Boy Scout Troops 715, 782 Join Forces For Western Adventure
September 15, 2016 at 5:57 p.m.
By Staff Report-
The trip planning took place in fall 2015 and merit badge clinics were conducted each month from February to June. Bill Holder taught geology; Bill Bibler, photography; David King and Scott McClintock, astronomy; Don Irwin, Indian lore; Bill Curl, personal management; Joe Hawn and Dick McCleary, canoeing; and Ben Taylor taught cooking. On the trip, whitewater rafting was taught by a crew from River Runners at Buena Vista, Colo., and archaeology by the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Staff near Cortez, Colo.
It took 2-1/2 hours of travelling to get to the first adventure – a whitewater rafting trip down the Arkansas River through Brown’s Canyon near Buena Vista, Colo.
Next, it was on to the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area for three days at a lone meadow high in the mountains between Ouray and Telluride that Troop 715 discovered on a week horseback trip back in 1982. The site was nine miles on a dirt road that branched off in many places, so the Scouts had to know the route. The Scouts pitched their tents near a fast-running creek that was nearly as cold as ice. The campsite elevation was at 9,350 feet.
The next morning the group started the hike up to Blue Lakes (three lakes) at 11,720 feet above sea level. The journey was filled with many obstacles – crossing a mountain stream, and then the cold rain came down with hail stones, thunder and lightning. It may not have been comfortable, but the hike to the lower Blue Lake was worth the scenic view, according to a news release from McCleary. Another hike, the next day, led them up to a meadow for a scenic view of the mountain range around them. In Ouray, the Scouts toured a gold mine, did gold panning, and enjoyed a swim in the hot spring fed pool.
The next adventure was when the group rented seven jeeps and headed up into the high country. The jeeps, or a horse, were the only one could travel on the road the group took. The road was up and straight down, across streams, and finally up to the peak of a mountain, where the view was spectacular. But the real quest was to find an old mine and hunt for pyrite specimens. And luck would have it, the mission was accomplished and everyone came with some very nice pieces, the release states.
Next it was on to Mesa Verde, with a tour through Cliff Palace and the Balcony House Cliff dwellings. The Scouts spent a full day at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Here they learned about the ancient tribes that had lived in the area hundreds of years ago. The Scouts were taught ancient Indian games, made a bracelet and taken inside a reconstructed kiva. Time was spent in a laboratory, where they were instructed how to carefully clean and study items discovered at archaeological sites.
Next it was on to Moab, Utah, where the Scouts and adults rappelled from a 90-foot cliff and also from a cliff with a 120-foot drop – the height of a 12-story building. Looking at the cliff, the Scouts looked like ants coming down.
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The trip planning took place in fall 2015 and merit badge clinics were conducted each month from February to June. Bill Holder taught geology; Bill Bibler, photography; David King and Scott McClintock, astronomy; Don Irwin, Indian lore; Bill Curl, personal management; Joe Hawn and Dick McCleary, canoeing; and Ben Taylor taught cooking. On the trip, whitewater rafting was taught by a crew from River Runners at Buena Vista, Colo., and archaeology by the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Staff near Cortez, Colo.
It took 2-1/2 hours of travelling to get to the first adventure – a whitewater rafting trip down the Arkansas River through Brown’s Canyon near Buena Vista, Colo.
Next, it was on to the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area for three days at a lone meadow high in the mountains between Ouray and Telluride that Troop 715 discovered on a week horseback trip back in 1982. The site was nine miles on a dirt road that branched off in many places, so the Scouts had to know the route. The Scouts pitched their tents near a fast-running creek that was nearly as cold as ice. The campsite elevation was at 9,350 feet.
The next morning the group started the hike up to Blue Lakes (three lakes) at 11,720 feet above sea level. The journey was filled with many obstacles – crossing a mountain stream, and then the cold rain came down with hail stones, thunder and lightning. It may not have been comfortable, but the hike to the lower Blue Lake was worth the scenic view, according to a news release from McCleary. Another hike, the next day, led them up to a meadow for a scenic view of the mountain range around them. In Ouray, the Scouts toured a gold mine, did gold panning, and enjoyed a swim in the hot spring fed pool.
The next adventure was when the group rented seven jeeps and headed up into the high country. The jeeps, or a horse, were the only one could travel on the road the group took. The road was up and straight down, across streams, and finally up to the peak of a mountain, where the view was spectacular. But the real quest was to find an old mine and hunt for pyrite specimens. And luck would have it, the mission was accomplished and everyone came with some very nice pieces, the release states.
Next it was on to Mesa Verde, with a tour through Cliff Palace and the Balcony House Cliff dwellings. The Scouts spent a full day at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Here they learned about the ancient tribes that had lived in the area hundreds of years ago. The Scouts were taught ancient Indian games, made a bracelet and taken inside a reconstructed kiva. Time was spent in a laboratory, where they were instructed how to carefully clean and study items discovered at archaeological sites.
Next it was on to Moab, Utah, where the Scouts and adults rappelled from a 90-foot cliff and also from a cliff with a 120-foot drop – the height of a 12-story building. Looking at the cliff, the Scouts looked like ants coming down.
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