TROOP 25 CLIMBS HERMON MOUNTAIN

TROOP 25 CLIMBS HERMON MOUNTAIN
by Andy Farnham

Troop 25 of Hermon held their second Webelos 2 /Boy Scout overnight camping trip of 2007. Bill and Marlene Whitcomb, owners of Hermon Mountain Ski Area, allowed Hermon’s Boy Scouts to camp overnight at their ski area. Mike McCarthy and John Benge, Sr. led the Troop to their camping site at the top of the slopes. Tired of the car camping rut that the troop fallen into, Mike wanted something different for this trip." I wanted to give the boys a more traditional camping experience. I wanted to show them how little they need to bring and still have a good time. ‘They had to pack their own meals and water and hike to our spot with everything they needed on their backs." Boys paired off to pitch tents, dig a fire pit and work on other tasks. The boys worked on map and compass skills and fire lays. John Benge, Sr. was pleased with how much the boys learned. "I have the hardest time with tepee fires," John explained. "The boys and I worked on that together and we all improved our skills."

The Cub Scouts had a good time. Dereck McCarthy and John Benge Jr. liked exploring (especially an old rusty skidder in the woods) while William Wright liked everything but particularly enjoyed map and compass. The Troop finished the trip Sunday morning with a Scout’s Own Service and hiked down the mountain.