Short Video of Expedition
Special Thanks:
Boy Scout Troup 102
National Park Service (NPS)
North Country Trail Association (NCTA)
Lowell Community Wellness
Kent County Parks
Lowell Ledger
Day One (5/16/14) Rendezvous location – Boy Scout Residence Cabin, Lowell, MI:
For the majority of the group, the weekend began in the early evening. Members arrived sometime after 5:00pm at the Boy Scout Residence Cabin in Lowell MI and were greeted by Amy “AR” Colby. Shortly after arrival, Dirk Ritzma from the local Boy Scout Troop 102 arrived to give AR and other members on site a tour of the grounds and the Boy Scout Residence cabin, which was graciously offered to FBET members for use during the weekend. Robin “Killer Bee” Hutsko, arrived late in the evening due to a previous engagement. Upon arrival, she was greeted by the sound of jingling keys, as other members jokingly reminded her to make sure she had her keys with her at all times.
After setting up her tent for the weekend, Killer Bee joined the rest of the group around the campfire. Laughter and stories continued until late into the night before the group finally settled in for an unexpectedly chilly night.
Day Two (5/17/14) Boy Scout Residence Cabin / Trail-Build Rendezvous location – Fallasburg Park, Lowell, MI – Yellow abandoned house south of the covered bridge.
Despite a late start in the morning, Killer Bee managed to keep everyone on schedule and led the caravan to the staging location of the trail-build in Fallasburg Park. Chuck “Pathfinder” Hayden and Charlotte “Ace” Hayden were already on site helping Jeff McCusker of the National Park System (NPS) get ready for training.
The group gathered around anxiously as Jeff McCusker provided instruction on tool use, safety, and trail-build techniques.
As the rest of the group listened intently to their instructions, Pathfinder and Ron Sootsman of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA), donned the appropriate equipment and ventured out into the woods to begin their chainsaw work on downed trees that lay in the way of the proposed trail location.
The rest of the team ventured out to begin the first stages of the trail build, clearing debris, and removing cut logs and roots from the trail area. The team worked hard and moved quickly along the marked pathway, prepping the area for the more difficult work to come.
After a few hours of hard work, the team broke for lunch, and enjoyed a little free time to play in the woods and refuel.
Stage two of the trail-build began promptly after lunch. The team dug into the clay and dirt and leveled the trail to ensure proper drainage. Spirits were high as the team looked back at the trail slowly coming together to become a defined pathway.
After a hard day’s work, the team headed back to basecamp at the Boy Scout Residence cabin in anticipation of kicking back and relaxing around the campfire. As the team waited for dinner to be ready, they enjoyed a special treat and were entertained by FBET musicians. At one point, all members had joined in with the entertainment, playing anything they could find to make a musical sound.
Team members were pleasantly surprised when dinner was ready to see the local Boy Scout Troop 102 had prepared a delicious feast of smoked BBQ sandwiches, two kinds of baked beans (including the Boy Scout’s favorite – extra hot) and all the fixings and drinks.
After filling their bellies, the team played the first game in the FBET Foil-Ball World Series. Flat River Foilers vs. Lowell Moon Shiners 2:1. Everyone had a blast!
Soon the sun set on our exciting and full day. The group settled back in around the campfire to tell stories and jokes. Although some had heard the story many times before, it just would not have been the same without Reaper’s “Purple Monkey” story; a FBET tradition. Exhausted from the day, members opted to postpone the midnight hike for a future event.
Day Three (5/18/14) Boy Scout Residence Cabin / Trail-Build Rendezvous location – Fallasburg Park, Lowell, MI – Yellow abandoned house south of the covered bridge.
The majority of the group was up bright and early, with enough time to build a small campfire and cook breakfast, including bacon on a stick roasted over the fire, prior to heading back to Fallasburg Park to continue work on the trail.
Having already received training, members jumped right into working on the trail upon arrival. The work and hours seemed to fly by as the team made their way along the trail; digging their way into the hillside to create a level and sturdy trail safe for future generations to travel upon.
When all was said and done, the final tally was an astonishing 1011 feet of new trail. Although the team only completed 1/5 of a mile, the weekend was a tremendous success. The transformation that had occurred over only a few short days was spectacular. What the team accomplished is something that will last a lifetime, something each and every one of them can be proud of, and can share with future generations.
Submitted by Robin “Killer Bee” Hutsko, Expedition Leader, Fortune Bay Expedition Team