On Friday evening 23 Scouts, 7 Scouters and Committee members, 9 parents and 6 siblings headed out for the 4 hour drive to Beckley, West Virginia. We were to be staying at the St. Francis de Sales School Gym, our home-away-from-home for this yearly ski trip. We arrived about 9:30 PM and organized the ladies into their private “suite” (a classroom) and the Scouts and male adults onto the gym floor and the raised theatrical stage.

After settling in we had our briefing meeting to review safety, assign each scout his buddy for the snow sports day, assigned experienced scouts to tag along with the 6 first-time skiers we had on the trip and set up our times for Scouts to check-in with their buddy to the adult in charge. With all the safety stuff done the Scouts settled into a couple of games of basketball (one on each half of the court). Some Scouts were reading,  talking or playing cards. Lights-out was at 11:10 PM.

Saturday morning wake-up came all too quickly at 5:30 AM so we could make our 6:00 AM departure to the WinterPlace ski area 20 minutes away. The plan was to pick up  breakfast on the way. We were sabotaged by BiscuitCity where most of us went for breakfast. It took a half hour in line from first person to last and then time to eat. We were late for  our 7:00 AM check-in appointment at the mountain. No problem, we went through the check-in and equipment rental process without a hitch. Skiers were on the hill by 8:30 AM.

As is our practice each year, Mr. Luke and Mr. Davis took charge of four tables in the lodge with chairs for about 20. This was our base of operations and where the Scouts left their “stuff” during the day and where they could come in and rest from time-to-time. It is also where there was always an adult leader in case a Scout needed help with anything. It is also where they made the frequent announcements like, “Will a leader from the Crossroads Baptist Church group please come to the first aid station?”  These announcements were literally every 5 or 10 minutes, and I held my breath every time the announcer came on. I tell you this not to worry you, but rather to inform you how well your Scouts do because they follow the safety rules. They are outstanding Scouts.

The new skiers were off to ski school at 8:50 AM and 90 minutes later they were ready for the mountain and they were successfully skiing the beginner slopes. I didn’t hear any complaints, they all had a great time.

We had 8 scouts working on their Snow Sports Merit Badge. Mr. De Contreras worked with the Scouts on the written part of the requirements and Mrs. Clemmer worked with the Scouts on the practical ski/snowboard testing part of the requirements. All 8 Scouts passed the practical ski/snowboard part of the requirements and all but one Scout completed the written requirements. So, 7 Scouts earned their Snow Sports Merit Badge. Congratulations!

I’m declaring another injury free ski trip even though one of our Scouts earned a free ride down the mountain in a ski patrol basket because of a forehead cut that he got in a fall unloading from the chair lift.  He got “patched” up in the first aid office (Band-Aid), I was notified to go pick him up at first aid and after a few minutes rest, he was back on the hill  skiing and didn’t come back in for another two hours.

I’m proud of the Scouts who all kept themselves safe by following the rules. The Scouts were all fantastic about keeping with their buddy (a major safety requirement) and checking in at the appointed times. We had one Scout who is new to our troop with us as his first outing with the Troop. Both the Scout and his father said that they were made to feel welcome and that they appreciate how well Troop 216 is organized. I’m proud of all the Scouts who helped our newest Scout feel at home by following the Scout Oath and Law.

We had final check-in at 9:30 PM and all the Scouts, families, and leaders headed back to the gym. We were driving 35 miles per hour on the Interstate because of the snow storm. Yes, that’s the really great news. It snowed Friday and Saturday all day and night. We had great ski/snowboard conditions for the second year in a row. Yea!

Back at the gym, one of the scouts organized the ordering of pizza for the group. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer braved the snow storm to pick up drinks and paper products. Pizza Hut delivered the pizza, that’s the good news. The bad news is that they didn’t get the pizza to us until midnight.  Yes, we were up late again! The Scouts were playing basketball again and some Scouts and adults were in the sack “resting” until the pizza arrived. During the wait several people braved the cold locker rooms to get a nice hot shower. We all felt good after another great ski/snowboard trip.

Sunday morning we got up at 7:00 AM for an 8:00 AM departure. Scouts got up a lot slower today, I think they may have been a “little” tired. We packed up, took out the trash, mopped the gym floor, turned down the thermostat, left the keys and check in the appointed drawer, locked the door and closed the 2006 ski/snowboard trip with our 4 hour drive home, everyone safe and sound!

Bob De Contreras

Scoutmaster
Troop 216