Winning Troop Flag

The Fish Guts Team, Troop 54 HoHoKus

The theme for the 2010 sled Iditarod flag competition was Alaskan Waters. Each flag was to depict at least 3 of the 5 main types of wild native Salmon and maybe some stream details of these lively fish, that live and thrive in Alaskan waters. Remember mushers, a new Iditarod flag is delivered each year to our observant inspector Judges, there is no reuse from year to year.

The King or Chinook salmon is Alaska's state fish and the largest of all the Pacific salmon species. As anadromous fish, they can be found in excellent supply from the Yukon River throughout the southeast Alaskan panhandle. The Silver or Coho salmon is one of the Alaskan fisherman's favorite fish, primarily for the action and fight it provides when it is hooked. It is one of the most widely found salmon, ranging along coastlines and interior settings from the Arctic Circle to the southeast panhandle The Sockeye salmon is similar to the King and Silver, but generally smaller in weight and length. Chum Salmon are a hardy fish that can be found nearly everywhere in Alaska’s fresh and saltwater. They’ve been nicknamed “dog salmon” because of their age-old use as a subsistence food for both Native Alaskans and their sled dog teams. The Alaska pink salmon or humpy is the most prolific of the salmon species in Alaska and the smallest in size usually averaging about 3-5 pounds, although the State of Alaska sport fishing record is nearly 13 pounds

In the Webelos division the top three Flags were:

Alaskan Cobras Sled, Pack 88 Waldwick (1st Pl Banner)
Intrepid Trekkers Team, Pack 54 HoHoKus (2nd Place Banner)
Chumdogs Sled, Pack 308 Wyckoff (3rd Pl Banner)

In the Boy Scout division the top three Flags were:

The Fish Guts Team, Troop 54 HoHoKus (1st Place Banner)
Salmonators, Troop 59 Allendale (2nd Pl. Banner)
Snow Jaguars, Troop 133 Upper Saddle River (3rd Pl. (tie) Banner
The Salmon Fishers, Troop 54, HoHoKus (3rd Pl Idit. (tie) Banner)

Winning Webelos Flag

Alaskan Cobra Team Pack 88 Waldwick

Our Starter!

Plan Of the day

Scouts traveled first to the inspection area, and all items on the Iditarod sled list were checked present or missing (proper warm clothing/gloves was also checked). Flags were inspected by volunteers who took photos of them, then the racers in flights of 4 races about 100 feet for Gold just like in an Alaskan gold field town then stopped at Station 4 to visit with Judges helpers Fred Summner and Sue Downs. Each race started by volunteer Rick Moore’s starter cannon. They had raced over a little bit of left over snow to the marked finish line, and earned their first Gold nuggets. Yes, we still use actual Gold nuggets, we do hope not too many were taken home by Scouts by mistake, as we need them for next year.
They were then to travel to their first towns, designed to spread the over 33 sleds out over the course. One such area was Mayors Walt Haderthauer’s Bear Paw town. Many thanks to the Bear Paw and other walk on volunteers. Mrs G (P 27) kept a tight watch over the Ice Rescue and litter (not trash) demo training across a rocky field covered by a blue tarp. Woe to any Scout who, crawling out to a victim trapped in the pretend Ice/water (about 10 feet from shore), if the rescue Scout (with rope tether) stood “up” on the ice, he too was declared a victim. Now that sled had to help two ice trapped victims. Best tip was to crawl on the ice in and out for best results and score.

Meat and Potatos

This year’s Iditarod cooking competition had "Musher Breakfast Food" as the main ingredient, created by the Imaginative Mayor Larry Chiarelli of Troop 15. Most of the patrols and Webelos did a pretty good job of coming up with a creative bagged “dish. They did figure out that the sled could dump all the food in one common pot if they liked. The highest scorers in the cooking competition were: "Any Scouts that got Warm enough to fight off - the Cold February winds".

We have anecdotal evidence that some teams did not read all Lunch area ”rules”. Some nicely made Eggs and sweet Rolls were seen, and also some MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) meals from Campmor store were examined by this writer. Someone also lost a silver Spatula, you can have it, if you can identify it. It had bits of cooked egg on it before I cleaned it. We had lots of Scouts also drinking loads of hot cocoa at the lunch area, it was a great idea to bring that and Mayor Larry Chiarelli and other Troop 15 Scouts provided a bottomless urn of hot water for our Scouts, thanks Sir Larry.

