The main event...

We arrived at the upper parking area adjacent to Camp Mountaineer at about 8:00 AM.  It was pretty cold and I began second guessing my choice of clothing.  Normally I would wear thermal layers and stuff (like I did for our practice day).  It wasn't as cool at our house and I figured with the activity I would not need as much.  But standing in the parking lot it was pretty chilly.  Fortunately I ended up being quite comfortable once we got moving and the sun got above the trees.

During the week following our practice run, we had some rain and warmer weather.  The snow in our home area was mostly gone.  That left me with the concern that the boys would have to roll/drag their sled with the wheels they had fashioned.  That was the boys' plan and soon the wheels were fitted to the sled.

Just as quickly the ruts in the parking lot wiped the wheels off.  We removed the hardware and stowed the wheels.  Then we went to the registration building and got signed in.

I want to note that the approach to the event was different from what I expected.  When I was a kid and we did this, the event was held in a very large field.  The stations were placed at the perimeter of the field but well within sight of each other.  We raced from station to station, with a staggered start.  Time on course was a part of the score.

This event was far more interesting and really gave me a chance to see parts of the camp that I have not seen.  Even after four years of going to Camp Mountaineer there is plenty new ground to cover.  I believe that most of the course with a couple small sections, was totally new ground.  And the weather made this an added bonus, since I love to be in the woods in the winter.  I might have felt different had I been dragging a sled...  But take a look at this trail...

We got to the dining hall and grabbed a cup of coffee (for me) and hot chocolate (for Tom).

Next was the opening ceremony and the flag raising few will forget!

After the flag ceremony, the Troops got their instructions. 

 

Then they lined up to get ready for the start.

And they're off!

Our first stop was the first aid station at the waterfront.  I probably should have photographed the kids doing their station but the lake was very compelling...

Alex thought he was in my way and moved to step aside.  I said "No, 'You're' the Picture!"  (Alex, Let me know and I will e-mail you the "master" if you want to print).

The boys finished the station and headed for the next.

This station was where we got hit with a blizzard and were given 15 minutes to set up adequate shelter for the group.

After the group set up their shelter the "Mayor" (Homer) reviewed their choices with them and made some suggestions for how they could improve.  (I bet his hands were cold!)

The path to the next station took us through the woods and cut off a long walk around the pond and up the road.  We passed close to the campsite that our troop usually uses, and crossed the road to the site there.  This station was to test the boys' ability to construct a catapult and fire a snowball into the woods...

Pass!

We went cross country again, crossing the archery and rifle ranges and activity field, then hiked up into the high Cope course area to the next station - Camp Gadgets.

 

The boys were challenged to construct a unique camp gadget.  They built a tripod-chair.  The host of the activity raised the bar by offering a perfect score if the chair would hold the Scoutmaster AND if they could carry him "like a king" in it.  So of course Scoutmaster and boys took the challenge!

Mr. Matthews holds one of the five gold nuggets awarded (perfect score)!

More cross country travel took us up to the top of the ridge where the boys all went "Snow Blind".  Tom was the only one left with sight and his challenge was to lead them through a course with blind-folds on.

Just as they finished, the call for lunch sounded.  We left the sled and hiked cross-country to the dining hall, where a Sloppy Joe/Soup/Salad hot meal was served.

There was lots of food, it was very good, and even seconds!  Then a program was held to award two leaders their Wood Badge, the highest leadership recognition given in Scouting.

The usual singing and silliness was held.  Then the groups went back to resume the event.  We returned to our sled using another "new to me" path.

Our next challenge was a series of puzzles that tapped into the teams ability to work together.

They did reasonably well and had, it appeared to me, a great deal of fun in the process.

Next was another cross-country run to the dining hall for Boy Scout 1910 Jeopardy!

If I am not mistaken, we went into negative numbers, but that's what happens when the team is about 100 years younger than the period being explored!

Everybody took it in stride and moved on to the next station.  This involved taking the sled up "Heartbreak Hill"

At the destination checkpoint, the task was to put a bear bag at least 8-feet off the ground between two trees.  This has been done a few times on our trips so they did a good job with this one.

The downhill run to "Council Ring" for the fire challenge led through a mud rut on the road.  This created some interesting challenges with the contents of the sled.  At the fire challenge, the boys figured out a loop hole and solved the challenge in a couple minutes, using the tinder prepared during the practice run.  Then they decided to reactivate "The Snowball Fight"

What nice boys...

Yeah right...

And finally the announcement of the winners...  Sadly we did not place but I believe the experience was worth the effort to each and every one.