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2002 Horse Ridge Pack-In |
As soon as the snow melts, we're ready to go backpacking! In early March, we usually head east into the desert. Horse Ridge is a favorite area for the troop, as it allows for the new scouts to pack two miles in to the site, has plenty of places for five mile hikes, and has a great deal of open space for the obligatory capture-the-flag onslaught. On this outing, the boys divide into small teams and learn about using personal cook stoves and packing their own gear. The group must also pack in their own water, so they boys learn about conservation of water in the field and developing menus that require little to no water. Most importantly - it's March in the High Desert of Oregon. They quickly learn that 'desert' means 'dry', not 'warm'. Temperatures dropped into the single digits during the night. The guys also faced snow flurries during their hikes, but a little weather has never stopped this troop from having some fun.
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Setting up camp on the south slopes of Horse Ridge, about 35 miles east of Bend. |
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Bridget is ready for that five mile hike. |
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Ben, Andy, and Ryan decide that food is in order before setting out on the hike. |
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Nathan and Mark learn how to setup a personal backpacking stove. |
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After lunch, it's off on the hike! |
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As part of their advancement, the Scouts learn how to use a topographic map and compass on the five mile hike. Ben and Erik show the newer Scouts the ins and outs of compass use. |
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This is wide open country. That's Pine Mountain - a 6000 ft peak with an observatory run by the University of Oregon. Note the snow flurry moving in from the south. |
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Dem bones...Also for advancement, the guys have to show signs of 10 different animals native to the area. On the hike they found skeletal remains from coyotes, deer, and rabbit. Range cattle also, but sorry guys, that doesn't qualify. |
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Atop the ridge during a momentary break in the weather. Way down in the valley is the far ridge where the camp is. Within 20 minutes, the group had to huddle up against a lava outcropping as a snow flurry moved in and imposed whiteout conditions. In ten minutes, that was over, the sky was blue, and the gang was off again. All in a day's hike. |
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