6:10 a.m. Minus 25 degrees Celsius. That was the time and temperature on the morning the Scouts of 17th Southminster got started on February 15. It was the day of the annual Voyageur Region Klondike Derby. This event is held for all scout groups in Ottawa and the surrounding regions.
Twenty separate teams assembled at the Luskville Community Centre for an 8 a.m. start. The Klondike Derby is an all-day obstacle course where patrols of three to five scouts race along a course pulling or pushing home made sleds loaded with a day's supplies, first aid and cooking equipment. Along the course are 20 odd stations with different challenges that test our scouting knowledge, experience and particularly our ability to work as a team.
Some of the technical quizzes included ice rescue, compass and map work, fire lighting, first aid, and tree identification. Teamwork and strength were tested by rope climbs, gully crossing, slalom races and pulling the sleds up and down cliff faces. It was tough work and real challenge in some places. Points were given at each station and totaled up at the end of the day.
The 17th Southminster had two patrols in the Klondike Derby including a younger patrol of four and an older patrol of three scouts. Although 17th Southminster had an illustrious past, this was the second year that this group of scouts had done the Derby. Last year, we finished the race but many things went wrong. One patrol forgot fuel for the stove that left them feeling very hungry for the rest of the race.
This time on the other hand, we did very well. We spent three meetings preparing for the Klondike Derby. These meetings were organized by the scouts and carried out by them with only limited help from leaders.
It paid off big time! Our older scout patrol, including Graham Nidd, Matt Moreland and myself won first place in our age group. The scouts of the younger patrol, made up of Tom Taylor, Chris Service, Mason Bevridge and Narek Papien, placed very well overall.
We all had a great time (even if we were quite cold) and a great supper afterwards. We are all ready to go next year.
Duncan Macdonald is a member of the 17th Southminster Scouts and the winning Klondike Derby team.