FORTY MILE SCOUT TREK
TERRACE “Omineca” HERALD
July 7, 1965
Tired, battered and very exultant, eleven boy scouts and their two leaders reached Telkwa last Thursday at noon after a forty odd mile, four-day trek across country from Terrace.
IDEA LAST WINTER
Last winter an idea was born in the mind of Rev. George Keenleyside. He wanted
to take a group of his boys overland from Terrace through the Telkwa Pass.
It was an ambitious idea which grew with the months. When he discovered that
encouragement for such undertakings comes from provincial and Canadian Scout
headquarters, Mr. Keenleyside discussed the idea with the boys and met with
enthusiasm.
Plans matured so that Sunday June 27 saw a small cavalcade of five cars (with
boys) and one truck (with knapsacks) head up the Copper River logging road.
In brilliant sunshine, the adventurers put on their packs, secured by parents
and friends, set foot on the sturdy hemlock log bridging Limonite Creek, and
disappeared into the brush, which hid them for the next four days.
AT TIME GRUELLING
The trip was at time gruelling for the boys, aged eleven to thirteen years.
At one point they crossed an extensive rockslide to circumvent an area of
dense “bear grass” along the margin of a lake. Never once though,
did anyone express a wish that he had stayed home. First night of sleeping
on the hard ground was a restless one – late to sleep and early to waken
(breakfast at 4 a.m.) – but there was no trouble on the following nights.
FIRE PATROL KEPT
Fires were kept going during the night by volunteers who woke up and added
the fuel gathered before bedtime. The two patrol leaders, Don Parmenter and
Perry Bristol, took charge of the meals for their own patrols (the boys cooked
in relays). A cook’s badge has likely been earned by each. These two
boys also kept a log of their trip. They plan to send copies of their logs
to the provincial commissioner and to Canadian Scout headquarters. The former
offers an adventure award to any scout group that undertakes an adventurous
enterprise under certain conditions. The Amory Adventure Award is given to
the Canadian Scout patrol that is judged top in its adventure entry.
ICY SWIM
An “instant” Polar Bear Club swam briefly in a lake of melting
snow. Not all the boys joined this club though.
Chocolate breaks were rest periods mid-morning and mid-afternoon when the
company sat for a few minutes and replenished their energy with semi-sweet
chocolate squares, chocolate chip cookies or raisins. So well were the meals
planned that the last meal Thursday morning cleaned up the rations with everyone
satisfied.
Dehydrated soups, potatoes, milk, tea, and coffee, along with oatmeal porridge
and pancake mix comprised the main items of food. Bacon, hamburgers and wieners
were luxuries enjoyed the first couple of days.
LEADER WONDERFUL
When asked what they enjoyed most, the boys gave a variety of answers. One
enjoyed the wild life about them – They saw a black bear, two moose,
beaver, a muskrat, mountain goat, and eagles. Another exclaimed over the beauty
of the lakes with their clean sandy beaches and the wonder of seeing and hearing
snow slides on distant mountains. Another felt the close intangible bond (for
safety as well as for companionship and pleasure) grow within the group thrown
together during the adventure. All agreed on one point though – their
Scout leader, Rev. George Keenleyside, was “wonderful” and they
hope he will take them out again.
Hospitality at Telkwa shown by schoolteacher D. Gage, former scouts who met
the Terrace Scouts a few miles out of Telkwa, the Crusaders who served lunch,
Smithers radio station, which interviewed them, the Chamber of Commerce and
the people of Telkwa who welcomed them, fed them and entertained them at the
Round Lake Barbecue climaxed a never-to be-forgotten adventure.
Those participating were: Rev. George Keenleyside, Scout captain of First
Terrace Scouts assisted in leadership by Mr. Earl Larson; patrol leaders Don
Parmenter and Perry Bristol; Donald Sparks, Fletcher Hemmons, Darwin Holiday,
Robert Samsom, Tommy Casey, Stanley Hyslop, Charlie Willenson, Kenny Doll,
and David Mitzimberg.
By Vi Seaman