By: Andy T. (Scorpions)
Being my first time participating in a Dolly Sods outing, I didn’t really know what to expect. However, even through the stuffy and rainy conditions that plagued our day hiking, we pushed through with our great spirit. The Scorpions, along with leadership senior, JP, had a great experience. After using the EDGE method to inform our scouts about orienteering, some of our newer scouts had the experience to navigate us to our campsite. After hiking for about a mile, we reached our isolated campsite next to a river and set up camp. We then began our day hike towards the campsites along the river of some of the other patrols. After encountering some hunters, we showed our interest in the activities and were rewarded with a slab of fresh venison (deer meat). When we returned, we had the amenity of a fire in the moist environment after collecting fire materials. We cooked dinner, which consisted of baked potatoes with cheese and bacon bits, deer meat roasted over the fire, and smores. After completing our filling and rewarding dinner, we set up our bear bag and began our slumber. The next day, we were met with a fresh morning downpour. We managed to get a stove running, and enjoyed a pot of freshly warmed berry-mix oatmeal. As the rain settled, we packed our soaked tents, and began our hike back. Overall, I would say completing the hike was incredibly rewarding and refreshing, considering the poor weather was surrounded by a set of beautiful one-of-a-kind scenery.
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By: Thomas Ye (Sharks)
On October 26, I arrived at Dolly Sods, a 6.2 mile trail for the Sharks and Bears. Assigned to campsites 7/8, my patrol had luckily been chosen to go first.
Before my patrol and I hiked far, we traveled in the wrong direction in which be backtracked towards where we ate lunch. There, we met other patrols. Later, the Bears decided to split up from the Sharks and later meet up at the campsites. Autumn colors greeted my patrol after hiking for a few hours. The scenery was so beautiful that my patrol took a picture. I also got to cross a river, which some people said it would be hard.
After finding the campsite, setting up the tents, and eating a delicious dinner, my patrol met the Bears at the fire pit, and began a campfire. With skill, James Lyon deftly collected sticks for a bonfire. In his natural habitat, he stockpiled medium sized sticks. My patrol later hung up the bear bag. I slept well.
In the morning, the Bears decided to go first, while my patrol was still waking up. The campground was a bit muddy, but it was fine. Somehow, my bag felt lighter, and I hiked slightly faster. Before I knew it, I had traveled over a mile. The second time I crossed the river, rocks were hardly visible, but shallow enough to step on. As my patrol continued on the trail, water covered the trail from rain, but it made it easy to see the trail.At the sight of wooden planks, many of the Sharks sprinted towards the end, but slowed down later. My patrol and I discovered that my patrol had reached the end 4th. Soon, I left.
