Backbone State Park, October 2011

We had great weather for our campout at Backbone State Park We camped with Troops 44 and 51. The plan - rock climbing and rapelling. Sounds like a great weekend!

It was a little over an hour drive, so it was dark when we arrived at our camp site. Good think we have set up in the dark before.

Setting up in the dark is always a challenge.

The next morning was a bright sunny day. Getting ready for breakfast.

The scouts some logs while we waited to leave.

The scouts found some logs while we waited to leave.

Our gear

The rock wall

Dave goes over the equipment and all safety procedures with the scouts and adults.

The hike to the top

Got a little steep at the top.

Dave and Brett set up the climbing lines and explain all of the safety measures.

One rope secured around a tree as an anchor.

Dave goes over the rapelling rope and safety measures.

A last review of the ropes and releases.

Noah puts on the harness, hat and glovess

Nick demonstrates his belaying technique.

Caleb shows his rapelling technique

The face looks even taller from the top..

Ben starts rock climbing on a different face

Ben nears the top

Adam has a very important job as the belayer.

Tristan rapels for the first time.

Nice form

Daniel starts his climb.

While we were climbing, overhead soars a Bald Eagle.

A really magnificent bird

While waiting, some scouts play football.

Tim starts down.

Not a hint of hesitation.

Noah rapelling

Showing his form

Parker on the climbing face

He made it look easy.

Blake just crossed over to the Troop 2 days ago. This is his first campout.

Having never rapelled before, he looks like a pro!

How sweet is this for a first campout?

Ben has fun rapelling.

Having done this before, he makes it look easy.

Even the adults got in on the fun.

Mark descends.

Until today, Mike had never rapelled. He thought it was amazing!

His wife watched, but we couldn't get her to try it. Maybe next time.

Tim and his son just joined our Troop 2 days ago. Tim has fun rapelling.

Tim has done a lot of rapelling and made it look easy.

This was a really fun face to rapel. There was a nice lip to walk down. A long face to rapel and areas you could free rapel if you wanted to.

What a great time!

After we finished climbing and rapelling, we hiked part of the trail.

It's a really nice trail.

The scouts found a fun area.

Lots of great views.

The scouts that went camping

We had a great turnout of scouts and scouters

While some of the scouts are cooking supper, others enjoy the fire.

rarely is there a campout without a fire.

After the meal, its time to clean plates, dutch ovens and all gear at the wash station.