Local Scouts spending time "roughing it"

Noreen Hyslop photo Members of Boy Scout Troop 200, along with four area leaders, took off last week for the mountains of New Mexico for a wilderness hike through a rugged area called The Double H. Packed up and ready to roll in a van supplied by Bud Shell Ford, are (from left) Leaders James Harrellson, Kyle Gillespie, Steven Ulm, Steven Kent, Ben Rodgers, Tyler Gillespie, Jacob Reeves, Mark Plummer, Landon Hall, and Leaders Bruce Plummer and Randy Graves. Standing in back are Greg Ulm and Caleb Johns. In the front are Ryan Bagby, Brian Mitchell and Steven Harrellson. The group will be returning from their backpacking adventure on Sunday.

When Torstenson died in 2002, he left a wish for a portion of his estate, the Double H, to be left to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) with the purpose of providing a youth program through the Philmont Scout Ranch. As a result of Torstenson's generous donation, The Double H High Adventure Base is now a partnership between the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America and last week the twelve area Boy Scouts, along with four devoted leaders, departed Dexter, headed for a wilderness adventure on the Double H.

The expanse of the Double H is located southwest of Albuquerque, surrounded by the Cibola National Forest and has no established trail system.

"It is a rugged southwestern experience covering over 100,000 acres and elevations of over 7,000 feet," says Troop 200 Scoutmaster Bob Martin of Dexter.

The Double H has a unique history of ancient Indian and Spanish conquistadors who explored the area long before the first colonists arrived. The area is a haven for wildlife, with deer, elk, coyote, antelope, mountain lion, buffalo, wild turkey and bear among its inhabitants.

The local Scouts will be taking part in a rugged hiking experience at the Double H. Along the way, they will be provided with programs that will challenge their survival skills and will provide education in the fields of astronomy and geo-caching. The Scouts will also be afforded an opportunity to shoot state-of-the art black powder, and try their hand at 3-D Archery.

The Scouts are granted their own wilderness guide on their trek across the Double H and that person is well-equipped, Martin explains, in guiding the crew on their journey.

"Each guide is carefully selected and trained," says Martin. "Scouting spirit, knowledge of camping skills, a keen interest in their respective program specialties and a love for the land make the staff dedicated to seeing that the boys and their leaders experience a rewarding and memorable journey."

The Dexter crew arrives with considerable hiking and camping experience under their Scouting belts. All have been on previous excursions, many of which were physically demanding and all which lacked the comforts of home.

"There will be no hot showers at the Double H," Martin notes, "and no computers or televisions. The Scouts will set up their own campsites and participate in a cross country utilizing the Leave No Trace Principles, which translates into the boys leaving their campsites exactly as found them, hiding any evidence of the group having spent the night. The Double H has no designated trails or camping sites and one of the primary goals of the RMEF and the Boy Scouts of America organization is to maintain the area in its raw state.

"It promises to be quite an adventure for the boys," Martin assures. "We look forward to their safe return and know that they will have many tales to tell of their adventure when they arrive back home."