Eagle scouts head for Canada canoe trip

Statesman Staff Writer

Spending eight days in the Canadian wilderness with no contact with civilization definitely isn't most people's idea of fun. But then again, most people aren't Boy Scouts.

On Saturday morning, a group of 11 Boy Scouts from Troop 200 and five adult chaperones left Dexter to embark on a trip that will take them 100 miles through that wilderness, beginning in Ely, Minn., and ending in Atikokan, Ontario, Canada.

For eight days they will paddle their canoes in the Boundary Waters area of Quetico Provincial Park near the Great Lakes, covering over 10 miles each day and taking in the sights.

"We'll be a hundred miles from the nearest town," said Scoutmaster Bob Martin. "We're going to be out in the middle of nowhere."

The group will be split into two parties of eight, each of which will have to lug its own equipment over land in addition to canoeing.

"They're going to learn self-reliance," Martin said, "because we have to take everything with us."

The area features thousands of miles of undeveloped wilderness, giving the Scouts a chance to observe wildlife and geological features in an unspoiled setting.

Some of the wildlife the group might encounter includes gray wolves, bears, bald eagles and moose -- mostly creatures they could never see at home in southeast Missouri.

The Scouts will also have opportunities to explore the woods and view ancient Native American pictographs and sunken barges used in the 1800s for logging, said Martin.

A lot of work has been put into preparing the Scouts for such a large undertaking.

"We had what we call shakedown trips to Wappapello," said Martin, "where we would take canoes up there and give the boys an idea what it's like to canoe 10 to 12 miles a day."

The Scouts range in age from 13-17 years old, meaning some are more experienced at such expeditions than others.

David Alsup, a 13-year-old First Class Scout, said he's a little nervous, but he's still looking forward to the trip.

"I think it will just be a fun time," said Alsup. "It could be cold, but that's why we pack a lot of clothes."

One of the toughest parts about the trip was getting everything packed, said Alsup, as each Scout has to be sure to take enough supplies to last the full ten days.

But the group will be ready for just about anything that comes their way, said Steve Ulm, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout. As a more experienced Scout who has been on long wilderness journeys before, he'll be charged with helping the less experienced boys learn the ropes.

"We're ready to hit the thing head on and take whatever is thrown at us, basically," said Ulm. "I think all the kids can take it. We're 100 percent ready for this."

The Scouts got a little extra preparation on one of their trips to Wappapello when they had to weather a rather large storm.

"We went through a really big storm there where the canoes were being tipped over," said Ulm.

Ulm said he sees a lot of lessons the Scouts, both young and old, can take from the experience.

"I feel it will teach us how to be a leader and how to help other people," said Ulm. "And it will teach you how to keep a cool head."

Troop 200 will be returning from its trip on July 30.

Matt Sanders may be reached via email at msanders@dailystatesman.com