142nd Troop Camp Report 2001 - North Wales

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Wednesday, 1st August

12km Expedition - Day 1

In many respects this was the culmination of all the Tuesday night meetings, as today the Patrols were to test their Scouting Skills, by Backpacking in unfamiliar country.

Individual starting points were identified for each Patrol, who then had to find a suitable route to a camp site (Beddgelert Forest) which had been booked in advance.

Following a good lunch, and having produced route cards and packed all the necessary equipment between them, each Patrol was then taken to their start point.

Seen here is the 'Famous Five' Patrol setting off. (Yes there are more than five of them - but its usually best not to ask how patrol names are decided)

Day one of the hike saw each patrol climb to about 500m as they passed between the higher peaks of Moel Hebog and Y Gyrn to complete the 4km journey to the camp site.

When they finally arrived at the site they discovered luxuries such as a shop, telephones, launderette and Showers, although I suspect the latter two were used less than the first.