Long term Campout 2003

Each year Troop 509 tries to do a little bit longer than usual campout.  Ours for July and August of 2003 was to Camp Orr Scout Reservation, between Jasper and Ponca, Arkansas along the Buffalo River.  We spent four days there and got in some extensive hiking as well as some close brushes with local wildlife.

9 Scouts and 4 leaders made the five and a half hour journey to Orr.  The last 3 miles of it was on unimproved gravel and mud roads down from Highway 43 to Camp Orr.   The slope was about an 11 or 12 percent grade and it was fun stopping to cool our breaks every mile or so.  However, once we reached the camp it was a very pretty location.  In the area we were told there were deer, skunk, squirrel, elk and black bear.  We managed to see all of them except the bear, and added a copperhead to the local flora and fauna one evening.  Sad to say the copperhead is no longer with us.   He should have known better than to try and sleep under one of our tents.  The boys and Mrs. Anderson got closer to skunks than they wanted to, but the skunks were polite and didn't apply any of their personal cologne on anyone.

The hiking was great and the area beautiful.  We would like to commend the camp ranger as well.  He was very helpful and made out stay there enjoyable with the use of camp shower facilities and ice from their dining hall.

                                                                                                 
The boys campsite                                                                      Adults set up here                                               Football on Thursday


                                                                                                     
Friday, off on a hike                                                             First stop, restored house                                            looking down from the house
                                                                                            and blacksmith shop                                                 this was how the trail looked


                                                                                                        
Next stop, moss falls                                                              From a spring above this                                                Looking down the trail
                                                                                        falls of moss drips year around                                          think 35 degree angle for
                                                                                                                                                                                         over a mile

                                                                                
Jaron on the return trip                                 Nathan and Blake                                     Travis                                          Tanner, Dwight and Mr. York.

                                                                               
looking up from camp                                      Gar Bluff                                          Then the rains came                               football in the rain

                                                                                 
no canoeing, but the                                    Nathan and Blake                                  Water football anyone                                Highlight of the trip
water was cool                                                relaxing                                                                                                                  Ponca, Arkansas