by Graham Nickols
(February 2023) On the top of Mount Baker WA, Troop 574 set out on our annual Snow Cave Practice in preparation for our Snow Cave overnight event. On the overnight, scouts are expected to climb up Mount Baker, spend the day building their snow caves, and then sleep in these said snow caves, before the hike down the following morning. Because of this, the scouts need to know how to properly build one of these constructions beforehand. The Snow Cave Practice serves as this preparation, as well as a fun opportunity for those not attending the Snow Cave Overnight to play around in the snow with the Troop.
On an early February morning, the Troop set out on our drive up to Mount Baker. As we reached closer and closer to our destination, the road, and trees evolved into a winter wonderland, with crisp white snow adorning the topography of the land. After the Troop had gathered their supplies, strapped on their snowshoes, and prepped ourselves for the journey ahead. We set off on the mile-long snowshoeing hike toward our usual digging site.
The hike to our site saw a long line of scouts trekking through the snow, conversing as they did so. After arriving at our destination, the scouts took off their packs of gear and began their excavation of the individual caves, the adults of scouts got to get hands-on as well, joining in some of the work. Once the 5th hour of labor passed, the work was done, and the caves had been made. As to not create sinkholes for hikers or skiers, the Scouts got to participate in the joy of belly-flopping, jumping, or stomping on the top of their caves to collapse their previous construction projects.
Then came time for the troop to head back to our cars for our closing act, Round Table Pizza. Little did we know that there was one more adventure waiting for us. As the troop began to pack their tools and supplies, a dog found its way into our group. Thinking the dog belonged to a group of skiers not too far off from us, the Troop set off back to the cars. Not 300 feet after we left, one adult thought to ask a passer-by if someone anyone had reported a missing dog, which, to the Troop's surprise, someone had. A section of the Troop chose to head back to retrieve the dog, knowing that if left alone to wonder, it might not make it back to its owner. Sure enough, as the Troop reached its former digging site, we spotted the dog walking in the opposite direction. A scout was dispatched, and the dog was quickly reunited with its owners at the parking, who thanked the troop for their actions.