Climbing/Rappelling Campout 2002 

November 15-17, 2002

Troop 57 traveled to Lake Mineral Wells State Park for it's annual Rock Climbing and Rappelling campout. We spent the month learning about the Climbing Merit Badge. We reviewed the rules for proper climbing, rappelling, first aid, and safety associated with the badge. We then packed up the Troop trailer and various adult volunteer vehicles and headed for Lake Mineral Wells State Park.

One of the things the adult volunteers do on program intensive campouts like this one is to take over the cooking chores so the boys can spend more time on the rocks. This campout was a special treat in that regard. Troop 57 former scoutmaster, Mr. Tom Oliver, agreed to serve as grubmaster. The neat thing about this is that Mr. Oliver is a huge collector of military surplus hardware. He brought a mobile Army field kitchen capable of feeding a whole platoon.(Well, maybe not a whole platoon but at least a Troop full of hungry guys) Troop 57 extends a heartfelt thanks to Mr. Oliver for providing us with a great kitchen setup and his cooking expertise on this campout.

Troop 57 would also like to extend a very special Thank-You to Crew 57. Our climbing instructor (who is also Crew 57's Sr. Advisor) was recovering from a broken ankle during this campout. This limited his ability to participate. Crew 57 (experienced climbers and rappellers all) came to the rescue by doing all the leg work for Mr. Anderson. They set up and ran the climb and rappel stations under his direction. Thank You, Crew 57, for helping to make this campout possible.

The Campsite

We set up our campsite Friday night. Fortunately Mr. Oliver, Mr. Troutt and Mr. Anderson came up Friday afternoon and checked us in, staked out our campsite, and setup the camp kitchen. (Check out Mr. Oliver's mobile command post tent)

Click here to go see the Executive Patrol's Motel 57 web page

Saturday Morning Breakfast

For each meal a patrol was assigned to Mr. Oliver as assistant chefs. They got up early, reported to Mr. Oliver, and then began preparing a hearty breakfast for 35 hungry guys. Mr. Oliver set up one of his gasoline powered stoves as an oven (for the biscuits) one as a griddle (for the sausage and eggs), and one as a 66 qt. hot water station (for hot chocolate and KP water).

Scrambling the eggs

Biscuits

Making sausage patties

Sausage for 35

Cooking sausage

Scout cooking eggs

Almost ready...

Finished

Hot chocolate

Serving it up

Hot biscuits and gravy

Buffet line

Eat hearty guys, there's plenty

The breakfast crew

Saturday morning on the rocks

After breakfast was over and KP was done we held our Flag ceremony then headed to Penitentiary Hollow for our climbing and rappelling adventure

Scouts rappelling down the rocks

First timer

As the day progressed, our newest rappellers got their confidence up and started enjoying themselves

Of course, the adults couldn't let the boys have all the fun

Even the scoutmaster got into the spirit of things
Here he's demonstrating his own ... er ... somewhat.... Unique Style!

How'd my feet get up there?

Hey Mr. Garrett! you OK?

Maybe nobody noticed...

Lunch on the rocks

Our Grubmaster again came to our rescue. Instead of having the whole Troop pack up our climbing gear and travel back to the campsite for lunch, he and the lunch crew brought our afternoon meal to us. Thanks guys for the catered lunch!

Lining up for cheese and onions to top our chili dogs

Back On The Rocks

Dinner

Once the sun started to set, we packed up our gear and headed back to camp for dinner
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and dutch oven cobbler for 35

Sunday breakfast and heading for home

Sunday morning we awoke to find frost on our tents and ice on the car windows. It didn't last though.
By breakfast time it had all thawed out and the day turned out pretty nice.
(And the french toast, sausage links, and left over apple cobbler really hit the spot)