We all understand what is expected of us when we are
reminded of the 8th part of the scout law, “smile and whistle under
all difficulties”, but smiling and whistling when we need to the most is a
challenge at the best of times. As you grow in into your stripes you will find
it will become easier as you learn to lean on your fellow patrol members more
and more.
Being a scout with only adventure on my mind, I embarked on
a 10-day journey with a super patrol - 8 seniors and two leaders from our troop
–a patrol that taught me to Smile and Whistle. During December 2006 I
participated in my first ever Senior Scout Adventure, in the Cederberg hiking the South Peaks Route. It
was set to be the most amazing time of my life and what happened on the first
two days was nothing short of challenging.
Day 1 – We were meant to start early morning from Eikerboom
and hike the paths as a steady pace to Sneeuberg Hut… that never happened. We
started late afternoon and worked our way into a gallop up the meandering
mountain path passing a Saudi team in the race to Sneeuberg hut. It was a race
as the hut was only big enough for one patrol. When passing the Saudi Team we
realised it was no competition, they were clueless as to what they were doing
in the Cederberg. Carrying their food in black plastic packets between two
scouts, they slowly slipped behind along with the sun set as we pushed on to
Sneeuberg. When we arrived, we were unable to sleep in the hut as there were
some serious trail runners who beat us coming up from Duiwelsgat. Under the
stars it was, but not for long.
That night we set up our beds and slipped into a star filled
coma, thinking there was nothing that could wake me. At 3am I heard a loud long
bellowing sound coming from a friend….RAAIINN!!! It was Kent, giving the sign
that it was time to slide into our survival bags. We rolled over, pulled it
from under our sleeping mats, flipped onto our backs with legs in the sky and
transformed into a cocoon of rain proof sleeping heaven. Part 2 | 