Text Box: Domelands, a 5-mile total hike in the desert of San Diego. It’s this year’s first “beginner backpack.” A backpacking trip designed specifically to introduce the younger scouts to backpacking. It is our easiest hike, and it’s still fun for both younger and older scouts. The campsite is perfect for exploring, and the views are excellent. It is also a chance for the older scouts to see all the younger scouts hiking, to see what’s in store for the troop’s future. And if this hike was any indication, this troop will be in good hands.

The trek got to a shaky start with the death of Mr. Walter’s transmission, (See Mr. Walter for the full story) but we were able to get to the trailhead via Mr. Nooe’s excellent, late 80’s, 4x4 4Runner. Scotty had brought his sandboard and was occupying his, and the younger, impressionable scouts attention, before we headed off. During the hike, we occasionally made stops for Mr. England’s lectures on trail etiquette, and other important topics. But as to be expected, the 50+ people we had on the trail caused quite a Text Box: backup and at any given time it seemed as if we were taking up half the length of the total trail (note: this is an extreme exaggeration and is not meant to be taken seriously). So our small village set off in search of camp. At about one o’clock, the trek leader decided that it was time to have lunch. The crew needed the energy before we set off for the last hill. We found a ditch not fit for a normal size crew to eat in and squeezed together for lunch.
As we headed up the final hill it took every ounce of my will power not to run up, knowing that camp was just on the other side. As we eclipsed the hill, we saw camp, and it was good. Everyone grabbed cave to sleep in that night and spent the rest of the day learning about the importance off the ten-essentials and exploring the rocks. Dinner was quite a treat. Dinners range from Steak to hot-dogs. Or, if you were like my group you had both. Night-time came and with it came the most lack-luster campfire… ever… I mean it… no joke… I kid you not… It was kind of like Text Box: the feeling you get when the doctor numbs your mouth and gives you massive amounts of Vicadin, I guess. (It should be noted that I was mostly responsible for the sleep-inducing campfire. Either that, or the sense of humor on that hike was just nonexistent. They didn’t even laugh at “I Gotta Go Wee.” I mean, come on, everyone laughs at that one. No matter how many times you see. Ummm, I guess I’m starting to rant now.)
In the morning we did not get started as soon as we had hoped, but that is to be expected on a hike like this. And the rest of the hike was mostly uneventful. With some stupidity and clumsiness on my part. It should also be noted that there was an obvious absence of any whining on this trek. I commend all the younger scouts on an excellent hike and I hope they come on some more hikes.

	By Dan Faughnder  
Text Box: The 25 Mile Bike Ride
Text Box: ered with mud. About halfway through the ride, we visited an old adobe. Some parts on the bike trip were very steep but not too hard. We had also passed a waterfall, which we took a break to walk around the rocks of the creek. That was probably everyone’s most fun part of the trip (besides lunch).
All in all, everyone had a great Text Box: time during the bike ride. I would recommend this to anyone who knows how to ride a bike. I hope the next time Troop 680 has this bike ride more people will go on it. 

	By Lucas Premuda 
Text Box: The bike ride was a blast. It was on a trail, but not too rough. We started at Creekside Elementary and had a round trip back. We got back to Creekside Elementary at about 2:00 and everyone was tired. Some people were even covText Box: DOMELANDS 
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I would like to begin by thanking those Scouts and adults that wrote articles.  You are the ones that make this publication possible.

Before I continue, I would like to address a matter of business.  I have made up little reminder notes, whose purpose is to remind those that are assigned to write articles or (here’s a wild idea) volunteer.  I know that some people will probably put them in their pockets and not find it till next week (if even that).  I implore you that if I tag you to write an article and I present you with a reminder slip, please put it in a place where you will see it and thus be reminded to write your article.

I would like to include more pictures in Trails and Tracks.  I included one this time for Domelands.  If you would like to take/submit/draw pictures for Trails and Tracks (this means you too adults) you can talk to me at a meeting or look me up in the roster and call me.

One new “item” for Trails and Tracks is that I am trying to get our honored newsletter on the troop  website.  So now if you wake up with this strange urge to find out what you or someone else wrote in the past issue of Trails and Tracks, you can log on to our website and view it at your convenience.

I welcome anyone that wishes to work for Trails and Tracks.  You can write articles on outings, write jokes, draw pictures, draw (scout related) comics, or even take pictures.  What do you get out of it?  You get to have your work published, a 31 Flavors gift certificate (YOU WANT ICE CREAM!), and as an added bonus you get me as your editor.

By   Manuel Garcia, Editor of Trails and Tracks

Editor’s

 

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Text Box:        TRAILS&TRACKS

Domelands Campsite as depicted by Peter Garcia