Troop 189 has been awarded BSA Quality Unit Status in
2003
2004
2005
2006
and
BSA Centennial
Quality Unit
Award
Status in
2007 and 2008

as well as the Nassau County Gus Katz Award for Service to God and Country in 2008
 

The Venture Patrol is made up of Scouts First Class and Higher who are also in the High School, over 14, or have completed Bear Claw training.  We go on 2 more strenuous trips a year for just the Venture Patrol, and for the Fall trip we tackled backpacking along the Palisades.  In all we covered about 17 miles in 2 days, carrying everything we needed on our backs!

We started on Saturday morning leaving the cars parked in Fort Lee, New Jersey.  We then hiked to the Hudson River, and paused to take pictures under the George Washington Bridge.  Our trail then led us along the edge of the mighty Hudson for several miles. Because of the rising tide, we then switched to an alternate higher trail for a few miles until we could loop back down to the water. The trail along the waters edge was rocky and hard to walk in places with our packs on.

It gets dark early this time of year, and we were losing our daylight when we got to the last and hardest part of the hike. Most trail guides suggest going down the steep Forest View Trail, but we needed to climb up it instead! This last section of trail climbs 560 feet in just 3/10 of a mile, all up steep stone stairs and switchbacks. Eddie says it was “ReDONKulous!” We finished it by flashlight and headlamp, helping each other along, and made it into Alpine Scout Reservation where we spent the night. The first day was about 12 miles, including the high-tide detour.

The next morning we woke up and made biscuits from scratch over an open fire to go with our Oatmeal, and then broke camp. ASMs Ed and Mike V came up Sunday morning and we relocated cars up the trail, so that we only had about half the distance to hike on Sunday. We then took a section of the historic Long Path back down to the Alpine Lookout.  The views were spectacular, but everyone was happy to see the cars at the end!

Special thanks to ASM Art, Trip Coordinator Andrea, SM Steve, and especially to ASM Mike F who planned the trip. This was a challenging trip, both physically and mentally, the the Venture Patrol did a super job of it!