The Henry Coe backpacking trip was a 10-mile round trip which took place February 10-11. Scouts arrived at the Henry Coe visitor centre overlooking green rolling hills at 11:00 after a one hour car ride to eat lunch and park vehicles. During lunch Mr. Stark demonstrated the use and assembly of hiking stoves. After finishing lunch, the party began backpacking on a fire road amongst lush green grasslands to the campsite five miles from the visitor centre . Around 100 meters from the campsite was Coyote Creek which the scouts waded across with watershoes and hiking poles. Scouts arrived to the campsite at 15:00 where tents were erected, and at 16:30 dinner was cooked. Two separate cooking groups were present, one cooking ramen and miso soup while the other had very tasty rehydrated chili (homemade by Willy). After cleaning up dinner, card games were played until 19:00. By then, temperatures had dropped into the mid 40s (fahrenheit) and everyone was ready to sleep. At night the campsite had beautiful clear skies with multiple stunning constellations and stars visible. Following a cold night with temperatures below 30, breakfast was comprised of warm oatmeal with freeze dried fruit. Frost had gathered on the tent persuading scouts to pack before the frost melted. At 8:30, everybody was ready to hike back and had put on watershoes to ford the creek. The hike back followed the Manzanita trail with Manzanita trees, springs, and multiple herds of deer along with various other features. Arrival to the visitor centre marked the end of the trip.
