By Dr. Dwight Rosenstein, Scoutmaster
Troop 10, BSA, of Great Neck, NY, recently completed a very challenging overnight camping trip. On a recent October weekend, 24 scouts and eight adult leaders with full backpacks hiked over 6 miles in Harriman State Park to the Stockbridge Mountain shelter.
The route was picked to avoid any major vertical climbs and steep descents, but, after all, it is Harriman. Nevertheless, there were no injuries. The scouts and the adults met the challenge.
As we mustered in the parking lot in the early morning there was no rain. As soon as we got in the cars to travel, rain came down heavily. By the time we arrived at the trail head at Lake Tiorati, the rain was merely a drizzle. All were prepared for rain. The drizzle stopped by about 11:30.
The skies brightened but stayed cloudy. We stopped for lunch in a field. The scouts saw several natural phenomena, including the juxtaposition of a deciduous forest next to a Pine Barren area. Small amphibians (red efts) were seen.
Back on the trail, we took a side trip to an abandoned iron mine (we peered into but did not enter the horizontal mine shaft). Our destination was the Stockbridge Mountain shelter which we reached after about 6 miles.
Several of the scouts went further to a running stream and filtered water for cooking in the site. It did not get very cold, but the wind did pick up and became rather ferocious at times on the top of Stockbridge Mountain.
Setting up the tents in the wind presented difficulties that had to be and were overcome. Each of 5 patrols plus older scout patrol and adult patrol cooked hearty one-pot meals on lightweight stoves using liquid fuel.
With full bellies, all slept well. The troop was up before dawn. The scouts retrieved bear bags which had been set up before going to bed and boiled water for oatmeal for breakfast. We broke camp and policed the area.
All the personal, patrol and troop gear was stowed in backpacks and each scout and each adult leader carried his own gear and some patrol or troop gear, also.
We went down the mountain and reached the Silvermine parking lot after about 1.5 miles. Everyone was happy to see cars waiting in the parking lot.
Troop 10 meets at the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department on 25 Prospect Street on Mondays at 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm on school days. If you are interested in joining Troop 10, please contact Dr. Dwight J Rosenstein at djrosenstein@gmail.com.