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Caving & Cold Weather Camp, Racoon Mountain, TN, 01-16,17-2010 Scouts, Leaders and Parents:

Sorry for the delay in sending out a report for the caving trip. It has
taken about two weeks for my hands to thaw out enough to use the
keyboard.

The trip departure was delayed due to extreme cold weather Friday night.
15 scouts and 6 adults from Troop 537 along with 8 scouts and two adults
from Troop 149 left Friendship Saturday morning and arrived at Raccoon
Caverns near Chattanooga, TN just before lunch. We quickly set up camp
in the tundra like field near the cave entrance. Our scouts prepared a
quick sandwich lunch ( 149 had sack lunches on the way) and were off to
the balmy 60 degree cave. After a short orientation and equipment check
out, everyone started the afternoon cave hike. The entire crawling,
sliding, slithering event covered 1.25 miles. When the trip finished,
the scouts really performed the most  amazing task of the trip: In
subfreezing temperatures which were quickly dropping to single digits
and with darkness looming, the two patrols prepared quality, hot
dinners, cleaned up and held a campfire all before 7:15. The
temperatures dropped really low, really fast and we all learned a thing
or two about camping in cold weather. One example is that some groups
poured out all of their water cans, and KP water before bed. Other
groups did not and on Sunday morning they had blocks of ice, which meant
no water and no container to put water.

The night brought temperatures near 8 degrees and thanks to a lot of
good preparation, most everyone was comfortable. Our breakfast Sunday
morning was  a quick  and only slightly warm meal of bagels, cereal and
fruit. (Thanks Geof G. for heating the milk!). We packed up early, had a
lunch on the road, and returned to Watkinsville around 2:00.

The following scouts were brave members of our Arctic Expedition: Tyler
G., Ben R., Jeff B., Scott B., Tim D., Matthew D., Ryan C., Jacob P.,
Henry R., Miles, Monty, Harry and Ryan B., Seth W., and Andy K.,

Thanks to the following adults for their Mt. Everest knowledge and
guidance: Keith R., Hermon C., Charlie B., Nicole R., Geof G., and Paul
D.

Despite not getting to see any polar bears, the trip was a great success
and all those who survived will remember this trip for years to come and
be proud of their accomplishment.

Yours in Scouting ,

Paul D.
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