A great week of hiking through the hills surrounding Goshen Scout Reservation.

Day 1 - Departure - We depart Dranesville UMC on the morning of 11 Jul and drive to Goshen.  We're met by the camp staff and set up tents at Campsite 6 -- but first a backpack check to make sure we have what we need and get rid of things we don't need.  Next came an orientation on the week ahead, med checks, flag ceremony, dinner, and the opening campfire.

Gathering at the church . . . ready to go

Healthy lunch on the road.

We arrive . . .

Backpack checks                                                  Waiting for medical checks

Flag ceremony                                       Dinner with "mystery meat"

Campsite at Camp Baird . . . the first night

Day 2 - The rain has stopped and we're packing up to hit the trail.  Departing Camp Baird, we head for our first outpost, Native American.  Along the way, we enjoy our first trail lunch -- Slim Jims, peanuts, and fruit snacks.  At the outpost we work on our service project -- helping to build a long house.  Activities at the outpost include bow & arrow shooting and tomahawk throwing

Breaking camp.  Almost ready to begin the adventure.

Out on the trail . . . crossing the bridge at the headwaters of Lake Merriwether

The lake

On the trail

First outpost . . . Native American . . . building a long house

A little rain does not dampen 1018 spirits

The site guide, Alex, explains the bow.

Robert shows fine style in the art of tomahawk throwing

Day 3 - We departed the outpost en route to our next stop, Foxfire.  Along the way we manage to hit almost every trading post at Goshen.  Foxfire is named after the book series and recreates some of the activities of early 20th century rural America.  We do some blacksmithing, make bullets and candles.

Stopping at the Camp Olmstead trading post

Crossing the dam

Lake Merriwether

Our second outpost -- Foxfire

Making musket balls

Day 4 - We depart Foxfire en route to our next outpost -- Lumberjack.  What a great bunch of activities:  throwing the double bladed axe, tree climbing, and log sawing. 

Robert enjoys a pancake

On the trail again, it's "Rest Stop", "Sweet Tart", "Bubba Gump", "Infra-Pink", "Ger-Bear", "Tribble", "Dad", and "Beast".  "Scruff McGruff" took the picture.

Our third outpost -- Lumberjack

Who are these guys?                                                                    Tree climbing

Day 5 - A big day of hiking for us.  This is our "primitive" camping night where we select the campsite.  We found a great spot just off a trail not too far from Viewing Rock.  We set up camp and left our packs as we hiked up to Viewing Rock and on to Jump Rock -- each had magnificent views. 

Rest break on the trail.

The panorama from "Viewing Rock"

At "Jump Rock"

Setting up camp at our "primitive campsite"

Day 6 - The now-seasoned campers head off to their last outpost -- "Mountain Man" -- where the activities include tomahawk throwing, a demo on trapping, black powder rifle shooting, and a sweat lodge.

Our fourth outpost . . . "Mountain Man" -- shooting a black powder rifle and throwing the tomahawk

The campsite at the "Mountain Man" outpost

Day 7 - The adventure is almost over.  We hike back to Camp Baird and leave our packs in the cars.  Then it's time to head out for a little fun, swimming in the Maury River at Goshen Gap, a couple miles south of the camp.  We made a stop at the swinging bridge, a suspension bridge over the Maury River.  Then, we snuck off to the Tastee Freeze for some real, honest-to-goodness NON-trail food.  Ice cream has never tasted so good.  Back at Baird we set up camp for the last time and participated in religious services.  The evening ended with a "campfire" -- moved to the dining pavilion because of the rain.  The "Lenhoksin Reality TV" skit was a big hit.  We're presented the Lenhok'sin "Trailblazer Award" for having completed a long list of activities throughout the week including at least 20 miles of hiking (we did about 25), climbing two peaks (Viewing Rock & Jump Rock), participating in a service project, and practicing the guidelines of "leave no trace" camping.

On the Maury River -- Goshen Gap

Swinging bridge

On Day 8, it's time to leave.  We're up by 5:30, break camp, and, after a breakfast of coffee cake provided by the camp, we're on the road heading for home.  During the week we hiked over 25 miles, had a great time, enjoyed the experiences of the outposts, and enjoyed the satisfaction that comes from living with what you carry on your back.  Another 1018 high adventure experience is history!

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