Snow show for scouts

By Dion Teasdale
YARRA Ranges scouts have returned from the adventure of a lifetime, travelling across the ice-covered peaks of New Zealand.
Eleven scouts from Warburton and surrounding areas, aged 12 to 16, braved blizzard conditions during a 23-day hiking and canoeing tour of the New Zealand’s North Island.
The scout troop, made up of eight girls, three boys and six leaders, was joined on the international excursion by a group of 14 scouts and three leaders from El Paso in the United States.
Graeme Smith, one of Warburton’s scout leaders, said the scouts hosted the New Zealand adventure in return for a trip to Alaska hosted by the El Paso group in 2004.
He said the group encountered heavy snow during the first days of a hike along the Waikaremoana Lake in New Zealand’s North Island park area.
“All the young scouts acted in a courageous and determined manner. They adapted beautifully and still managed to have a great deal of fun along the way,” he said.
Mr Smith said the highlight of the trip was a 140km canoe trip down the Whananui River.
“The Aussie and American scouts guided their 17 canoes though cold, fast waters and rapids in five days,” he said.
“This was something special. Nothing like our trips down the Yarra River.”
Mr Smith said New Zealand scout troops provided hospitality and cultural exchanges to the visiting troops including a famous New Zealand lamb barbecue.
The troops toured around the Auckland area, visited the Auckland Zoo, attended a traditional hungi feast hosted by native Maori families and visited some of the country’s famous geothermal wonders around the Rotorua area.
For all scouting enquiries in the Warburton area contact Graeme Smith 5966 2761.