Day 6 - Thursday:
60° @ 6:20 am, clear & blue
Click thumbnails for enlargements

"One little sheep has lost its way!"

No one knew when we got up that this would become a very trying day (except for lunch, for the adults, anyway).

Breakfast is another in-campsite meal (please ... no more ham).  Gavin P. finally got his trout, a 16-inch rainbow.  With Jared's help, he got it cleaned and cooked.  Our meal of cereal and milk was enhanced with Danish, trout (thanks guys!) and ... not again ... fried, leftover ham.  After eating, Zach A. cleaned two Dutch ovens and he did such a good job maybe he should show us how it is done.

Dr. Brumbaugh, Mr. Grimes, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Luff and Mr. Rhoades conducted several Boards of Review for Scouts.  Tory R. and Spencer L. both passed.

Three CAMP INSPECTORS come by shortly afterward.  After talking with them and then helping a Scout find sunscreen, dry clothes and some other stuff, the adults left it all behind for a well-deserved break.

For lunch, Camp Alexander welcomed all adults in the camp to the OA shelter by the rifle range where staff cooked and served a great meal that included salad, baked potato, corn, rolls and a choice of steak, chicken or vegi-burger.  This was a welcome change from regular dining hall food.  We were introduced to the Camp Inspectors, who turned out to be from National.

Upon returning to Arapaho campsite, most of the adults settled in for a little well-deserved rest (eating that huge meal was hard work!).  Chris F. was working with several younger Scouts teaching them lashings.  Everything was so peaceful.

Then one Scout turns up by himself.  But he's supposed to be with another Scout and they got separated hiking around up  on the mountain (where!!!).  All the adults were carrying FRS radios in camp and they were put to use to see if anyone had seen the missing Scout.  Just as the adults were ready to notify the camp director to sound the alarm, our little lost lamb came walking sheepishly into the campsite.  From that point on, this Wayward Scout had to have two buddies with him at all times.

Not five minutes after that settled down, the second emergency happened.  Eric L. got sprayed in the eyes with bug repellent by another Scout.  Mr. Mingus rushed him to the latrine and rinsed out Eric's eyes, then off they went to the camp medic.  The other adults then tried to unravel the multitude of tales about what really happened and finally had to agree that the other Scout had done it deliberately.  He was confined to the campsite.

For the evening meal, our troop was helping serve the food.  Most were helping in the dining hall.  The rest went to the parade grounds, with Chris F. as the acting Senior Patrol Leader. Dinner was scalloped potatoes, salad, pudding and ... meat loaf? ... Salisbury steak?... chopped steak? ... no, it remains mystery meat.  After dinner and the flag ceremony (where the camp heard a make-up prayer by another troop), a cold breeze came up and it cooled down quickly.

After dinner, Blake B., Ryan L., Tory R. and Jack B. left for the wilderness survival campout.  They could just have a ground tarp, an emergency foil blanket and any makeshift shelter they could build with natural materials on hand.  Dr. Brumbaugh later went out to find them and make sure they were settled in for a good night.  This was the coldest night so far.

At 8:30, the troop returned to the dining hall for a presentation on Scouting in the United Kingdom put on by three Scouts (two young ladies, one young man) working at Camp Alexander for the summer.  It was interesting and satisfied a requirement for Citizenship in the World merit badge.  The ladies were from England and the guy was from Scotland.  The meeting let out at about 10 pm.

Finally got everyone to bed a little after 10:30.  Nice clear star-lit sky, a full moon.  What a time to be without a tripod for the camera.

NEXT: DAY 7