Treasure Valley Backpack

It seems like it's been raking, raking, raking every weekend this fall.  I feel as if I have been a prisoner of my leaves this year.  That is to say, I am long overdue for an outdoor adventure.  However, after this weekend, I need to consider being a bit more judicious in my selection of activities.

I decided to join Boy Scout Troop 11 on a ½ of their weekend activity.  On Saturday, they participated in the annual Turkey Shoot at Treasure Valley Scout Reservation.  On Sunday, the plan was to hike out with full packs approximately 4 miles.  This "backpack" campout will help some of the scouts satisfy a requirement for Camping merit badge.  I've done nearly identical hikes before, so this should be fun.  See Hike 10 from last year.

I arrive at the campsite Saturday afternoon.  The weather is nice (for November), but the forecast is calling for bone-chilling cold tonight, with a 20% chance of snow.  We'll see.  I have packed my -15° sleeping bag, so I will hopefully stay warm overnight.

Things look good Saturday afternoon.  We're on the edge of a large "jamboree" field.  I brought my four-season tent (foreground) to keep the wind out.

We ate before the sun went down.  Now we just have to stay warm until bed time (9pm or so).  Meanwhile, it starts snowing.

The next morning, it is 18°.  YES, I said 18°.  I was warm except for my feet.  It snowed a bit more overnight.

After we shuttle cars, we're all packed up and ready to go.

Now for the crazy part.  How hard can it be to get from one side of the camp to the other (see the map at right)?  We have to get from the red circle at the bottom of the map to the red circle on the Mid-State Trail.  It's a mile.  How long can this take?  As it turns out, quite a long time (it took us an hour and a half).  Besides all the adjustments everybody needs when starting out with a heavy load on your back, the trails were hard to find and follow (despite the map) .

The snow on top of the leaves, didn't make it any easier to find the trails.

We finally made it to  the glacial erratic known as "Sampson's Pebble".

We're all together at the edge of Browning Pond.  The water is beautiful as always.

With my tight schedule today, we have to part company.  I'm continuing on the Mid-State.  See the yellow triangle?

 

By the end of the hike, the soft earth had actually frozen to my trekking poles.  My water bottle had also frozen shut a couple times making getting a drink a bit of a challenge.

The actual hiking mileage was about 4.5 miles.  When I got back to my car, it had warmed up to 21°.  A heat wave!  I made it with a few minutes to spare for 12:00 Mass.  But as I type this, my fingers are still thawing out.