What was your favorite trip

[lawnmowwer]

Mine was Philmont Scout Ranch. Ten days of crosscountry packing with 8 resonsible young Men.  Some incredible views. The best was went one of the Scouts was ill and the rest of them voted (in the blink of a eye) to wait to see if He got better. This with the knowledge that We would be doing a 10 mile and a 14 mile day back to back. On the 14er We started up Baldy 3.5 miles with 3200 feet gross elevation climb just after breakfast. Philmont Staff got our missing Guy (He had signs of a pendicidus and was trucked back to basecamp) back in a couple of days for a heart felt reunion, and all was well.

[ridgewalker]

The most glorious was High Divide/Seven Lakes Basin in Olympic National Park. But my most remarkable was a solo trip to Gregory Bald via Twentymile a couple of years back. It was one of those trips where everything went right. I'm reluctant to do that trip again because I'm sure I would be disappointed.

[lawnmowwer]

Cool Man. I understand trying to save a great memory. I have many trips that standout, but Philmont is alone. Those young men just worked together, took responsiblity, and everything worked. Not to say there weren't problems they just steeped up and did what needed to be done. Ex. we spent half a day in creative exploration due to the fact We (me included) forgot the elevation line were 100' and kept walking up to cliffs We couldn't climb, and about 5 days in were almost hit by lightening( close enough that pieces of the tree hit were on my backpack) when it wasn't even raining.

[Lesley]

My favorite trip is both the best and worst trip I've ever been on.  I was a kid and my parents took the family to Telico TN for some car camping.  We found our spot near a stream and I went off like a wild thing while my parents did the work.  The first couple days were nice, but cold and no sunshine. The hiking and coca kept me warm, as did my mother's flannel layers. The second night in disaster struck in the second coming of Noah's flood. I woke up soaked and with my clothes and sleeping bag floating around me while a small river ran under the tent.  We slept in the car the rest of the night to wait out the rainstorm.  The next day was twice as cold as it had been previously and very damp. The cold wet air from the nearby stream blew in occasionally to deepen our misery.
As my parents were breaking camp they needed to get me out of the way, and keep me from complaining, so my dad asked if I wanted some coca.  He went to get it out of the cooler only to find the cooler had flooded too. All the food was soaked. He boiled some water and asked if I wanted a hot coke instead. Anything would have worked for me at this point. However all he did was take the cold coke and pour it in the hot water. I tried it but it was not at all the warm comfort I wanted. We drove home (Atlanta at the time) and I figured the rest of vacation would be spent at home, we still had four days. But we hadn't been home two hours and my mom told me to repack. ?!?
We got back in the car and headed for DeSoto State Park in Alabama. Since all our gear was wet we had to rent a cabin, but at that point I don't think anyone cared. Mom took us hiking all over the park. My little eight year old legs were never so tired. But many discoveries were made: birds nests, salamanders, real reasons for why the leaves change with seasons, and my favorite was when we came to a brisk little mountain stream and Mom filled up the water bottle, impervious to the threat of giardia.  That was the best water I've had in my life, and I do believe it spoiled me from then on.  I go to DeSoto about once a year now just to breathe that same air and pretend I'm eight again.

[Cuffs]

Thats easy, 12 days on a thru hike of the Pinhoti.  Im sure that will be topped by my'09 thru of the AT tho.

[Lostsheep]

Lawnmower, I'm with you. I would have to say one of my most favorite trips was at the Philmont Scout Ranch in '96. I was 14. That trip made me grow up, and taught me how to depend on others just as much as myself. It was a chance for me to see a very beautiful area, be with some awesom guys, and be held accountable for myself and my team.

I really look forward to going back as an assistant scoutmaster in the years to come. Definitly worth another trip.