Last summer we faced this dilemma: It was a gorgeous afternoon and we anticipated with relish an overnight hike to the nearby summit of Webster Cliff. No more than a two-hour hike, there was no rush in getting underway. Boys and trip leaders were, indeed, antsy to shove off. But, I had a tough call to make: Thunderstorms were in the forecast and now had appeared on Internet radar forming over the Green Mountains to our west in Vermont. I anticipated their arrival in just about two to three hours. Every minute delayed was one more minute for the storms to move eastward towards us. Finally, I decided to let them go, on the condition that they take a cell phone and call camp if they failed to set up tents in time.
The call came at 6PM. They had not made it, but just by a few minutes. In very good spirits, but drenched, they accepted my command to turn back. Lots of little kids were on this venture and I reasoned that their first “varsity” overnight should not be a wet, chilly uncomfortable one. I drove one of the vans to the rescue point where trail met highway. And, as the fairy tale goes, “all lived happily ever after.”
I relate this story as the introduction to the following photo essay on Kingswood hikes. I promise you that it is trick photography that makes boys look like they are going over cliffs. Those trail signs advertising tough slogging ahead are well known to us and we are always prepared for the worst conditions. That’s what makes hikes so much fun, those “wonderful hardships,” as we call them.
Indeed, we accept a certain amount of risk on Kingswood trips, but never take on dangerous actions just for the heck of it. Kingswood staff are trained to follow Plan A, the one approved beforehand, every time. That is, unless conditions require the execution of Plan B, that one, too, always anticipated and studied prior to departure.
The following “anatomy of a Kingswood hike” photo essay catches the action on everything from an easy day hike up Black Mountain to some rugged varsity challenges in the Presidential Range. Enjoy and make plans to go on hikes yourself this coming summer at Kingswood.
