Klondike Derby

The 2005 Klondike Derby was again held at the Walpole Sportsman's Association, January 28-29. The Klondike Derby is a test of Scout skills and endurance. Boy Scouts compete against Boy Scouts, and Webelos Scouts against other Webelos for ribbons and glory. Each patrol or den forms into a "dog sled team" and competes as a separate expedition. Boy Scouts also spend a cold winter night's campout the night before the contests.

The events this year were:
Iditarod (Sled Race) - A patrol musher, a dog sled and a pack of patrol "huskies" race against time.
Snow Snake - From a running start, Scouts throw (slide) a 6-foot long, hand-crafted stick from a starting line into a hard packed snow or ice trough. The farthest gliding throw wins.
Hoop and Spear - Scouts take turns throwing spears through rolling hoops.
2-Man Log Saw - Two patrol members at a time swap off in relay style to saw off the end of a log.
Cross the Creek - Patrols must quickly bring their patrol across a "river" covered with "ice flows" in the shortest time.
Ravine Rescue - Scouts rescue victim from ravine with rope and give first aid.
Snow Shoe Dash - Scouts, wearing homemade snowshoes, sprint a 6 x 20 yard relay, swapping the one pair of snowshoes between patrol members.
'Hawk Throw - Scouts throw "tomahawks" (plastic mallets) to hit hanging milk jugs.
Flint & Steel - Patrols build a fire using sisal rope and spark the fire. Fire burns through a string ,that releases an "egg", that falls into a bucket. Egg is retrieved and then run to the judge.
Turkey Shoot - Scouts take aim with slings at hanging skillets, shooting dried dog food nuggets.
Dan'l Boone Killed a B'ar - Scouts toss a rope over a suspended limb, 20 feet off the ground. Tie the rope to a twenty pound "bear" log using a timber hitch. Haul it into the air and tie it off using a clove hitch.
Attack on Fort Russell - Patrols must race to scale the walls of Fort Russell hauling themselves, sled and gear over the wall.

This year, Troop 10 adults hosted one of the events, "Dan'l Boone Killed a B'ar".

Troop 10 had two patrols participating. And, despite being short of certain gear, they won a total of 6 ribbons (including 3rd place in the overall competition!) from out of the approximately 100 patrols participating from the Seven Rivers District.

Hippo Patrol                        Smokey and the Bandit Patrol
1st place - Iditarod              2nd place - Fort Russell
1st place - D. Boone            3rd place - Snow Snake
1st place - Fort Russell
3rd place - Overall competition