Camp Meriwether 2015

Camp Meriwether Gallery

Winter Camping 2014

Winter Camp 2014
Two scouts went on the winter camp again this year.   Great weather, but snow conditions weren't perfect.   We had to dig through an ice layer about 16" down that made snow blocks more of a challenge to produce. We ate really well and of course, managed to stay warm.   Doesn't get better than this.

Camp Sheppard

   

The troop went up to Chief Seattle Council's Camp Sheppard this past weekend.   Camp Sheppard is about 25 miles outside of Enumclaw.   Although Mt. Rainer was not visible from camp, the mountains surrounding were quite stunning.

Webelos at Black Mountain

The webelos from Pack 178 came up for the weekend with us to stay at Ershigs Lodge - Black Mountain scout camp.    We retired approximately 9 worn and tattered US flags.   Weather was in the low 30's, cold, but no rain or snow.    The lodge had a wood stove that we kept fired up for the weekend.   It was a great place to stay.

Ryan's Eagle Project

The troop camped at the new Arlington campground for Ryan's third Eagle Project work weekend.   Ryan's Eagle project consists of building markers and staging them for the first 12 camp sites along with the construction of a sign at the entrance to the Camp.   Rain was a constant threat but the weather favored us and resisted the urge to dump until after we were in bed.

Spider Meadow Back Pack Trip

 Spider Meadow Back Pack Trip 2012 from Kurt Haunreiter on Vimeo.


The troop hiked to Spider Meadow this past Saturday, spending one night, then returning the following day.   The hike was 5.5 miles to the edge of the meadow.   It wandered through a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and  ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest starting at the 3500' elevation.  

  At about 2.75 miles, we reached the Glacier Peak Wilderness.   Here you begin to find aster (Aster ledophyllus) growing along the trails.   After 5.5 miles of hiking, you reach the basin at 4750'.    Along the slopes climbing to the peaks of the mountains, you see subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa).    Snow persisted in the shadows of the peaks.  Visible are the avalanche chutes and the destruction that they created in the valley below. 

The trail up to the meadow is very dusty.   The dust is the ash from former eruptions of Glacier peak.   There are several established camp sites to stay in.   One of which is a designated horse camp.    The meadow stretches for nearly a mile so there is plenty of room.   Trails criss cross the valley and a few the forest service has marked off in an attempt to return those to nature - we attempted to improve the barriers to these areas, but still observed hikers stop, read the signs, and promptly ignore them.
The creek running off the glaciers is cool and clear, having a wonderful flavor.    I definitely plan to return for an extended stay and hike up to spider gap and perhaps even to Lyman lakes.
Directions: drive Highway 2 about 20 miles east of Stevens Pass to Coles Corner and turn north onto Lake Wenatchee Road (SR 207). Cross the Wenatchee River Bridge and stay right as the road splits onto the Chiwawa Loop Road. Turn left onto Chiwawa River Road (FR 62), drive 22 miles and turn right onto Phelps Creek Road (FS 6211). Note:  The last 10 miles of this road will test the shocks on your vehicle and cover it in many layers of dust.

Thunder Creek Hike

Scouts hiked up Thunder Creek from Colonial Creek Campground on Lake Diablo in the North Cascades.  The total distance round trip was 4 miles.   The group camp just on the other side of the bridge had four cleared areas for tents and an established fire pit.   Weather was in the mid 70's on Saturday.  This cooled down on Sunday and threatened rain.   However we lucked out and rain didn't hit until we'd loaded the last pack into the truck.  Mosquitos were a nuissance - just kept telling myself that I've camped in Indian Heaven and survived much worse.   Key was to keep moving.   Scouts worked on advancement and cooling off in the creek.   Overall this was a good hike for the new scouts.

Fort Worden 2012

Fort Casey 2012

Fire Mountain Scout Camp - Webelos

Camp Black Mountain

2011 Summer Camp - Fire Mountain

The scouts arrived at summer camp and proceeded to check-in, unload gear, complete their swim tests and receive a tour of the camp before dinner.    During the week they completed the requirements for the Baden Powell Honor Troop award.    They competed in the Lake Challenge challenge and a skills foot race, and took part in the Polar Bear swim.
I was researching a little about the Fire Mountain scout camp and came across a reference to a cousin of mine that lives here in Everett.    Below is the entire caption;

How did Fire Mountain get its' name?

The Native American word "cultus" means "bad, useless, of little value." The Natives considered the mountain a bad useless place because of the eeriness of the Devil's Garden area and the long history of natural fires. These fires, started by lightning, smoldered on the mountain from time to time, occasionally breaking into major blazes to be seen for miles. The last major fire was in 1955. The fire wiped out the entire logging operation on the mountain. The scar of this fire can still be seen today. 

In 1971 when the council obtained the property at the foot of the mountain a contest was held to find a suitable name for the new camp. Bob Overstreet was a Scouter in 1971, but in 1955 he was a fire fighter on Mount Cultus. He knew the history of the mountain and the Native American meaning of cultus. Putting these two together he suggested Fire Mountain.

Boulder River Campout

Hiked approximately 4.0 miles to the first camp site along the Boulder River.  Rain threatened and the trail was muddy in spots, but over-all was a fairly dry weekend.

GPS

Latitude: N 48°14.417' (48°14'25.0")

Longitude: W 121°49.366' (121°49'22.0")

Altitude: 290.00m

   

Ape Cave Trip - Mt. St. Helens

Steven's Pass - Mountaineers Lodge

Lake Ross Canoe Trip

Meriwether 3

Troop 81 won the sand castle contest with their rendition of the Camp Meriwether crest. We were the only troop to make something other than a castle.

Meriwether 2

Adrian took archery merit badge. Here he is making his bow string. Adrian was able to qualify, shooting 156 points with five arrows left. Asked him what his favorite thing about summer camp - Archery.

Meriwether 1

I believe the last trip I took to Camp Meriwether, Oregon as a summer camp was 1982. This year I went with Troop 81 out of North Lakewood, WA. This was my son's first summer camp and was especially nice as my father (former Scout master of troop 565 for 22 years) was able to stay the week with us. A second plus was that my former troop was also spending the week there.

A lot has changed in 28 years - new lodge, Pine Ridge has trees now, Sunset trail camp is gone, and hot showers.

Lake Dorothy - final set