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July 2011

Round Lake Backpack

Nestled away off the Tahoe Rim Trail at 8000 ft. just below 9000 ft. snow caps is Round Lake. A beautiful clear & pristine wonder that feeds one the headwaters of the Truckee River as it heads down into South Lake Tahoe. Here you'll find volcanic rock outcroppings with high cliffs above, tall pines, Bald Eagles, & Rainbow Trout. On the way there, you'll pass a peaceful meadow with a fresh stream running though, snow patches amongst the pines, and other enthusiasts as well, including, horseback riders, mountain bike riders, joggers, other backpackers & hikers, all of which appreciate the beauty surrounding them. We had the opportunity to have a snowball fight in July along with the newer scouts getting a lesson in fire building & cooking.

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February 2011

Hidden away in the beautiful California Wine County is Lake Sonoma Recreation Area. This incredible reservoir has several creeks feeding into it, and is held up by Warm Springs Dam which was build by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1983. The Scouts had an opportunity to visit The Milt Brandt Visitor Center as well as The Congressman Don Clausen Fish Hatchery. In the hatchery, the Scouts observed Coho and Chinook Salmon along with Steelhead Trout being sorted by Corps of Engineer personnel to preserve the eggs. The fish return to the creeks and reservoir from the ocean annually to spawn. After a visit in the visitors center and hatchery, it was off to the backpack adventure!

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January 2011

Sierra Snow Camp

Scouts enjoyed building snow caves & shelters, sledding & snow shoe hiking, and worked on building fires to keep warm & dry. Don't forget a few sled crashes here & there too!

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October 2010

Irish Beach Campout & Service Project

Scouts provide community service in various ways. Irish Beach is a small community on the Northern California coast a few miles north of the Manchester Lighthouse. Troop 464 had a family campout and the scouts performed a beach cleanup collecting trash on the beach.

 

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August 2010

Camp Winton

Each summer the scouts have an opportunity to experience a week long camp high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains off Hwy 88 just below Silver Lake at a magical place called Camp Winton. They spend the week meeting other scouts from Northern California's Golden Empire Council (GEC) working on various Merit Badges and participating in many different ceremonies and outdoor events.

 

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July 2010

Loch Leven Lakes

Nestled in about 6500 feet just above Cisco Grove on I-80 is a special groups of lakes that receive snow melt in large areas of granite rocks where these natural clear lakes are created. These lakes become warm as the summer progresses with the hot high elevation summer sun. The ascent can be a bit of a workout, but it is sure worth the trek.

 

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June 2010

Shearlor Lake Backpack

Near Silver Lake on State Hwy 88 not far from the Mormon Emigrant Trail, a majestic setting high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and surrounded by beautiful granite and lava rock formations, is the crystal clear snow melt waters of Shearlor Lake.

 

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May 2010

Deer Creek Backpack

The Troop hiked along Deer Creek in the Lassen National Forest to camp alongside the stream. It was a chilly 1st day ending with snow and sleet. That made for a good challenge to keep warm and dry. The Troop utilized their cooking stoves to prepare their individual meals. They also used their water purifiers to keep their water supply plentiful.

 

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February 2010

Camping Ft. Bragg

The Troop enjoyed a winter car camp near the coast, where after a short distance to the beach the cliffs were spectacular and the waves were awesome. New scouts with the Troop helped pitch the tents using the Taut-Line Hitch and helped prepare meals for their Patrols.

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January 2010

Sierra Snow Camp

Troop 464 hiked into the Sierra back country for a snow camp, creating snow caves, a sledding contest, and most importantly enjoying hot Dutch Oven Cobbler on a cold night.
 

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