The following is transcribed from the log kept by Shannon with other contributors. The original is on file in the troop archives.
July 15, 1994
The trip started when we (Troop 253) left from the Slusser house around 2:00. We drove to Oakdale, at the Hershey factory and got free candy bars. Then we drove along way more and had dinner at Pie in the Sky Pizza. Then we drove to Pinecrest Lake and put our toes in. We finally found our campsite and set up everything. We stayed at Bell Meadow. We saw shooting stars. Then we went to sleep.
P.S.. We also met Dan Dan the Pizza Man who had a huge mustache.
July 16
Today we had our last meal. It was breakfast. After we finished eating, we set off on our 5.5 mile hike. We got to Grouse Lake around noon and had lunch. After lunch we all got on our swim suits and went down to the lake and "bathed". After that we got out and started to soak up the rays (We saw ducks in the lake. Ducklings too.) Then a few of us went fishing. Yaaa! We caught 7 fish, Anna caught 2 (a Rainbow and a Golden trout), Tina caught 2 Golden, Julie caught 2 Golden, and Shannon caught one Golden trout. Chrissy helped pull ALL the fish out of the water with bare hands! We cleaned them and cooked them up! Yum Yum!
P.S. Chrissy was our first trail leader today!
July 17, 1994
Today we hiked hard, we climbed over a thousand feet in elevation! We had to climb many, many stairs! We hiked 5 miles today, mostly uphill! Courtney was our trail leader and set a good pace. We had lunch at Piute Lake and took a long rest, then we were off again. Chrissy and Larissa sat down at every single break, but they can pop right back up! We finally got to Gem Lake and went wading, then we voted to stay at Gem Lake, not to hike to Jewelry. We set up shelters, thinking it might rain, luckily it didn't. We had beef stroganoff for dinner, not everyone's favorite. We had a campfire and sang songs then to sleep.
LAYOVER!
July 18, 1994
Today we got a break and we didn't have to hike yeah! We kind of got to sleep in but, the sun still woke us up. A group of us went on a day hike (without our packs) up to Jewelry Lake. It was easy, only 1/2 there and 1/2 mile back, boy was it worth it! It was beautiful!! Some other girls and leaders climbed to the top of a big cliff, that was easy climbing. Then we all had lunch, gorp and jerky. Then we took a dip in the lake to cool off and cleanup. Then we washed clothes and our hair. Nice and clean! Then, in a hurry we made sure our shelters were up and tight. We also covered our packs. We heard thunder and saw a little lightning then it rained for a little while, yuck! Now, Julie's braiding Tina's hair and we're hoping the rain doesn't come back!
P.S. Mr. Slusser caught one rainbow trout!
P.P.S Mrs. Jorgensen took a picture of Courtney and others, Courtney thought the flash was lightning. Now Courtney's trail name is Lightning.
The sign we saw by the cabin!
Be Happy!
Don't Worry!
July 19, 1994
Today we woke up bright and early, around 5:30 to 6:00. We packed up all our stuff, ate breakfast cleaned up our campsite and we're on the trail at 9:00. Then we hiked 6 miles to Yellowhammer Lake. We passed by Wood Lake, Karls Lake, and Leighton Lake. Half of our trip was cross country, with trail markers (ducks) the whole way. We arrived at Yellowhammer around 5:30 and washed up, cooked dinner, set up campsite and had a campfire and went to bed.
P.S. Emily was trail leader today.
LAYOVER DAY!
July 20, 1994
Today we had a layover day at Yellowhammer Lake. We went "bathing" in the shallow pond, near the lake where there was tadpoles that we played with. We also laid out, washed clothes, went hiking. Two of the leaders and two girls went to scout out the path to the next lake, Big Lake. They went fishing and returned in the early afternoon. The other leaders and girls stayed behind and relaxed. In the afternoon everyone washed and French braided their hair for a photo shoot. We topped off the day with dinner, a beautiful sunset and warm campfire. Mr. Slusser caught two fish which we cooked over the campfire.
P.S. Mr. Slusser caught two fish yum yum!
