Category Archives: Scouts

BSA Troop 514 Klondike Derby, 2019

March 1, 2019 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

Once again, BSA Troop 514, La Grande, OR successfully prepared snow shelters and slept in them for the annual Klondike Derby at Mud Lake, opposite the Anthony Lakes ski area. Eleven hard working Scouts, in an excellent team effort, dug a forty foot by five foot trench down into six feet of snow. From there, they dug three snow caves into the sides of the trench. This preparation happened on Saturday and Monday of Presidents’ weekend. Last Friday night, February 22nd, they slept in the caves and then participated in the Saturday morning Klondike competition .

Scouts, Union County Oregon

Troop 514 Veterans’ Day

November 12, 2018 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

BSA Troop 514 Scouts enjoyed a sunny, chilly day marching in the parade in La Grande. After the parade they went over to the local Safeway and collected food for agencies that help those in need.

Scouts

BSA Troop 514, Bird Track Springs

December 7, 2017 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

Scouts from Troop 514, La Grande, OR, enjoyed a great November outing, practicing pioneering and cooking skills. They lashed a ladder together, and hung up a large tarp to protect agains the weather. They also lashed a tower. Breakfast was bacon, eggs, and french toast in cast iron skillets over a fire. I enjoy helping them develop these skills which will last a lifetime.

ladder lashing, Bird Track Springs, Troop 514

Bird Track Springs, Troop 514, square lashing

Bird Track Springs, Troop 514, Hanging the tarp using a ladder

Bird Track Springs, Troop 514, boiling water using a tripod lashing

cast iron skillet french toast, Bird Track Springs, Troop 514

Bird Track Springs, Troop 514, cast iron skillet breakfast

Eastern Oregon, Scouts, Union County Oregon

My Best Ever Scout Camping Weekend

September 26, 2017 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

Scouts from Troop 514 left early Saturday for their annual rock climbing weekend at Hoffer Lake, above Anthony Lake. We knew we would encounter skiffs of snow, but little did we realize we would be breaking trail in close to twelve inches.

We enjoyed true winter camping. The boys adjusted for the conditions, working together to pitch their tents, cook their food, gather firewood and stay warm.

Hoffer Lake was lightly frozen. The late afternoon light created marvelous color tones on the lake. When I awoke Sunday morning after a chilly night, I was grateful to be there, amidst this snow cover beauty, rather than simply sitting in my easy chair at home drinking coffee. Coffee outdoors by the campfire was much better 🙂

Scouts

Grande Ronde river rescue by Troop 514

June 22, 2017 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

Thirteen Scouts, four adults with four rafts enjoyed three days on the Grande Ronde river from June 16 to June 18.. Three of the boats were involved in rescuing a party of five whose boat had flipped . Morgan, Nate, Tim, Caleb, Garren righted the flipped raft and collected floating gear, and helped out a father and son who had landed on a rock near shore,. Nick skillfully maneuvered the second Scout raft while Lucy, Kadyn, Elias pulled a father and two young children out of the river, got them to shore and provided them dry clothes. Eric, James, Devin in the third boat heated up water with a jet boil stove, and furnished food and drink to the the children and father. It was a solid performance by the Scouts. Greg in the lead boat, was ahead of the accident. He had a campsite ready for us when we arrived. David, Alex, Kyler, and Eli had walked up stream and alerted us where to land, and helped pull us in.

Troop 514 ready to start Grande Ronde river trip

Rafting the Grande Ronde River

Grande Ronde river fun

Troop 514 Dutch oven cooking on the Grande Ronde river

Oarsman Nick

Troop 514 Grande Ronde River campsite

River fun

Splash

Saturday afternoon campsite. Enjoying the water.

Troop 514 dutch oven pineapple upside down cake

BSA Troop 514 rafts on the Grande Ronde river

Scouts, Union County Oregon

A fantastic snow shoe outing with Troop 514

December 23, 2016 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

Four intrepid Scouts and three adult leaders snow shoed five miles on Saturday in five degree weather up to Hoffer Lake, above Anthony Lake, Oregon. The air was still, and the sun reflecting off the snow did help to warm us up.

BSA Troop 514

Gunsight Anthony Lake Oregon

BSA Troop 514, winter Anthony Lake Oregon

Hoffer Lake snowshoe

winter Union County

Scouts

Camping in the rain with Troop 514 at Hoffer Lake

September 21, 2016 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

This is the time of year Troop 514 heads up the alpine country above Anthony Lake. We go up on Saturday via a long hike, set up tents, cook, and then rock climb on Sunday. This year, the rain forced us to cancel the climbing, but the boys tested their skills and fortitude in the rain. They were not as well prepared as we had warned them to be, so it ws an excellent learning exprerience. Most importantly, they stayed “cheerful”, one of the requisites of the Scout Law.

Troop 514 around the campfire

Troop 514 hiking back down to Anthony Lake

Washing dishes

Eagle Cap Wilderness, Scouts

Troop 514 backpacking in July in the Eagle Cap Wilderness

September 11, 2016 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

Embraced by memories of mountain air, sounds of the river, and visions of green meadows filled with wildflowers beneath alpine peaks, I loaded La Grande Troop 514 Scouts into the car to travel to the trailhead that leads up the East Fork of the Lostine River into the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The trail requires more effort than earlier years, but the challenge makes the time and beauty all the more meaningful. I am blessed to live so close to such a special place and still have the legs to hike, albeit at a slower pace. And it was particularly fun to backpack with these older scouts who could carry more weight and prepare a gourmet dinner and breakfast—despite the mosquitoes!

Troop 541 ib bridge over the East Fork of the Lostine River

Scouts, Travels

Troop 514 rafting the Grande Ronde Rive

Gallery June 25, 2015 PraisePhoto Leave a comment

Seventeen Scouts, ages ten and half to eighteen, along with seven adults, spent three days rafting the Grande Ronde river this past Friday through Sunday. We rented five boats. The river was low, slow, and challenging.– lots of obscured rocks that needed to be maneuvered around and between. However, all went well and the boys learned about “reading” the river, and rowing.

They cooked dutch oven meals for both dinner and breakfast. We had four cooking groups and the boys did a wonderful job working together. Their cooperation and collegiality was a joy to behold. They were supportive of each other, and the few conflicts were minor. This is the third river trip we have done in the past four years. I have enjoyed watching boys grow into young men.

Grande Ronde River, Troy, Wallowa County

Enjoying a great dutch over chicken and rice meal Friday night along the Grande Ronde river

Saturday night dutch over dinner: chili and corn bread

Maneuvering past the Red Rock on the Wallowa river, which later joins the Grande Ronde

Scouts

Troop 514: Flag ceremony to open the session of the Oregon House of Representatives

June 11, 2015 PraisePhoto 2 Comments

Every other year, Troop 514 travels to Salem, OR to open a House of Representative’s session with a flag ceremony. This year we also also met with our State representative, Greg Barreto, toured the Capitol and visited with a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. The Scouts are both serious and excited by this opportunity. I always enjoy watching how well disciplined the scouts are as they first practice, and then perform, this call to the colors and pledge of allegiance ceremony.