Last year when my son and I went to the Camp Lakota winter campout of Cub Scout Pack 158, I didn’t go to “the big hill.”
I was reading some save-the-world novel where the hero does things I’d never do.
This time I decided to tag along. for the sledding.
My son didn’t want to go because he got hurt last year, but he decided that if Dad were going, he would, too.
Den leader Dave Rokusek had brought a toboggan, which he said he purchased for $20 at a garage sale.
As we went down the road he plopped on it, urging the Cubs to pull him.
It was a difficult task.
The (Galena) Atomic Toy Company owner and those pulling him slower than we were walking was not left in the dust—none of that—but soon left behind.
We then went down a hill that a backhoe had been excavating at summer day camp, through some bushes and down into a marsh.
One little problem for those not wearing boots.
Although this was just above zero weather, the edge of the marsh at the bottom of the hill was not frozen.
I thought it was a spring.
My 1982-era galoshes sunk in, but not enough to cover the tops. The new Red Wing boots I just bought from Heisler’s Bootery might not have been high enough.
By then the toboggan folks had caught up.
Proceeding across the frozen marsh was no problem. It wasn’t like last year when the sledders had to take the long route, walking around the marsh. But in this third weekend of January bone chilling cold, the marsh was frozen.
We weren’t the only creatures to have crossed the wetland. I don’t know what animal made the tracks above, but some better outdoors man than I can identify them.
We could see where trees had been cut down through a forest stand on the hill, which turned out not be be as big as I had assumed it would be.
Last year, the men had shoveled snow to make mogels.
I think that’s what did my son in.
No mogels this year.
Just a straight run with the toboggan, plastic sleds and inner tubes.
(All photos may be enlarged by clicking on them.)
The phrase “stopped dead in their tracks” took on new meaning. After the unsuccessful run seen above, it was “only one sledder at a time.”
A couple of runs by the toboggan loaded with at least one adult and as many boys who could fit on it, leveled the sled run enough for the kids to use it.
Here’s one on a plastic sled that went awry. The Cub Scout is pushing powder, so the run is not yet packed down well enough.
But, it still helped to stay on the course. This Cub isn’t having any fun at all, is he? You can tell from his facial expression. (Click to enlarge the picture, if you can’t see the smile.)
“Different strokes for different folks.”
A successful tube run. This one went down toward the marsh. It may have been the first one to make it past where I was taking pictures.
This snow boarder ended up walking down most of the hill. Note the powder snow that his left boot is kicking up.
Can’t tell if this downed sledder is smiling or not. He’s smart enough to have a woolen head cap.
Look at what happened to this sledder. His rear end seems to be what he is sliding on with an interesting visual effect.
In a lull, I noticed some more peaceful use of the hill by wild animals. I know some of them were made by a bird. Can anyone identify what animal left what tracks?
This snow boarder went off the beaten path into where the sledders were climbing the hill. The snow wasn’t packed evenly there.
Then, it was a contest to see who go slide the farthest.
Can’t you hear this boy thinking, “I’m a bird,” as he slides down the hill on the snow board?
These three Cub Scouts from the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake’s Pack 158 won the longest slide contest.
Were the grown ups ready to concede the contest.
Incoming Cub Master Jim MacGreger and Dave Rokusek tried to see if their weight would give them the advantage needed for the longest ride.
Proving weight is not the determining factor, these two Cub Scouts on the toboggan won the long distance contest.
Then it was back to the warmth of the building we were staying in, where we would be protected from the just above zero weather.