YELLOW HAMMER TO ROSASCO LAKE
July 21, 1994
Today we got off to a semi-late start. Larissa was our trail leader for today. We only had 3 miles to go, but it was almost all cross country. There was a lot of loose rocks. Around 12:00 PM is when it happened. I (Shannon) slipped on a loose rock and fell and hit my mouth/chin on a rock. My mouth/chin was bleeding and in pain! The leaders dashed to my rescue. I had a pretty deep cut right below my lip, plus a bunch of scratches on my chin and a lip that looked like I was in a boxing match. Mr. Slusser fixed me all up, then we made sure I was O.K. and we were off again. We made it to Rosasco Lake. We got rained on for about a half hour. Then Julie and I rested while others fished, later we moved across the lake and set up camp. We had dinner then I tried to sleep while others fished. Anna caught a huge 14 inch Rainbow trout! Over one pound! Courtney and Emily caught two rainbow's Mr. Slusser caught three fish.
GROUSE LAKE (AGAIN)
July 22, 1994
Today we hiked from Rosasco to Grouse Lake. Tina was our trail leader. It was an easy hike with almost all downhill. The only hard thing about the hike was the beginning which had tons of loose rocks. We were lucky that no one slipped. Unfortunately, while crossing a creek, poor, unlucky Shannon slipped again. Luckily she only got a scraped elbow. After the creek there was a short uphill and then it was flat for a long time. We had lunch (gorp and freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches) and then hit the dusty, but easy trail. Soon we got to Grouse Lake. We are staying at the same campsite.
P.S. Tonight we have Scouts Own.
This morning while we were at Rosasco Lake Chrissy caught a 12 3/4 inch Rainbow trout. Unfortunately, since she caught it in the morning, she had to carry it all the way to Grouse Lake. When we got there Emily, Meghan, and Courtney decided to fish across the lake. It was the perfect spot. All together we caught 4. The first one was too small so we threw it back. The second and third we gutted and kept. The last one got gutted but while being washed, sank to the bottom. Emily tried to save it so she jumped in. Meghan had fallen in when she slipped on the rocks. After the final cast the hook got caught on the bottom and part of the pole began to slip down the line. Courtney had to jump in twice to get it. So when the three returned back to camp they had been drenched. All in all it was a very fun day.
P.P.S. After dinner we saw cows roaming near our campsite.
For Scouts own we went to a nice place near Grouse Lake. We talked about the trip and sang two songs. Emily made ankle bracelets for us and zipper pulls for the leaders. This is carrying on the tradition. The leaders also got thank-you cards. After, we sang by the campfire and had s'mores!
P.P.P.S.
During campfire we all started a craving to go home. Because of this we made up a song. This song is to the tune of the song "Linger".
*) Mmmm, As the years go by
We'll all look back and sigh
And see how dirty we all were
1) Mmmm, I want a shower
I want a shave
I want to wash my hair real good.
2) Mmmm, I want to wash my face
I want some real tooth paste
So that my teeth don't taste like paste
3) Mmmm, I want to fish some more
Instead of using the store
And cook them over our open fire
4) Mmmm, I'm finally potty trained
It was such a pain
All those times they had to watch **
5) Mmmm, I want nice soft bed
Where I can rest my head
And I can sleep like I am dead
6) Mmmm, I'm sick of using BIFs
It always runs off cliffs
And makes big lakes and logs at the bottom
7) Mmmm, I'm sick of mosquitoes
They always bite my toes
And sometimes even get my nose
8) Mmmm, I want a chocolate shake
Instead of food that's fake
And have a nice big slice of pizza
9) Mmmm, I want a choice of clothes
Instead of the some old thing
They get real gross after a while
10) Mmmm, Our stomachs' really ache
Because we drank from lakes
With all the bugs and snails and snakes
11) Mmmm, Because of iodine
Our stomachs' don;t feel fine
We'd rather go out and dine
12) Mmmm, Courtny's clothes don't clash
Her nick name is flash
And ...(yet to be finished)
** We had a strange experience on this years 30 where we had to be potty trained because there was a large amount of un buried TP - So the leaders had to go up with the scouts and watch us dig and bury the hole