scouts went to bed early, climbing into their sleeping bags hoping they would last the night with all of their toes.  The first night was long with temperatures dropping as low as 22 degrees, the tents did not provide much insulation.  According to Mr. Gaya’s thermometer, the temperature inside the tents was less than one degree warmer than outside.  The scouts woke up several times in the night, preserving all the warmth they could.  It certainly did not help when at about 6:00 AM an owl started hooting into the dark waking several members of the expedition. 

      Alas, everyone survived the night and rose out of bed for breakfast, after which the groups spent time building up snow caves.  This year six caves were created by, John O., Nick G., Brent S., Simon F., Mason H., Will K., Thomas R., and Mr. Olson, Mr. Gaya, Mr. Schroeder, and Mr. Haverstock. This is the most caves built on one trip.  After a couple hours of digging in the snow the groups then united and built a small sled run, and after about half an hour of testing, war broke out.

      A mass snow ball fight erupted, scouts v. adults.  The adults, Mr. Olson, Mr. Schroeder, Mr. Bernstein, and Mr. Haverstock quickly took the upper ground, dominated the match until the scouts reorganized, who then came up with a battle plan to surround the unsuspecting adults. They then fled to the next hill and the scouts closed in, now more enthusiastic that they had caused Mr. Bernstein to flee the fight.  It was still a close battle until Mr. Olson was defeated and ran to the safety of his tent.  The scouts then quickly overcame Mr. Haverstock and then pummeled Mr. Schroeder and victory was achieved.  They celebrated with a hearty Lunch. 

      Nick G.’s patrol had incredible quesadillas while Ryan Y.’s patrol had hot chili and cheese.

            After dinner, the group enjoyed telling riddles around a camp fire created by John O. and Nick G.

      Eventually the members of the expedition all headed off to bed.  While only three scouts and two adults went to bed in tents, the other five scouts and three adults went to bed in the snow caves.  Mr. Gaya’s thermometer recorded the inside temperature at least 5 degrees warmer than the outside, not as much as we were hoping but a substantial amount warmer than the tents.

      The next morning was pleasant enough, after eating a nice breakfast we then struck camp, taking down tents, and packing our sleds for the trek home.  After about a ¾ of a mile hike back we arrived at the parking lot, went to the nearest round table to reflect on our experiences, and followed the tradition of sharing Thorns and Roses.

      The sky was completely clear until planes started flying soundlessly above leaving large contrails that were then the only clouds in the sky.  Also, this year was the warmest it had been on this outing over the past eight years that Mr. B. has led the trip, and the first time it did not snow.  In addition, each year seems to have a trade off between snow caves and sled runs, either the group builds large exciting runs, or build snow caves, which is what this year’s group decided to do.