Mission Mountain

We were lucky to get through this alive. On Saturday, the 15th of January, Scout Troop 449 embarked on a mission to stay two nights at South Mountain, NC. The Troop left at 9:00 am from Allen & Sons BBQ, the site of breakfast (for some). From Allen & Sons, we drove four hours to our destination, stopping on the way at a Wendy's for vital nutrients (i.e., real food). When we reached the mountain, we obtained maps of the trail system surrounding several mountains.

At the time we began our trek to our campsite, the temperature was somewhere in the 20s. Extremities freezing, we continued to march towards our final destination. When the intrepid scoutmasters (Ed, Joel, and Mike) and company (Steven, Peter, Jason, Alex, Matt J., Matt S., Chris) arrived at our newly declared home base, the erection of shelters (tents) commenced immediately. After setting up tents, it was time for the pursuit of happiness along the mountains and rivers surrounding the campsite. Several hours later it was time to cook home-made hobo pies (i.,e., hamburger and assorted vegetables wrapped in tin foil). By then, the temperature had dropped about 2-4 degrees and we figured the next Ice Age was coming. Due to the very cold weather, it was hard to sleep when it was time to bed down for the night.

The next day was gruesome and most definitely NOT clean. Our campsite was a large open area among the trees, roughly the size of football field but not as rectangular. This is where the night's happenings occurred. Early morning - breakfast has just begun with Ed and Joel cooking. The first pancake was for Matt J.; however, the problem with the pancake was that it resembled a scrambled egg. Notwithstanding, Steven volunteered to eat the "scrambled pancake" and he survived. Fortunately the pancakes improved and soon were quite edible…if not delicious…thanks to Ed and Joel growing experience in cooking pancakes. Soon after breakfast, everyone was gathered in the center of the field to begin a long and tiring hike, which most definitely was not a walk in the park. We started on Shinny Creek Trail, a surprisingly steep ascent that brought us to the Possum Trail (strangest name so far) which led us to the top of the closest mountain. But the ascent had taken its toll and gradually the Troop separated over two mountains. From there we proceeded along Possum Trail, which took us over countless mountains to the Sawtooth Trail. By then, everyone was hot and sweaty. The Sawtooth Trail seemed to be made up mostly of ascents, causing a large drop in our water supply! After what seemed like two oppressive hours of hiking mile after mile, we finally reached our first destination, Chestnut Knob Overlook. After catching our second wind and looking over the overlook the troop began a much needed, completely downhill hike back to Home Base.

Once everyone had reached the campsite, Joel and Ed began cooking hotdogs for lunch. One batch took a little longer because Matt J. accidentally dropped his newly found Leatherman (multi-tool) into a pot of boiling hotdogs. So all the hot dogs were boiled longer to clean them and Matt J.'s Leatherman constantly smelt of hotdog. After lunch a party consisting of Steven, Peter, Matt J., Matt S. Chris, and Alex went off onto the closest mountain, across the stream that was next to our campsite. Back at camp Jason read while Joel, Ed, and Mike talked. On the mountain the party had begun creating several slides were you would slide down the mountain on leaves. The problem was that you would strip away all the leaves causing a very large dirt smear on your rear end. This continued until four slides were built, but a number of tiny accidents and injuries stopped everything and the party went back to camp.

Ramen Noodles and Mac and Cheese were served for dinner where almost everything ran out immediately. After dinner Peter and Chris played cards while Steven, Alex, Jason, and Matt J. played a version of tag where everybody would hide except the person who was "it." When a person was found that person had to help the person who was "it" find the other people hiding. After these games everybody went to their tents were everyone tried to sleep through another long and frigid night.

This was the last day of the trip. In most people's opinion that was the coldest night because there was frost on everybody's tents. A rushed breakfast of instant oatmeal, coffee, and cocoa put an end to any grumbling stomachs. Then it was clean up, pack up, and move out. We hiked back towards the cars but stopped at a small area to ditch our packs and take one last hike to a waterfall one-mile away. It was a nice walk (compared to others) where Joel managed to find a good place and time to go fly-fishing. Unfortunately he only got a few nibbles. Then we were back on the trail heading towards the car, Alex and Jason in the lead annoying Matt J. via a radio. We had succeeded in our mission to survive this trip, seeing each other one more time at the same Wendy's for lunch before going our separate ways. I am still amazed that we survived from the cold, strange food, and tons of hiking but we did. We are true blue scouts.

Troop Historian,
Alex Fraser