The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1913-07-27
TROOP ASS SCRIBE
DESCRIBES HIKE"
Stiff Climb and Other Difficulties
Made Trip Memorable to
Those Who Went.
By NORMAN KALETSKI,
Acting Scribe of Troop "a.

Troop % has participated in number
of excellent hikes under the direction
o. Scoutmaster Filkins. and the boys
are proud of our records in these
tramps. Many of the members are ex-
pert in taking care OF themselves on
these long traplps. one of which eX-
ceeded twenty miles.
This particular hike. will be long
remembered by the boys of the troop
for its interest. and the number of
things We did and saw. We left our
headquarters, Epiphany Chapel Twelfth
and streets northeast, at 5 o'clock in
the morning and set ont toward
Georgetown with complete equipment
and in what one might call heavy
marching order.
We went down along the canal. pay
Ing especial attention TO the birds we
saw. AS each member of the party
discovered some new bird he jotted
down its name in our note books, with
q description of the plumage. the sort
os ground it was found in, its habits
as We observed them, and the like. All
OF these matters We intended TO dis
cuss later in connection with our study
of birds
Compelled To Wade Creek.
On reaching the Chain Bridge we
climbed the steep embankment there
and stepped out on to the bridge. Once
on the other side of the river we walk
ed along a footpath to a creek. where
there appeared to be no bridge. and we
were compelled to wade. During this
part of the hike" we found excellent
opportunity for tracking" and carried
on this feature of Boy Scout work for
some time.
This is great fun, many Of the scouts
think, and il is interesting to try to
pick out the different sorts of tracks
one finds along brooks or roads. Often
there are horses or dogs tracks which
are easy to distinguish, but many times
IL requires good deal Of examination
TO make out the marks which indicate
the different animals.
A good place to camp was found not
lar from this creek, and we remained
there for about four hours. Our re-
turn trip was made over a way that
appeared to be shorter than the track
going out, but which proved to be much
harder.
The way was pretty rough at times,
but the boys appeared to enjoy scramb-
ling over rocks or climbing up and
river about 200 feet below the Chain
Bridge, but with high bluff between
us and the approach.
Climbing Abilities Tested.
This part Of our hike proved a test
of the climbing ability of members of
our troop. In some places, climbing
was SO difficult that we were compelled
10 make holes in the ground in which
to put our feet. Up we went, higher
and higher, until about halfway to the
top. By this time the hill became
SO steep that all but the scoutmaster
the assistant scoutmaster and one of
the scouts gave Up the climb and re-
turned to the foot Of the hill These
members of the party reached the
bridge by making a detour around the
hill and coming to the approach BY a
roundabout way.
The last portion of the climb was
really dangerous as a misstep would
nave sent one sprawling into the river
some distsnce below. The three reached
The top at last, but not until their hands
were bleeding with cuts from the rocks
and even their faces from the briars
and the like, through which they had to
climb.
The troop gathered on the bridge and
after short rest, started for home
pretty well tired out Scout Master
Fhkins gave us an opportunity to take
a good swim IN q pond on the way
nome This refreshed us greatly and we
went on our way with renewed spirits
We reached home early in the evening,
wen satisfied with the days outing,
having been out more than twelve hours
ana cover ed long distance.