On Friday the 21st, Troop 359 departed from the Hockinson Middle School around 6:30 and headed for Government Mineral Springs campsite. The site is up the Columbia Gorge past Stevenson. We headed up there with the intent of preparing for Camporee. We had planned to build either a tower or another type of lashing. We had loaded up many large poles and lots of rope. All the patrols had well planned out meals, but one patrol forgot the food. Bet that won’t happen again!
So that’s what was all planned out for the two-night outing. Instead when we got up there it had been raining the whole week and almost all the campsites were filled with pools of water. We contemplated bailing, but toughed it out because that’s what boy scouts do. So we managed to find some (dry) ground, not covered in water. So instead of building towers, most scouts built tarp shelters. Some boys really designed some great overhangs and covers. All this was done in the poring down rain.
After the whole ordeal everyone was soaked. It had started to get late and it was around 10:00 p.m. when most of the scouts were all done. With not a whole lot to do and everyone being tired, we all went to bed. Not everyone slept so peacefully though. With some occasional snoring from some, and some insanely loud shouting from Jason Meengs in the middle of the night. It woke up some of the boys and adults and scoutmaster Vince, was about to run to see what it was, but Jason went back to sleep and didn’t remember a thing about it in the morning.
The scouts awoke to some pretty wet tents and campsites. It hadn’t stopped raining all night. Eventually everyone was awake and out of the tents, some faster than others. All the patrols got to there cooking under the tarps. Some were still in good spirits and others were somewhat miserable. But in a whole, the morale of the troop was good. After breakfast was ready we had to make a decision to either stay and stand out in the rain for the whole day with nothing to do or pack up and go home. Most wanted to leave and a few wanted to stay. Most of the ones who wanted to stay were still dry, but in there last pair of dry cloths for the outing.
We had decided to pack all our stuff and go back to Hockinson. There were practically no objections, but we all felt bad about having to bail as Boy Scouts. We try not to let it happen and to fight the weather, but if there is no fun to be had and everyone is miserable, then it is worth it to go home.
It took about two hours when it was all over to have everything packed and ready to go in the trucks. When Ms. Meengs arrived there, we were ready to load and go home. It wasn’t a miserable outing. We weren’t there long enough for it to turn that way. We left at just the right time. The scouts did have fun when we were there and ready to go when it was time. Our troop has visited Govt. Mineral Springs many times and plans to go back, when the weather gets better though.
Miles, Historian
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