Finger Lakes Trail - Backpacking Trip - 
April 13-14, 2002

On a rainy Saturday morning, 11 scouts and leaders of Troop 1776 ventured out to backpack a section of the Finger Lakes Trail. For many of the contingent, it was their first experience in the backcountry. But judging from the boys' responses - it won't be their last!

"Six miles in - Six miles out". In the rain and through the mud, Troop 1776 hiked the CT-4 section of the Finger Lakes Trail (a part of the Conservation Trail that goes into to the FLT). They started at the trailhead off of Gooseneck Road and hiked through the woods to the lean-to just past Roszek Hill Road in Cattaragus County.

The Scouts were given a list of personal gear to bring. "Bring nothing more and nothing less and you'll have what you need for the two days and have room to carry your share of the troop gear", they were told. After going through some of the packs and discarding unlisted items we were set. Everyone got their share of the troop gear which worked great except for one thing One

leader couldn't remember who had what. Everytime he asked for something and asked everyone to check their packs once, twice and even three times - no one had what he needed. After awhile he would look in his own pack and surprisingly find it!

By the time we stopped for lunch on Saturday the boys had apparently built up quite an appetite as the food was gone as fast as we got it unpacked. When we arrived to our home for the weekend, it was a welcome site and a relaxing break was well deserved. But it was shortlived. Dry socks needed to be put on for most of the crew, the campsite needed to be set up and dinner needed to get started.

Drying lines went up, tarps went up, tripods were made, a 'bear bag' went up, backpacking stoves came out along with the food. Everyone worked together and before you knew it dinner was served. Pasta, chicken, fresh green beans and biscuits, like only Scouts could make, were being gobbled down.

After several rounds of Merit Badge charades and a late-nite snack of cake we called it a nite as the candle lantern continued to flicker. Sunday started with a beautiful sunrise which raised the spirits of all.

Breakfast, followed by an exercise of essential pack equipment and a team-building / leadership competition was next on the agenda. Minature oreo cookies went to the winning patrol which they generously shared with the runners up.

By the time we packed up and made our way on the trail, thunder & lightning were heard and seen on the horizon. We caught up to it just after lunch. Most of tried some Tabouli and some of us liked it a lot (some still preferred to eat the hemlock needles).

A few of us saw deer, some saw salamanders, some saw pocupines, all saw rain and mud. And all saw what a wonderful time and experience backpacking can be!