Late last month, members of Troop 3 Scouts and their families all gathered at the delightful Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) lodge in Alexandria, NH for a weekend of fun that has become an annual tradition.
A critical component of this tradition is the Saturday hike of Mount Cardigan by scouts, parents, and sometimes even siblings. However, this important tradition would not have been made possible without the fundraisers that happen throughout the year, such as the
beach parking fundraiser and the annual Christmas tree and wreath sales, which are going on now through December 15th.
The Saturday morning hike started after scouts and families enjoyed a delicious, energy-filled breakfast prepared and served by scouts. Hiking the 3,155 feet mountain was quite an adventure. While the base of the mountain was covered in slick leaves as it had finally rained the day prior, this changed as the hikers climbed higher.
As the scouts approached the summit, they were met with snowy trails which made orienteering much harder since many of the trail blazes were covered in snow. Just before the summit, hikers ate their pre-packed lunches which were much needed to stay warm. The hikers layered up and put on their microspikes to prepare for the final climb to the summit. The top of Mount Cardigan is a bare rock face with ice and snow, so the 40 mile per hour winds proved to be a challenge. Fortunately, everybody slowly advanced and once all hikers made it to the top, they gathered underneath the fire tower for wind protection and a group photo.
One scout described feeling like a ragdoll when getting blown around in the winds. However, the feeling of standing at the top
of Mount Cardigan was incredible, as were the views. It was many of the scout’s first-time hiking Cardigan, and it won’t be their last or soon forgotten.
The scouts carefully descended with no issues, and after a round-trip total time of four and a half hours, the scouts and adults enjoyed homemade, hot chicken noodle soup and nachos, thanks to Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Donohoe. Later on in the night, scouts served spaghetti with meatballs, salad, and fresh delicious bread prepared by Mr. Kehoe. For dessert, they had apple crisp with fresh apples that were from a local orchard. Scouts and families spent the rest of the evening playing games, one of which was the annual Binsky-Winksy Cribbage Tournament. Saskia Kuehnemund and Ms. Wynne faced off in the finals with a friendly and competitive victory by Ms. Wynne.
After a restful night, the scouts prepared, served, and enjoyed fresh blueberry muffins, breakfast sandwiches, and a delicious fruit salad, then headed back to Manchester, Essex, Gloucester, and Beverly to their homes after another amazing stay at the AMC Cardigan Lodge.
Whether it was someone’s first time attending the Cardigan AMC or their tenth time, this year’s trip proved to be another unforgettable and enjoyable experience for all who attended.
Adelaide Hall is a Tenderfoot Rank Scout of Troop 3
