Howdie and a great report Mark,
While Mark was floating at the So. Mo. District Campgrounds, 7 Junior
Trainies and 6 Leaders were plying the hills of the Ozarks conducting a
JTT. For only being 20 miles away, we didn't get near the rain those
guys got <vbg>.
The day started early Friday with classes on what to do when lost, What
to bring (including a shake down), Lunch; then, How to Pack and How to
Carry the Pack.
The group left our District Campgrounds and went to Lake Of The Ozarks
State Park for the backpacking. Took about two hours to hike in. Yours
truely was not a part of the initial hike in (had to work). The group
set up camp off the trail and prepaired their evening meal.
Now I did not arrive at the park till 6:30pm. And I thought I knew where
they were to camp. Problem was, where I thought they were to be and
where they ended up were not the same spot. Especially when the trail
was marked with a ribbon where I understood they were suppose to be.
Boy, that hill was wet and big. Covered it twice without finding the
group. Missed the trail first aid class and dinner :-(
Since it was getting dark I decided to hike back out to the trailhead
and set up my own camp there. Why is it when it rains the hardest you
have to go to the bathroom the worst???? Found out my tent leaks
alittle, oh well.
Got up early and decided to try and find the group with some daylight.
Left my tent and sleeping gear (still wet) at the trailhead, grabbed my
pack and rambled down the trail. Got back to the spot I thought they
were suppose to be and blew my whistle till I was blue in the face. No
reply. Oh well, I'll hike down the trail and maybe I'll get ahead of
them (they weren't suppose to resume hiking till 9:00am).
Well, come to some trail forks and low and behold there are some more
markers, hmmmmmm, wonder if they are ahead of me????
Sure enough, they had gone to the spot my commander friend had decided
on (this will teach us to both look at the map before verbalizing where
we are to meet). By this time they had finished breakfast and were
attempting to dry out. Kinda hard when it's so wet out.
Resumed hiking by 10:30am and then stopped at a spring for the Water
Purification class. Finished the hike in just over two hours with nature
study along the way. Total distance for the group, 6 miles, for me, to
many to count <hee, hee, hee>. Of to another location for lunch and
drying out (the sun, the sun). Took a detour to the lake for some
swimming <ahhhhhh, cool them dogs>. Took another short hike without the
backpacks to look at the local nature (I got to guard the trucks :-)
Back to the District campgrounds for evening set up, a late dinner and
more classes on map and compass and astronomy.
Morning came early (not really). Breakfast of pancakes and granola.
Thanks LTC guys for leaving us the OJ and Chocolate Milk. Sunday School
followed breakfast and then it was time for the closing ceremony.
All in all a great experience as I learned as much or more <vbg> then
the trainies. One word of advice, train before you go. Too many were
hurting because they did not walk prior to coming to this event
(including yours truely).
God Bless,
Bob Triphahn
Sr. Cmdr. O.P. 312
Victory Church
St. Clair, Mo.
>
> Southern Missouri District had their first District Wide LTC campout. We
> had a great time and a fantastic campout with a 4.5" Rain and close to
> Hurricane conditions at council fire time. It was storming like a
> perfect storm should. We have a blessing of a District Campground
> Pavilion to protect us from the on slot of the storm.
>
> LTC tents were in 4" of standing water so we camped under what was left
> of the dry concrete under the pavilion. Some trainees arrived about 2 in
> the morning after a 7 hour ride that should have taken only 2 hours due
> to stalled traffic and missing the campground sign 3 times...grin!
>
> The next morning we were blessed with a partly cloudy sky and a perfect
> day for classes. It was a great lesson on how to get a fire going when
> your trench fire pit has to be bailed out with a bucket and all your
> wood has been soaked... except for the small amount that Sr. Guide
> provided. "Boys you gotta be Ready"
>
> Everything was done on a positive and uplifting note. I was privileged
> to serve as Sr. Guide and to share in many of the classes as well as in
> the camps helping make and tie and working right along with the patrols.
> We had a great time of fellowship and fun and learned alot.
>
> It is always a blessing to me to see the Staff working behind the sceens
> to make these events work. Without their faithful preparation and
> dilligent work it wouldn't be possible to do what it takes in our fine
> Ministry of Royal Rangers. Thank you everyone of you for serving in the
> many many niches in the Royal Ranger Minstry. Each one doing their part
> makes the wheel roll in the right direction.
>
> While I Sr. Guide was in the patrol camp doing what I was suppose to be
> doing, the Camp Commander came by and said "Hey Sr. Guide what is
> that?", pointing in the middle of a puddle of water. I said "where"
> looking closer... "a piece of grass"... "no that" as he bent a bit closer
> and pointing drawing me in... I said as I bent down a bit closer " a
> stick", "no there" and then he stomped in the water and soaked
> me....heheehee.
> The rest of the camp had fun with that one all day long. I was given the
> patrol flag signed by the staff that was there and it was presented as;
> To GRIN! Keep on grining! God is good all the time!
>
> God Bless you all.
> I love Royal Rangers!
> Mark Jones, just a sinner saved by the Blood of Christ and kept by the
> Grand Grace of God.
>
> Mark Jones, Ozark MO, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Download a Free Royal Ranger
> Database visit my website at: http://home1.gte.net/mjones02/index.html
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
> Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
> Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
> _______
> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC!
> http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_______
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC!
http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