At the First Aid town, the test (story) was a simulated animal attack with 3 injuries, a red fox had attacked one Scout in the woods, and the victims had simple injury problems on them (for example “He’s has a broken left leg” or he “has a deep cut on his head”! Then the Scouts are to think of what to “do“,(not in order) take/check his pulse first, get the first aid kit out, work as a team , and do it timely less he gets worse. A victim could expire in 10 minutes or less ”. In a real emergency, knowing what to do will save life or limb. One salient point for Patrol leaders, is that the rescue sledders needed to post a lookout around themselves to watch for the wild animals that had attacked, yet a few Patrol leaders never ‘thought’ to post lookouts. Surprisingly the third victim was the sled leader (PL). Many an older Boy Scout was surprised to lose points for not being prepared to save their patrol leader. Next year we might hire a few red wolves to act as ferocious animals, to liven up this action. Again, well Done! Troop 27 and T 77 leaders and their friends for the realistic life saving scenarios and Outdoor First Aid teaching.

Anthony sampling the offerings!

Spectators could sample the culinary delights of the Road Kill Cafe™. Venison chili, Venison sausage, some kind of patty, hamburgers, hotdog's, hot coffee and cocoa were standard fair for the day. There was plenty of food and hot drink for those in attendance. Everything was one dollar, reasonable by today's standards. Thanks to Lee, Dave, Rick Tom,and Bernie, You made our guests feel welcomed.

If you weren't early you missed your opportunity to sample Toad in a hole for breakfast. the food was great the company was even better. If you talked to the group you would have discovered over two centuries of Scouting experience. If you listened, you would have heard some great stories

In case you were wondering with all the food and refreshments in an outdoor setting what does one do for relief? Port a-johns were available for all to use.

As an aid to future participants, the winning Webelos unit did have a noteworthy and legitimate gimmick. They merely always “avoided” any long waiting lines at the 8 skill towns (with 250 Scouts, you have to wait your turn at some towns) , and one Trek team always opted to divert to any nearby town with short or no lines. Tip of the year! Well done Webelos Scouts and leaders of Pack 54, and the Intrepid Trekkers…

At the Fire making town, we did see many teams correctly start their camp fires, and we even heard of one Scout team that made a Fire - SO HOT! That they melted the “solder” from their water can, unfortunately before they had boiled it. The judge was forced to deduct (-1) a point for solder melting and no bubbles seen (evaporation of water in the fire did not count), but was impressed at the blow torch like intense heat thrown out from their Iditarod fire. The Governor can only ponder to wonder what type of dry wood they used (maybe Wyle Coyote (Beep - Beep) cartoon Acme store-bought wood that burns in a “flash”?)

Learning

At the other 7 towns , Scouts sawed wood , tied knots , or lashed poles together , or even mastered there metal fire-starters or set up there tarps in to emergency shelters as quick as they can. We congratulate the race winners , but we would like to leave it that all Scouts who participated , learned a few things , made a few memories , and sharpened there team work skills in the Allendale Park this past February. We are thankful forl the day of events , volunteers, and the towns Mayors. At the end of the day they left no trace of there event except footprints, the occasional photo picture, echoing laughter and fond memories.

The Troops who helped make the Iditarod possible were Troop 15 Glen Rock, Troop 54 HoHoKus, Troop 59 Allendale, Troop 77 Wyckoff & Troop 27 Glen Rock (27 and 77 shared First Aid town duties) , Troop 89 Wyckoff, Troop 12 Alumni, Troop 157 Midland Park, Troop 133 USR, Our Brave Paul P and John U District Commissioners, and Troop 15 Glen Rock, (Hot Drinking Water Service & Lunch judging ). Special thanks to Trek Leader - Bob Taschler Sr. T88 & of the District Committee and his crew of Blue Water diver First aiders : Jim Kapotes and Tom Jaeger our roving photographers, volunteers Lorraine Deluca, Troop 59 Scouts and committeemen for Parking Lot “attendance” duty; Our cooking “Red Jacket” chefs galore (with delicious food) , and the DVOA hiking club for orienteering flags/supplies, we additionally many Unit and Iditarod “alumni”, the DPW office of Town of Allendale, and a host of others. We have the DVD of this Iditarod event and will on request show Scouts and Packs/Troops the 2010 DVD of Iditarod upon request in Dec 2010 timeframe. See you all next year, “same bat channel, same bat (Allendale) park”. Think Snow!