Camping/Backpacking 101, 2011

This year, we had countless crossovers attend Camping 101 at El Rancho Cima. We also had many of the older scouts attend Backpacking 101.

Camping 101 was a great experience for the Dynamite, Thunderbird, and Nacho patrols. They learned many great skills such as how to safely start, maintain, and put out a fire; how to properly use various tools like the pocket knife and an axe; and how to tie different useful knots. These skills covered the requirements for the Totin’ chip, the Fireman’s chit, and some requirements for Tenderfoot and First Class.

Backpacking 101 was a great experience for all the scouts that attended. We covered around 2 or 3 miles in trails. One of the things we learned was how to adapt to the situation you have after we took a wrong turn. We hiked up to One Tree Hill after a long hike around camp that included a long, steep stairway. After we spent around 30 minutes at One Tree Hill, we hiked back to the main campsite.

After the backpackers got back to camp, they and the younger scouts attended a small campfire ceremony with many hilarious skits. All of the campers had a great time whether they were hiking or learning.

Thomas Crain, Historian

Varsity Team 448: San Marcos River Kayaking Trip, May 2011

This was a busy weekend for our troop with several different activities going on. For Varsity Team 448 we went on a kayaking trip down the San Marcos River between Fentress and Luling--a distance of about 20 miles.

We started our trip at the Fentress Bridge and went downstream for one hour arriving at the Leisure Resort Campground where we spent the night.

This was another trip to practice our kayaking skills in preparation for our trip to Northern Tier this summer.

A scout named Travis from Luling that is also going with us to Northern Tier came along and his parents had hamburgers and hotdogs waiting for us when we arrived---and we enjoyed our visit with them. Two weeks earlier they gave us a tour of Luling and the Zedler Mill and also treated all of our team members to a delicious BBQ lunch after that day's trip.

On Friday evening a big thunderstorm arrived with rain after we had gone to bed---but we were happy to finally have some rain to help with the area's drought conditions.

On Saturday, Mr. Wilder cooked eggs and pork chops for breakfast---and then we set-off down the river for our eight hour trip.

The first few hours were pleasant---although the kayaks bottomed out in some locations where the water was low.

The wildlife was beautiful including the turtles and fish, and the entire way down we seemed to be following a blue heron as it fished for its food.

Later-on there were more obstacles and debris in the river with many fallen trees in the way. Each kayak wiped out (tipped over) about three times, but the water felt good, and added to the fun. On one of the rapids I was coming around a corner, and didn't see a tree until it was too late. My kayak went into the tree sideways tipping me over---and I lost my glasses. Then my paddle started floating down the river. Fortunately some guys training for the Texas Water Safari retrieved the paddle for me---and I was back in business.

When we got to our stopping place for lunch our sandwiches were wet from the kayak tipping over but still tasted great since we were starving.

Finally around 4:30 PM we reached Luling, near the dam---and we were totally exhausted. It was a great day, the river was pristine and beautiful and we were very impressed with how well the river is being taken care of.

So we're looking forward to our next kayak adventure and also to our Northern Tier trip coming up later in the summer!

Backpacking Trip

The troop recently went on a one night backpacking trip at Enchanted Rock State Park, a great area around a large dome of pink granite. We hiked in on Saturday morning, had a quick lunch, and started our trek to the top of the dome. When we got to the top, everyone had a fun time exploring the cave that was near the peak, admiring the view, and chasing after objects that were blown away in the strong wind. We hiked back to camp, and cooked diner in our special lightweight stoves and went to bed. In the morning, we all woke up late, packed up, and left.

Varsity Team 448: Lost Maples Hiking Trip, November 2010

This weekend (Nov 19th-21st) the troop had three different hikes going on.

For Varsity Team 448 we went to Lost Maples State Natural Area:

We left Austin on Friday night and arrived around 11:00 PM at Lost Maples.

On the trip down several deer ran in front of our car--and also what appeared to be a giant 400 pound wild boar. We were fortunate not to hit anything because I have been on other trips where folks damaged the front of their vehicles on deer in that same area.

After arriving, we hiked-in the one mile to the nearest camping spot under a nearly full-moon that illuminated the late night nocturnal landscape as a lonely owl called in the distance. The silence reminded me of a long-ago Longfellow poem.

The next morning we hiked back to the ranger station--and then set-out on East Trail and hiked the loop around the mountain and back down to the pond again. We stopped to enjoy the multiple scenic outlooks after enduring the grueling hike up the mountain.

After a short nap--we set out on the West Trail going up the mountain again and eventually arriving at Campground #H. The first couple of hours the boys were cranky---but by about 1:30 in the afternoon were getting into the swing of things and trying their best to outpace us.

For supper we had dehydrated camping food (chili-mac) that we heated on the stove--and then an assortment of other ready-to-eat provisions. It's surprising how good a low-life granola bar looks when you've been hiking and you'll eat almost anything.

Because it was dark and everybody was exhausted we went to bed around 7:00 PM as a cold wind began to blow.

The next morning the boys woke us up at around 5:40 AM. A giant cloud had descended on the mountain top bringing a wet winter like mist that reminded me of a Harry Potter scene. Droplets of water were blowing from the trees and the flashlights and headlamps created a silver-lined halo in the distance. As we descended down the mountain top even the best pair of hiking boots found the rocks to be quite slippery in the pre-dawn fog and several times we almost lost our footing.

As we reached the West Trail sunrise was beckoning and we continued down the trail across the frequent small stream crossings eventually reaching the parking lot area.

On the way home we stopped at a restaurant in Kerrville frequented by deer hunters in camos because we figured they might be used to customers like us that hadn't had a shower recently.

Overall a great weekend which I will always remember and I thank the scouting organization and all the folks in the troop that taught us the skills we got to try out on this trek!

Cyberbully presentation

Christopher Frasquieri’s Eagle COH

Christopher Frasquieri had his Eagle Court of Honor on Saturday at the Texas Capitol. Chris received his Eagle Scout rank at the end of a large ceremony. Guests had barbeque before, and cake after.

BTSR Summer Camp 2010

This Year's summer camp took place at Buffalo Trails Scout Ranch in the Davis Mountains. Over 70 people from our troop attended the campout, along with many kids from other troops, which amounted to over 300 people in base camp, not counting mountain man and calvacade. Everyone had a great time, even though we got rain every day for hours at a time. On thursday we visited the McDonald Observatory and learned things about space there, but with the rain, we couldn't see the telescopes.

Everyone had a lot of fun at BTSR