Trip Reports

Current Trip Report--Cloudland Canyon, Caving and Chickamauga . . . More Photos !

Cloudland Canyon, Caving & Chickamauga, February 9-12, 2012

Cloudland Canyon, Caving and Chickamauga
Photos

First of all let me start of with how glad we all are to be back in Tropical Watkinsville

The weekend started off with approx. 30 scouts and adults in 6 vehicles getting off around 530pm and starting the 3 hour 45 minute trek over to Cloudland Canyon State Park. We arrived there around 930 after one brief stop. The patrols quickly got about the business of setting up camps and deciding on patrol sites. The Scouts had quickly unloaded the trailer and got sets setup in the dark and everyone was in bed by 11pm.

Saturday started off with early wakeup call at 630. The patrols went about getting fires starting as everyone was having hot breakfasts. There was also snow flurries going on and I believe we had the high for the day at that point. The three patrol had breakfast of mountain man breakfast , breakfast burritos, and pancakes. After getting cleaned up. The first group of cavers were off to meet our guides. While they were doing that the other group took a hike of the canyon rim and worked on advancement. The second group took off after lunch to meet the guides at the cavern. There was also a group of scouts who opted not to cave and they took the oppurtunity to work on advancement and keep two campfires going all day.

The caving experience was awesome. There was sliding done muddy inclines and bouldering opportunities to crawling through a pancake squeeze that so tight that you couldn't rotate your head with the helment on. There as also the 30 degrees warmer in the cave as opposed to the outside as well. The experience of one of the scouts described it as like being at Disney World. The two guides were wonderful to work with and knowledgeable as well. The cave excursion lasted about 2 hours or so.

So the question of how cold was it this weekend has been asked. Well I think Mr Gilland's pictures of the tomatoes helps answer that question somewhat. The fresh cut tomatoes froze in approximately 10 minutes from being cut and left out on the table. I boiled water in the Jetboil around 2 pm Saturday and by 330p it was frozen in the Jetboil. The scouts and adults did a great job of being prepared and handling the frigid temperatures. They cooked supper Saturday over open fires again. Two of the patrols going for spaghetti one with the twist of using bacon. The third cooking hamburgers. Around 730 we all gathered for a campfire with songs, skits, stories and cheers. Scott B closed it out with Scout Vespers. Then everyone settled down to sleep.

We all awoke Sunday morning to frigid temperatures with a reported low of 9(nine) by one of the local residents. The scouts went about the work of breaking camp and packing the trailer in these conditions. Breakfast was somewhat difficult for at least a couple of the patrols as the milk and orange juice had frozen inside the coolers. After this a chapel service was help with an very timely scoutmaster's minute from Mr Gilland about the sermon from Scout Sunday that God would not put anything in front of us that we could not overcome. The combined choir of the Booth brothers and Wells brothers lead us in Amazing Grace. We then took off and headed for the Chickamauga Battlefield. We stopped there and enjoyed the visitors center and movie. We had a picnic lunch before leaving. Then we departed for home with about at 21/2 hour drive back to Watkinsville. Everyone had a great time, not a single grumble was heard from any of the scouts and all demonstrated a Scouting Spirit. Everyone learned something about cold weather camping: be better prepared next time.

If you are wondering about the campground: the campsites were great; the views of the canyon were described one of the boys as the best overlooks he had seen; the heated bathhouse with hot water also was one of the hits of the weekend as well.

Thanks to adults Geof G, Elizabeth K, Rob B, Chuck F, Skip T, Dan H, Dave M, Seth W, and Tom W for leadership for the weekend. Also thanks to Ben T, Alex M and Aaron D as serving as patrol leaders for the weekend and Scott B serving as acting SPL. The other scouts attending were:

Luke W., Wesley W., Will D., Atticus L., Benjamin H., Jack B., Mark B., Jared P., Tyler G., Jackson M., Craig K., Tommy H., Jacob P., Harry B., Ryan B., Trey F. YIS. Tom W

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