In Mid-January, seven adventurous Scouts and Scouting mentors took a trip north to Minnesota, where they braved the cold to experience “Northern Tier”, the newest High-Adventure trip offered, and surely one to be remembered. It all started with a three-hour flight from Philadelphia to Minneapolis, and the scouts even managed to get into the Mall of America and ride the rollercoasters before heading to the hotel for the night. The following day they traveled to Base Camp, stopping on the way for some duck wings and burgers at a local restaurant. Then the adventure began, once they got into clothes warmer than the traditional Class A uniforms that they were wearing at the time.
Throughout the long weekend spent there, the Scouts and mentors took part in various activities unlike anything that could be done in Pennsylvania, including dog sledding, which was easily the most exhilarating part of the trip for the Northern Tier crew. They also made holes in the ice to do some fishing, and even slept under the stars in sleeping bags while lying on a frozen lake in frigid -34 degree weather, protecting themselves by building a wall of snow to block the wind. One scout even reported making their own snow from their breath while exhaling as they slept, which is something you would never find Pennsylvania. This did not deter the crew from having a great time. Some of the Scouts want to return to the Northern Tier during the summer months to camp and canoe while exploring the waters and surrounding area, and even being able to capture a glimpse of the northern lights. Others consider the trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and recommend it as an item on every Scout’s bucket list.