Scouts from Troop 159 (Susanville), Troop 125 (Standish), and Troop 36 (Chester) gathered for the annual Klondike Campout, held on January 26 and 27 at Prosser Campground, north of Truckee, California. This event, organized by the Lassen District, Nevada Area Council, featured a variety of activities designed to test and improve the scouts’ outdoor skills.
Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in competitions such as fire building and knot tying, while also trying their hand at BB gun shooting. Additionally, the scouts learned valuable techniques for constructing snow shelters. The highlight of the afternoon was the construction of these shelters, with Troop 125 and Troop 159 each creating two snow wall and tarp shelters, as well as two “Quinzee” snow cave shelters.
The scouts’ efforts were rewarded with a hearty beef stew for lunch, expertly prepared by Gregg Scott. As night fell, the scouts and adults settled into their respective sleeping arrangements, with some opting for tents while others chose to brave the elements in their newly built snow shelters.
The event was meticulously organized by the Boy Scouts’ Order of the Arrow, Maidu Chapter. Brian Bales, serving as the camp director, coordinated the weekend’s activities with the assistance of Aaron Pudlicki, Josh Schmidt, and Jesse Ramirez. A total of 26 scouts and 18 adults participated in the event, demonstrating their resilience and resourcefulness in cold weather.
Despite overnight temperatures dropping to a chilly 14 degrees Fahrenheit, the scouts who opted to sleep in the snow shelters reported staying cozy and warm. Equipped with insulating foam pads, warm sleeping bags, and dry clothes, they found the experience quite comfortable. One scout even mentioned having to unzip his sleeping bag and use it as a quilt due to the warmth inside his snow shelter.
