Sunol Backpacking 11/26 - 11/27

All of us scouts were very excited for our Sunol Wilderness backpacking. We started it off by meeting at Chadbourne, while we checked forms and bags. There was some troop gear that needed to be divided as well as tents. After about 45 minutes, we drove up to the Wilderness Visitor Center Park area, where we prepared lunch before leaving. Unfortunately, some scouts with Cooking Merit Badge couldn’t make it, so we tried our best to make their dishes for them, and ended up with some delicious food. While we were cooking, eating, and cleaning up, scouts went inside the Wilderness Center and learned about the animals in the park. We also picked up some brochures to play games along the way. Before we left, we all decided to use the bathroom. That bathroom was probably the stinkiest I’ve ever been in, and most of the scouts agreed. It was so toxic, you could feel it in your mouth, and most scouts just held their breath. After that was over, we started our hike up to the Stars Rest Campsite. It was 3.7 miles, and scouts just talked with each other on the way up. When we got to the campsite, we all took a rest for a couple of minutes, and then got started on pitching our tents. Everyone helped, and we pitched them and got our stuff inside in around 20-30 minutes. Dinner prep began while scouts finished, and by the time everyone was done, food was ready. We got to enjoy some wonderful Upma by Annika, Ramen by Padma, and Mac and Cheese by Saanvi. After trying the adults’ meals, we all had a consensus that we should just stick to Indian food. To use the bathroom, we had to walk to the nearby hill which was half a mile away, so we ended up going on a hill next to the campsite. By 6:30, it was dark, and all scouts were in their tents. It was quite windy, so we couldn’t do outdoors activities, so instead scouts met with their friends and did their own things. We couldn’t believe how much time we had. It felt like hours before it was 8, and at 10 we all went to sleep.

The next morning, there were a variety of comments made by the scouts. Some slept fine, while others couldn’t sleep at all. We woke up at 6:45 am, and got ready. It took awhile, but we got our breakfast set, and we sampled different types of oatmeal. While eating, we discovered a heart-shaped tree trunk, and we all took pictures of it. We created a pack line, and half the scouts did a sweep, while the others learned about trash, and how to clean up. The hike down was supposed to be very long, but when we reached a shortcut, the adults let us take it, as we had finished our requirements. We got down to the base, and rested for a few minutes, before making lunch. Scouts put their bags in their prospective cars, while others made lunch, and we all ate. After lunch, we did a sweep and returned either to Chadbourne, or home.

Overall, this was a wonderful backpacking, where scouts became closer, while preparing for Philmont.

~ Tanya and Saanvi