Holmdel Troop 131 Conquers Weather and Devil's Path

On the weekend of 5/6/17, the scouts of Holmdel’s Troop 131 hiked, climbed, and camped out at Devil’s Path in the Catskill Mountains during amazingly inclement weather and soaked trail conditions. Friday’s and Saturday’s rains soaked all the trails (and our hikers), making hiking and climbing a major effort but growing the scouts’ knowledge of how to handle difficult conditions. Our hardy scouts passed the test and got views not normally seen, including high mountain overlooks and mountain waterfalls. Small streams became major water crossings, and granite rock climbs and descents became slippery and risky, but good planning overcame all those elements. Returning to camp meant quick refueling with backpacked meals (just add boiled water) and setting up bear bags (keeping breakfast away from our bear neighbors). Sleep came easy after all the wet trekking, and morning had the scouts hiking back to their parents’ cars and warm diner food on Sunday. Great planning made the trip both fun and successful for all our scouts who are looking forward to returning next year. Come join the adventure! Holmdel Troop 131 meets Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm at Indian Hill School.