Here are my pics of the days events. First up, out Scout Troop regularly puts up flags that line the road leading to the VA Medical center here in town, usually on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, July 4th, and I think a couple of other holidays. We got out there around 7:30 AM, got the flags up, then headed out to Little Beaver State Park. The park itself is very nice, and they have put a lot of work into it over the last few years, however the dam at the lake spills out into a small creek, and if you go that direction, almost no one ever goes there despite a good portion of it still being park property. Today, we headed down that creek to see where we could get.
The beginnings of the rough terrain. Nice tall grass and ferns to hide all sorts of ankle twisting rocks.
After a bit we made it to some decent ground without as many rocks to try and kill us. For now...
Finally we get back to the creek and the Major finds us a nice spot to cross, and even cook up our breakfast. Here we have up the creek.
And down the creek.
Breakfast was scrambled eggs (which I burned) with ham and cheese and tomatoes. Also here are a few shots of my pack. 5.11 Rush 72, with two Maxpedition 12x5 bottle carriers, one on either side. After having hiked through dense vegetation, and over all kinds of really uneven terrain today, I will recommend this pack to anyone that will listen. I have everything I usually carry in this pack, and still have about 2/3rd's of the main compartment empty. Love this pack.
The Major and his boy went off this direction and found a really nice large flat boulder to prep their breakfast on. None of the pics of their breakfast came out, but I did get some of the area. Really pretty place.
Headed down to the creek to wash dishes and refill water bottles.
The Major using his MSR Microworks to refill his water bottle, and his boy, standing there, looking goofy, while mine sits like a lump.
Finally, all loaded up, we head across the creek, and find the Major hard at work trimming a sapling for use with a spear head he had.
He started off with the FPR BK16...
And then finished up with my FFG BK16. He noticed a vast difference which I think he is going to cover in another thread.
With that done, we headed back, and visited the site where me and the Major had camped out back in November. We had to get a pic of all the knives, so they got introduced to this log with extreme prejudice.
From left to right: The Boy's BK14, the Major's BK11, my FPR BK16, The Major's BK2, Major Boy's new BK14 he got this morning, my FFG BK16, and Winona, my beloved BK2.
WINONA!
This is where I had my tarp setup when we camped here in November.
The Major and his boy looking off into the distance dramatically. This photo was staged.
Over here is where the Major had his tarp setup back in November.
The area around the site. Very nice place.
We then drove up into the park, and went into it to see if Pointy and I's shelters were still standing from the August Challenge last year. Sure enough they were. Here is mine.
And here is Pointy's.
All in all, it was a great day. Had a lot of fun, and covered a good bit of ground. My boy is seen sitting alot cause he rolled his ankle yesterday, so he tried to get off of it as much as he could when we stopped. That coupled with the rocky ground made for an interesting day. Anyways, hope you folks had a great Memorial Day as well!
