Lynnfield Scouts get hike of their lives

LYNNFIELD – A group of Lynnfield Boy Scouts and several of their fathers will spend the next 10 days in the wilderness of a famed scouting ranch in New Mexico for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.Eight scouts from Lynnfield Boy Scout Troop 48 and four adults won a lottery to hike in the Philmont Scout Ranch, a ranch in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains owned by the national Boy Scouts association and full of lore for scouts across the nation.”It’s the place where scouts go, it’s the pinnacle, it’s the ultimate,” said Bob Miller, who will go on the hike with his 14-year-old son, Nick Miller.The group will brave a dangerous hike known for inclement weather, mountain lions, steep climbs at altitudes up to 12,000 feet and bears – all with only the supplies strapped to their backs and outdoor survival skills, said Scoutmaster Gordon Forrest.Forrest said the group got the call to go when it entered – and won – a lottery in 2010 to hike at the famed rach.”The opportunity to go with guys you know and you’ve known for years ? or for dads to go with their sons, those opportunities don’t present themselves very often,” he said. “We’re all very fortunate.”The troop has spent the past year hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to do their best to prepare what promises to be a tough trip, said Scout Ethan Forrest, 15.They’ll need all the practice they can get, because Crew Leader Daniel Braconnier, 17, said the group can expect to hike close to 75 miles in 10 days, with some hikes as long as 10 miles a day.The backpacks they’ll carry weigh between 40 to 50 pounds, most of which is food and water that if they don’t carry, they don’t eat, Braconnier said.”It’s a bunch of granola bars and stuff like that, and then for dinner we have our ?hot meal,” which is freeze dried food that you pour on boiling water,” he said.In between hikes, the group will have the opportunity to participate in activities at predetermined stations laid out on the route.Zack Morelli, 16, said that includes fly fishing, branding animals, blacksmithing and rifle reloading. They’ll also have to practice bear bagging, or tying their provisions securely in trees so bears don’t sneak into the camp and eat it, he said.Most of the group’s members gathered for pizza and soda at Centre Congregational Church in Lynnfield on Thursday as one of the last preparation meetings before they head out. Gordon Forrest said there was significant interest within the 40-person troop to do the hike.”It seemed like a really cool opportunity,” said Scout Andrew Hall, 16, of why he signed up for the hike. “I’m looking forward to being in the outdoors for two weeks, all by ourselves.”The scouts admitted to being a bit nervous about “poisonous spiders” and “being tired,” but Gordon Forrest said one of the most likely threats will be noxious smells of a dozen sweaty, unshowered hikers.”Its a little scary to think how dirty everyone’s going to be after 10 days,” he said, as he and fellow dads Jonathan Hall and Marc Braconnier added they’ll bring towels and soap to rinse off in the streams at night.”We’ll do our best to practice good hygiene,” Gordon Forrest said.That got a groan from one of his sons, 15-year-old Sam Forrest.”You’ll be lucky if I brush my teeth, I’ll be so tired,” he said.Tired or not, the scouts said they know they’re making memories that they hope will last a lifetime.”It’s just going to be a fun time, I just hope I remember it,” said Sam Forrest.The other hikers on the trip include 17-year-old Harry Fogarty and 14-year-old Andrew Robins.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].