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229th Scout Troop 2001 Winter Camp
Day 1, Saturday 22nd December
Today began
with a slow wake of scouts wading through their morning fatigue across ManSang's
sports ground at 0900 hours. It may have been too early but we began anyway,
unpacking our rusty camping equipment, unused for the past half year. The troop
checked the stuff a week ago, so it should be fine. Cubs began pouring into
the warm bus as we mingled in the freezing cold packing the tents, gas and cook
sets. Through one hour and a little bit more, we were finished (tired and exhausted)
we boarded the bus and began our tinned
sardine experience.
Finally, after numerous bumps, we reached the campsite's boundary. There was still 'some way' uphill. So we trudged up and up and up. It wasn't so hot now but the blistering winds bit into our sweat and we felt cold. Feeling the need to exert myself more, I decided to run down again -yes, run down the steep hill again to pick up our troop's lunch:
Corn was obviously not the issue as everyone was hammering tent pegs into the ground. Our PL's and APL's were instructing the new scouts and elite cub scouts the art of tent pitching.
Still
on the subject of pitching tents, we found the ground here to be exceptionally
soft and tent peg friendly. It was therefor decided, on behalf of resource-saving,
that offerings and sacrifice of cow would not be necessary this time for the God
of Hammering:
During that time, the cubs were busily preparing our lunch -which was probably this camp's most satisfying meal, including the leftover starchmeal of course. As the camp neared it's completion, the odors of grilled meat caroused across the site. People peered across the field to the BBQ stoves... where I was, photographing the contents of the stoves and the wholehearted participation of instructors and young people in the barbecuing process:
The smoldering yams and honey coated meats soon attracted many of the scouts who joined in the feast consumption and preparation, almost overtaking the progress of the younger cub members. The tents were pitched now at about 1200 hours:
I
got round to the formal business of the troop's flag pole.
Constructed of two long bamboo poles tied down with guys and tent pegs, it stood
firm against the gentle winter breeze. The camp had just begun!
Scouts who pursued the Voyager badge embarked immediately after the flag raising
ceremony to trek to some faraway place. Others
remained to host activities, clean up and play.
The early afternoon went well and apart from a few casualties from mugger attacks, we were happy and well.
The SPLs
got together to maintain the senior cubs' knotting skills whilst some other
scouts started to host their activities; Cat n' Mouse, PL Ball... just to name
a few. The afternoon was fast over when the cold of sundown set in. The instructors
began to light the new oil lamps and they reheated
the barbecue stove to begin their private hotpot dinner. I had serious problems
as darkness enclosed the campsite. Firstly, I was freezing, secondly, I had
precious little battery power to save -so I decided I would take only a few
photos of the night scene. This was also to reduce irritation of flash blindness.
With the new lamps lit, the scouts gathered together to cook dinner.
It was freezing that night, as forecasted by the observation centers of Hong Kong. I wore gloves but soon discarded them as I realized that they only made my fingers colder. Numb from the biting cold, I spent the rest of the night in front of a smoldering barbecue stove warming myself, admiring nature in a lonely way. 1900 hours and no news of the trekkers still. Even the cubs had had their fill and were prepping for their nightwalk.
After the long, lingering dinner, scouts gathered around a lamp and listened to some 'music'. It was not quite the same without the ol' DJ but it was OK I guess. The night grew colder and it was great to be huddled around a warm lamp. I, quite mad from the cold began telling a few scouts the Santa Claus story. It proved quite popular and surprised a couple of people. It was my highlight that night, before the ordeal of sleeping outside in freezing cold weather. I must say though, it was almost the same as sleeping indoors as long as you covered your head.
Don't worry, more photos next page > > >