Troop 53 had a great showing at the Sangre De Cristo District Klondike Derby, by finishing second overall.

Klondike Derby is named after the Goldrush in the Klondike territory at the end of the 19th century. Between 1896 and 1899 almost 100,000 prospectors took off to the Klondike region of the Yukon in north-western Canada. Local miners discovered gold on August 16 in 1896 and in those days, it took a year for this news to reach the big cities like Seattle and San Francisco. Prospectors left their homes and family to prove their luck. Some became wealthy, but the majority went in vain and did not find any gold. The Klondike Gold Rush ended in 1899 after gold was discovered in Nome, Alaska. Prospectors left Klondike to try their luck elsewhere. To reach the gold fields most took men went the snowy route through the ports in Southeast Alaska.

Our Scouts competed in a series of challenges, inspired by survival stories during the Klondike Gold rush:

• Tijeras – Hey SPL, We Got It All? – (sled inspection)
• Cedar Crest – Let’s Race (sled race)
• Sandia Park – Poppin Good Time – (fire building)
• San Antonito – I’ve Fallen and Can’t Get Out (first aid)
• Golden – Mining for Turquoise (lashings)
• Madrid – Lunch at the Mine Shaft (cooking)
• Cerrillos – Where Am I (compass)
• Santa Fe – A Blizzards Coming (shelter building)

Troop 53 did great!

We are looking forward to next year.