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NB scouts were excited about sub-zero temperatures |
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 A group of Boy Scouts from the North Branch area braved the elements a
week ago Saturday night in a lean-to shelter they constructed from
downed trees and a 16 x 20 foot tarp. Were they caught un-prepared in
the minus 45 degree wind chills? No. This was part of an annual winter
event they call a Klondike Derby, held each year near Clear Lake, Wisc.
When he learned that the forecast called for below-zero temps, First
Class Scout Bobby Hill was excited to go and started packing his
cold-weather gear for the weekend. Other scouts in the troop felt the
same way. “We missed earning our Zero-Hero award last year because it
wasn’t cold enough (the overnight low was a balmy 10 degrees above
zero).”
Scout Ian Maki has been chasing this award since he missed it by 2 degrees (the overnight low was 2 above) when he slept outside on a winter camping trip near Ely a couple of years ago.
This time, everything came together including their shelter for the night. “The first absolute requirement is to get out of the wind” said Scoutmaster Todd Maki. “That takes away those dangerous wind chills. After that it gets easier to stay warm, even when it’s 15 below zero.”
For more information about the Boy Scouts of America, visit www.scouting.org.
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