Boy Scout Troop 21 completes 50-mile hike in High Sierra

During the first week of August a group of Troop 21 Boy Scouts
took to the High Sierra to climb, wade and hike 53 miles in the
Hoover wilderness and Yosemite wilderness.
The hike began at the Robinson Creek Trailhead near Twin Lakes
CA and took us directly into the Hoover wilderness, camping at
Peeler Lake after a 9-mile and 2,400-foot elevation gain. We
experienced some brief thundershowers and were attacked by swarms
of mosquitoes but managed to prepare a welcome and tasty dinner
that evening while viewing the majestic Crown Point peak.
Day two had the troop climbing again past Robinson and Crown
lakes then up the snow field of Mule Pass at 10,470 feet. At the
top of the pass we entered into Yosemite Park and were rewarded
with a quick descent by sliding down the steep back side snowfields
of the pass. On day three we had one more challenging pass to
summit and after climbing some extremely steep snow fields in the
shadow of the Sawtooth Ridge and Matterhorn Peak we crossed the
pass to camp in alongside Quarry Peak.
Our fourth day was spent descending the Matterhorn Canyon and
found us crossing snowmelt swollen streams, some soakings were
unavoidable in the torrents that coursed through the canyon, during
the more dangerous crossings we employed climbing rope to ensure a
safe crossing.
Day five was our longest day spent hiking 9.6 miles, as we
exited the Matterhorn Canyon and crossed on to the Pacific Crest
Trail to ascend the ridge separating Matterhorn from Virginia
Canyon and climb up Return Creek. Our camp that night was the
nicest by far, we were able to have a fire and dry out the wet
socks and boots from all the creek crossings and take frozen
plunges into Return Creek. Friday greeted us with another cloudless
day as the troop hiked up Return Creek to Summit Pass where after
lunch a summit attempt was launched to bag Camiaca Peak. The route
to the top was up a scree and talus strewn gully, with time running
short we had to cancel the summit push and descend but not before
soaking in the views of Tuolumne Meadows, Cathedral and Unicorn
Peaks. Upon our descent we saddled up our packs, and said goodbye
to the Yosemite Wilderness and descended to Hoover Lakes to make
camp along the snow bound shores of the lower Hoover Lake, it was
evident this evening by the volume of Scouts jumping into an ice
melt lake that they were getting stinky. Saturday’s trek was
planned to be a leisurely stroll down the Green Creek drainage to
Green Lake with a side trip to West Lake.
When we reached camp, the Scoutmaster arranged with the Hoover
Wilderness Ranger to work on a service project to enhance and
improve the Wilderness. The Scouts employed their skills to restore
a camp by dismantling a dangerous fire ring, after digging out,
removing the assorted bits of garbage and carefully distributing
the three feet of ash and charcoal outside the camping area. The
Scouts then removed all but the lowest rocks in the ring to make
the ring smaller and less obtrusive for the wilderness surrounding.
They also cooked the Scout lunch specialty of Mac & Cheese for
Conner the back country ranger. Our last night was accompanied with
a strong wind blowing down the canyon but we managed to keep the
fire going in the rebuilt pit and hold onto our hands of cards
while another delicious dinner was prepared to be eaten while
viewing the best that the Sierra can offer, a pristine lake,
waterfalls and the company of fellow wilderness travelers. Our
final day, Sunday, we only had two miles to get to the Green Creek
trailhead where the vehicles had been left a week earlier. It was
the first morning when the scoutmaster didn’t need to rouse the
boys with bird calls, and variations of clanging objects to raise
the Scouts from their collective unconsciousness.
After a quick breakfast and sweep of the camp it was a sprint to
the finish/trailhead, with fresh clothes, a bath at a nearby hot
spring, a hot meal in town and a long drive back to
civilization.
The Scouts of Troop 21 completed a total of 53 miles, climbed a
total of 8,900 vertical feet, were up at dawn every day, they
completed a service project, packed out seven days of
trailside/camp trash, met fellow travelers and a bear too. More
importantly they gained valuable experience along with some bumps
and bruises in working as a unit, learning to “Leave no Trace”
while traveling in the wilderness. They also completed a goal that
at the beginning seemed elusive and overwhelming. For their efforts
they have all earned Scouting’s coveted 50 miler badge, which will
be presented at the next Court of Honor in September.
Troop 21 is a Kiwanis sponsored unit see website for more
activities and meeting times.