Crowd Pleasers

July 30, 2025

Pull up my July 29 photo album. Pictured is “Egg Drop,” a misnomer if there ever was one. One egg was floated away by balloon and the remaining dozen or so were smashed to bits, eventually, by a band of crazed marauders.

Twice a session, for more summers than I can count, Egg Drop has been a “Crowd Pleaser” as every boy thinks his cabin’s contraption can survive the evil machinations by wielders of sticks, swords, sledgehammers, pressure washers and cartwheeling clowns.

Alice and I sometimes try to talk ourselves into skipping the event in that there is a certain sameness to each rendition. Nothing doing. Different boys is the reason we are drawn to it every time.  They love surviving for a time, even though it is assured that all devices will be destroyed, even that of the “last egg standing,” belonging to Sports Shed cabin. Sam threw a high fly egg that was last seen sailing across the soccer field while the cabin kids celebrated the “coveted” Egg Drop trophy.

Sara’s album just got posted. Much like mine but better pix. Imagine being the person who finds the balloons and the plastic bag bearing a single egg. Not my problem.

Today is probably the last day of the mild heat wave, that being comfortable temperatures in the mid-80’s. (Yeah, I am sticking it to you.) Off we went to Sawyer River again yesterday, a place with many shoots, pot holes and rapids – all in shallow water, making for good supervision. Sara got some good pix there, too.

South Twin and Galehead: We keep pounding away at the various summits of the White Mountains, and especially those on the “Varsity Wheel,” pasted below. The 14 green requirements are mandatory and lots of boys are interested in this first phase. The group on  this hike deep into the Pemi Wilderness are guys seeking the higher statuses of Franconia and Presidential levels. This hike was a brute but you would never know it from the photos. “Kingswood hikes with a swagger” is our number one mantra.

Week 6 counselor photos: Black Mountain is the feature hike in this album. Short, steep and sporty, this trek is one of those 14 prerequisites for Varsity Club and we offer it often, the trail starting a mere 20 minutes or so from camp.

Once you hit the real summit, it still is a short tramp beyond to “Tipping Rock,” which most assuredly moves when it is touched. Black was the first mountain I ever hiked and I, too, budged the rock. I am not too worried about it plunging off into the wilderness any time soon.. Great time had by all.

All the above, crowd pleasers, if you will.