High adventure was the reason for Boy Scout Troop 209's trip to Colorado.
The troop from Anderson, Mo., was on the trip June 27-July 4.
On the trip: Scoutmaster John Martin, Committee Chairman Henri Whitehead, and scouts Caleb Kernell, 16, Isaac Gardner, 15, and Kyle Martin, 15.
At Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base near Poncha Springs -- after the 13-hour drive through the flat state of Kansas to the mountainous state of Colorado -- the troop arrived on Monday prepared for their week.
The troop went whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River the first two days of their week, going through various named Class 2 through Class 4 and 5 rapids, with names such as Maytag, Cottonwood, Lose Your Lunch, Zoom Floom, and Widowmaker. Whitewater-rafting pictures were not taken because we were told not to bring anything we didn't want to lose.
The troop also rafted the recently created national monument, Browns Canyon, which is east of Buena Vista, led by their river guide, Adam.
For three days the scouts and leaders went on a backpacking trip to the summit of Mount Antero, hiking up to eight miles a day to scale the mountain, which has an elevation of 14,276 feet, the fifth tallest summit in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in the San Isabel National Forest, with their mountain guide. The troop faced various obstacles on the mountain such as swiftly changing weather. It rained every day during their time there -- with the occasional hail storm. The troop was cautious of the lightning while going up the mountain, which led to the hiking trip being cut just short of the summit in the name of safety.
Community on 07/30/2015