Klondike Derby
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — More than 200 scouts loaded sleds with supplies and took to the woods Saturday for the Moraine Trails Council's annual Klondike Derby at Camp Bucoco.
The event drew participants from 26 Scout troops, including about 220 scouts, according to the council's district executive, Amy Kamis. Participants spent the day competing in various outdoor survival challenges.
“What's unique about the Klondike is we put the Scouts in all these different scenarios,” Kamis explained. “They don't just have to build a fire, they have to build a fire hot enough to boil water and try to do it as quickly as possible.”
The Moraine Trails Council oversees Boy Scouts of America's Washington's Trail District, which includes Butler, Armstrong and Lawrence counties, plus a portion of Westmoreland County.
Scouts from across the district showed up for this year's Klondike Derby. While some treated it as a day-only event, many in attendance braved Friday's frigid temperatures and camped overnight.
Life Scout Braden Callen, 14, of Prospect's Troop 33, said he and several in his troop managed overnight temperatures in the low teens.
“It takes lots of layers and lots of Hot-Hands,” Braden said.
At lunch time, Braden and his troop reflected on the morning's activities. They did well in their fire-building competition, but also looked forward to the day's final activity: a sled race.
Every year, the Klondike Derby's victor claims a trophy that looks like the North Pole, Kamis explained. The troop's name is emblazoned on the trophy, and the Scouts bring it to events with them all year long.
“It's like the Stanley Cup of Scouting,” Kamis said.This year's top honors went to Troop 743 of Lawrence County's Neshannock Township.In addition to its traditional events, new to this year's derby was an event meant to raise awareness for disabilities among the Scouts. The competition involved donning blindfolds to build a stretcher, picking someone up and carrying them to a specific point.First Class Scout Jeffrey Wood, 14, of Herman's Troop 39, said his team didn't find the event too difficult, but it may in part be because they practiced the movement the night before with their eyes shut.A pioneering challenge caused the troop to stumble. Scouts were tasked with retrieving a first aid kit from a distance several yards away using only tools carried on their sled. They tried everything from a lasso to a long pole, but couldn't snag it.“With just a few seconds left, I finally said 'screw it' and tied a block of wood to the pole and dragged it over,” said First Class Scout Ardan Oniboni, 13.Most of the Scouts were relieved to have snow on the ground Saturday.In Troop 39's case, they swapped the wheels on their sled from prior years over to skis.“As long as we have snow to cover the ground, we'll be fine,” Jeffrey said.
