Historian

11/15/2008 – 11/16/2008

Mt. Monadnock in Jaffrey NH is the 2nd most climbed mountain in the world (next to Mt. Fuji in Japan). Mt. Monadnock is 3,165 feet above sea level, and is 1,000 feet higher than any other peak within 30 miles.  The mountain is also known as “Grand Monadnock”.  The word monadnock is used by geologists in referring to an isolated mountain formed by exposure. On a day like Saturday November 15, the isolated nature of Mt. Monadnock and the weather combined to provide a memorable hike with treacherous wind gusts at the summit.

Sixteen scouts and adults left Cohasset, arriving at the National Forest camp site at 11 AM.  There were two other scout groups in the area and other hikers planning to climb Monadnock that day.  The word passing around was that it was blowing 95 MPH at the summit!   Our group — leader Tucker Oddleifson, Alec Hurd, Hayes Keniley, Adam Benson, Julien Geyer, Jack Thomae, Brodie Jackisch, Jack O’Brien, Christian Quebec, Graham Sinclair, and Morgan McCarthy and myself along with adults Mr. Oddleifson, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Thomae, Mr. Quebec,  and Mr. Jackisch was ready to be put to the test. We first set up our tents at the campsite and secured our gear.  Then we began our ascent, battling fierce winds and rain all the way.  Partway to the top, four of our group turned back.  It seems that Hayes could not find his rain gear and it had really started to pour. Because of the Boy Scout guidelines of “two deep leadership”, Hayes needed to be accompanied down the mountain by two adults — Mr. O and Mr. T.  Julien offered to descend with Hayes.

When 9 of 12 remaining hikers finally reached the summit, the rainwater flowing down the mountain was getting blown up in the air by the wind gusts! Graham and Christian were almost blown off of their feet as they approached the peak! The hike was a wet one with rain pouring on us almost the whole way but at least it was a relatively warm 52 degrees.  We stopped to eat lunch about halfway down.  When we arrived back at the campsite, we received a warm welcome from Mr. O, Julien, Mr. Thomae, and Hayes.

The rest of the afternoon went fairly quickly and by the time it was dark, we hadn’t even had dinner. Tucker quickly got the two chefs, Adam and Hayes, cooking and soon we were eating the best food I have ever eaten on a trip — spaghetti with meat sauce.  We received a call around 6PM from a concerned parent (thanks, Mom!) saying that tornados and lightening were headed our way but it seems that weather never made it to our area.  Everyone was in their tent and asleep before 9:00 PM.  Tucker got everyone up at around 7 AM  on Sunday and after breakfast, we were in the cars at 8:30 AM ready to return to Cohasset.  We arrived at the locker around 1:00 PM and everyone was at their home with lots of wet and dirty clothing for the laundry by 1:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Derek A. Benson, Troop 28 Historian

10/11/2008 – 10/13/2008

Each year the scouts of Troop 28 head to New Hampshire for a backpacking and hiking trip in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains. The group of nine included Christian, Robbie, Evan, Greg, Andrew, Jack, Mr. Hillman, Mr. Berube and Mr. Ackley.

On Saturday, the scouts left Cohasset at 6:30 a.m., arriving at 11:00 am. They backpacked all of their food and gear up to the Appalachian Mountain Club’s “Mizpah Springs” Hut 3 1/2 miles away where they set up their camp near the hut.

On Sunday, they broke camp at dawn and hiked over 12 miles of mountain trails, to the summit of Mount Pierce (4,310 feet). Then they went above the tree line along the Crawford Path across Mount Eisenhower to the summit of Mount Franklin (5004 feet). From Mount Franklin, the scouts ascended Mount Monroe (5,372 feet) and agreed that the best views along the trail were at this peak.  From Mount Monroe, the trail descends to the AMC’s “Lakes in the Clouds” hut. The hut was closed but the scouts rested there for lunch. After lunch, the scouts climbed to the summit of Mount Washington (6288 feet). After a brief stop at the top, the scouts returned along the trail, skirting the peak of Mount Monroe and returning to camp at dusk.

The weather was ideal for hiking – clear and cool, with occasionally stiff breezes. The views from the peaks, and from the trail above the tree line, were spectacular. On Monday, the scouts broke camp and packed everything that they brought with them, following the Boy Scout’s “Leave No Trace” guidelines. The return trip with full gear, descending nearly 2,000 feet, was difficult, particularly after the previous day’s hike, but the weather remained clear and the hike was a success.

Respectfully submitted,

Derek A. Benson, Troop 28 Historian

09/27/2008

The goal of the Whitney Woods hike was to prepare scouts who had not yet hiked with a full camping gear pack for that type of experience. Unfortunately, there had been bad weather all week and especially that weekend, since we got about 3” of rain on Saturday and Sunday. Anyway, a brave and mighty band of 11 scouts and parents, led by Robbie Hillman and Tucker Oddleifson met at the Scout Locker at noon.

Robbie, Tucker, Mr. Hillman, Jack Thomae, Mr. Thomae, Evan A., Mr. Ackley, Brodie Jackisch, Alex Kent, Sasha Nakashima and Andrew Leighton

They started hiking at 1 PM at the Whitney Woods entrance off of Rte 3A. The scouts developed into two hiking groups, and each group was in charge of their own food, tents and anything else they would need to survive for the night. The rain was really intense, so the hikers did not go into Wompatuck State Forest. Instead, they decided to hike up Turkey Hill, where they took shelter under a structure that I later learned was built by Mr. Avery’s son for his Eagle project. At this location, the groups assessed their options and the decision (wisely) was made to not spend the night because of the heavy rain.  Then, it seemed like a good time to eat, so the hikers lit their lightweight stoves and cooked the dinners that had been packed. Tucker O. said that he learned two very important things — “bring more food to eat, and freeze dried Beef Stroganoff with noodles is delicious!” Thankfully, all hikers had remembered the scout motto “be prepared.”  Everyone had rain gear and waterproof covers for the backpacks.  The leaders and senior scouts felt that the trip was a success since hikers need to be able to deal with the challenging and constantly changing New England weather when they are trying to survive in the wilderness.

Respectfully submitted,

Derek A. Benson, Troop 28 Historian