Troop 147′s scouts went on a challenging training hike on a chilly Saturday with very unsettled weather. After a major rainstorm the day before almost cancelled the hike, the day dawned sunny and cold, and the hike was on! The normally overflowing Chantry Flat parking area was nearly deserted and we had the trails almost to ourselves. The boys voted to take the longer and more challenging First Water Trail down to Santa Anita Creek, which resulted in many crossings over the stream and a few wet boots. The weather kept the turnout on the light side, but two of the troop’s newest scouts came well prepared to hike with the older boys. Scouts worked on hike safety, ten essentials, map & compass, lighting stoves & cooking lunch, purifying water, and generally having fun. There was a giant treefall at Hoegee’s Camp that happened just a few hours before our arrival – good thing we weren’t camping there overnight! The best part of the trip was when a cold front moved in after lunch and we hiked home in a heavy snow shower. The only downer was that the Chantry Flat Pack Station was closed due to the weather, though they were kind enough to leave a warm fire burning for us outside.

Troop 147 scouts hosted cub scouts at our annual “Webelos Welcome” campout on a cool but sunny weekend in January. We visited Orange County BSA’s Lake Oso Scout Camp, and had the entire camp to ourselves for the weekend. Fishing, canoeing and boating, archery, BB guns, slingshots, and tomahawk throwing were just some of the fun activities. All the scouts also had loads of fun rolling around inside a big drainage pipe left in camp. The webelos worked with our boy scouts to cook meals and clean up, and to build the evening and morning campfires. And no camp would be complete without a campfire including toasted marshmallows and a few ghost stories. We wish these webelos all the best as they bridge into boy scouts next month to start their next big adventure!

Troop 147 last went rock-climbing in Joshua Tree National Park in 2009. The trip was so popular with the scouts that we did it again in December 2010. This weekend we camped at Indian Cove and climbed at Morbid Mound, which was just as exciting as it sounds. Our troop was instructed in safe climbing and rappelling by two excellent instructors from BSAONBELAY. Most of the scouts rented real climbing shoes, and many scampered up and rappelled down the rock all day long. A long day of climbing in perfect weather was capped with camaraderie around the campfire, excellent stargazing (meteors, Milky Way, satellites, planets, etc.), a long game of fox & hounds, and a delicious dutch-oven apple cobbler after dinner.

This bikepacking trip is a favorite of the scouts. It’s a 10 km gentle uphill ride on a National Scenic Bikeway, ending at Glen Trail Camp on the West Fork of the San Gabriel River. The focus this time was on basic scout skills. Our Star Scouts worked with the younger boys on map & compass, knife/saw/axe safety, and firestarting. Additional expeditions include a hike up Glen Canyon to see the waterfall, and a long steep bike ride up to Cogswell Dam. We had the campground to ourselves and the boys really enjoyed themselves. The downhill ride back to the trailhead was a lot of fun, and the scouts even managed to avoid flats (adult leaders weren’t so lucky).

A repeat backpacking trip to Cooper Canyon trail camp, starting from the trailhead in Buckhorn Camp high in the San Gabriel Mountains, and dropping down to Cooper Canyon Falls via the Burkhart Trail. After some downtime for lunch at the beautiful falls, the scouts started a long climb up Cooper Canyon to the camp, via the famous Pacific Crest Trail. Great weather, spectacular scenery, interesting wildlife – a perfect combination. Plus the boys played some intriguing campfire games, and had plenty of time for relaxation and exploration on Saturday afternoon. The scouts did a great job and really worked together to set up their camp, build a campfire, and prepare their meals. After making sure all food and smellables were safely stored in bear bags and canisters, many boys decided to take advantage of the nice weather by sleeping out under the stars. It was great to see our newest scouts (and our first-timer adults as well) do so well on their first backpacking adventure.

Summer camp is always the highlight of the year, especially for our younger scouts. This year, Troop 147 spent its summer camp in the San Bernardino mountains at Camp Pollock, Forest Lawn Scout Reservation. Scouts had lots of fun and many adventures with horseback riding, climbing, astronomy, and the earning of many merit badges.

A fun weekend at a great surfing beach. Some skills training for the new scouts, and lots of time for boogie boarding and just relaxing at the beach.

For our June outing, Troop 147 went on a high-adventure trip on the Colorado River. We gathered at Lake Mead on Thursday evening, and bright and early Friday morning, scouts launched canoes from the base of Hoover Dam and canoed downstream to Arizona Hot Springs, a primitive campsite accessible only from the river. Boys (joined on this trip by many parents and siblings) set up a base camp and then explored the surrounding area. Our scouts worked hard on their canoeing merit badges, did some technical rock climbing, and took several evening hikes with our able guides Eric and Kavanaugh. Scouts also had plenty of free time for cliff-jumping, soaking in the hot springs, and generally enjoying the river. On Monday morning, the scouts broke camp, swept the area clean (always practicing Leave No Trace camping), and then we were on our way downriver through spectacular gorges and past bighorn sheep. The weather was hot and dry (think baking-in-an-oven hot) but the camaraderie and adventures made it all worthwhile. This is one we’ll be doing again.

Troop 147′s newer scouts went on a 5.5 mile training hike on a beautiful Saturday in early June. This loop, from Chantry Flats down the First Water trail to the Santa Anita river and up Winter Creek to Hoegee’s Trail Camp, is a troop favorite. Boys worked on hike safety, their ten essentials, map & compass, lighting stoves & cooking lunch, purifying water, and generally having fun. No bears or mountain lions were seen on this trip, though scouts did spot a garter snake and were attacked by a giant swarm of ladybugs.

This morning four of our scouts lead the flag ceremony at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.  Lead by their intrepid Senior Patrol Leader, they presented and posted the flag, led the event in the Pledge of Allegiance, and helped distribute medals to the event’s survivors.

The Monrovia Relay for Life has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support cancer patients, survivors and their families.  Their 24 hour walk is on until 11:00am tomorrow, June  6th at Monrovia’s Library Park.