Dolly Sods – Nov 2016
by Michael K. – Scorpions historian report
The Dolly Sods backpacking outing was very fun as it normally is. This outing is the first backpacking outing of the scouting year. The scouts have to carry all their stuff for at least four miles of hiking. They hike very long distances to a variety of campsites. This year, the Scorpions resided on an island.
Our campground was very warm since there were many pine trees scattered all around the island. Dolly Sods is a very cold and windy outing. This year, with all the snow on the trees, everywhere was very appealing to look at. There were many hills and flatlands to hike. The hills were very hard to climb since they are very steep, and flat lands provide many difficulties, such as all the mud you have to hike through, and lots of wind exposure. If you don’t stake your tent in well, your rainfly could easily fly off your tent and somewhere you don’t want. Also, if you are not in your tent and it is not staked in well, it could fly away since it is so light. The winds are very forceful and will take anything light and unsecure away from you. The Scorpions climbed many steep hills and crossed a variety of rivers/streams. Ski poles are highly recommended to survive the rocky terrain, and hills.
The Scorpions had Beef Stroganoff and Chili for dinner. There was plenty for everyone to have at least two servings each, which made us very energetic in the morning. Heating the water was very hard since we had a very limited amount of matches, and getting the stove to light was challenging. At the campfire, the wind was carrying the smoke from the fire into everyone’s faces which caused the fire to be short lived.
The morning was even colder than the night. The winds picked up, and everyone had to wear at least three layers. To get off the island, we had to jump to a variety of very slippery rocks. Luckily, nobody slipped and fell into the river. We took off at around ten in the morning and since our hike to the island was very long, our hike back to the parking lot was short. The Scorpions patrol was one of the first patrols if not, the first patrol to get back to the parking lot. There, we sat near trees to keep warm, as Mr. Lyon and Mr. Smith fetched the car to get us back to the church. The temperatures at Great Falls weren’t too different from the temperatures in West Virginia, so we waited in the car as our parents arrived.
Dolly Sods is my favorite outing yearly, and I love all the hiking and patrol bonding.
