I forgot to mention a backpacking trip W and I took with his Boy Scout Troop on March 12-13, though photos have been up on Flickr for a while. The trip was to Bear Canyon, with the trailhead only a short drive from La Cañada and Pasadena. The planners had chosen that location in part because it was so close to Pasadena that W and I would be able to return quickly to Pasadena and then go to Covina to do his Ad Altare Dei Board of Review, with me sitting on another board. I’m very grateful to the troop for accommodating our BoR.
The trip was billed as an intermediate-light backpacking trip, but on the way back, I found myself exhausted. Although the altitude was below about 4000 ft., there were a couple of big elevation changes which, though fine for a hike, were pretty rough on me with a 25+ pounds pack on my back. Plus, on the return, I lost my footing on the trail at one point and fell hard on my coccyx and almost injured my leg. My leg was fine, but my coccyx is tender to this day.
Another notable bit of the outing was the presence of L., one of W.’s friends from school and one of the original members of his patrol. So many of his patrol from his school have drifted away from scouting, but I think L will stick it out to Eagle. He recently achieved Star, so I’m pretty sure he’s here to stay. I’m less sure of some others who are still nominally a part of the troop.
Oh, and I got to try out our new Jetboil backpacking stove. It heats water way faster than other backpacking stoves I have.
——
Oh, yes: All five of my scouts passed their Ad Altare Dei Boards of Review.