This year’s Lake Cumberland/Mountain Laurel District Klondike Derby took place at the Feltner 4-H Camp in Laurel County January 13-15. There were a total of 91 participants (including 66 youth) from 9 units – Troop 79, Troop 87, Troop 149, Troop 170, Crew 488, Troop 529, Troop 572, Pack 828 and Troop 828.
Despite periods of moderate rain on Friday evening (well, it was Friday the 13th afterall) that left part of the camping area with pockets of standing water, temperatures remained above freezing – perfect sleeping weather or to just sit around enjoying a warm, roaring fire campfire.
We had 8 competitive stations on Saturday. The events (and winners) were: “Hunting Party” (BB shooting), T-79 Jimmy John’s Patrol; Telegraph Office (decode a Morse Code message then perform required task, T-572 Bob’s Kats Patrol; Lumberjack Challenge (taking turns sawing a landscape timber), T-79 Jeff’s Patrol; Rescue Rope Throw (coiling a rope and tossing to hit targets), T-87 Night Wolves Patrol; Orienteering (determining compass bearings), Crew 488 Phoenix Patrol; Medical Emergency (bandaging a sprained ankle and transporting victim), T-79 Jimmy John’s Patrol; Fire building (using a magnesium strip to start a fire hot enough to burn an elevated string), T-79 Jeff’s Patrol; and “Gold Nugget” Toss (using teamwork to toss a tennis ball over an elevated line), Crew 488 Phoenix Patrol.
In addition, there was the traditional Klondike sled race – pushing a homemade sled over a hilly course – won by T-572. There was also a main dish Dutch oven cook-off (won by T-828, Phoenix Patrol, with their roast dish). Many thanks to guest judges Kevin Pettigrew, director of the 4-H Camp; Rodney Hendrickson, director of the London-Laurel County Tourism Commission; and Gilbert Acciardo, public information officer for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
Overall winners were: 1st-Crew 488, 2nd-T-79 Jeff’s Patrol, and 3rd-T-79 Jimmy John’s Patrol.
Troop 170 had 10 Scouts and 4 Adults in attendance. Although a majority of our boys were relatively young, they represented themselves very well. Out of 13 competing Patrols, T-170’s “The Rocks” Patrol finished second in Rescue Rope Throw and Fire Starting, and tied for third in the Gold Nugget Toss; the “Bobcat” Patrol finished second in the Dutch Oven Cookoff with a wonderful chili dish and tied for third in the Gold Nugget Toss. And a bright spot: The troop did not finish last in the Klondike sled race!
Boy Scout Troop 170 