Tiger Cub leads hike up White Cap

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Colby Frisbie is seen here during his hike up White Cap Mountain recently with his mom, Sandra, and friends Sandra Witas and Cherri Crockett. Colby is a Tiger Cub Scout and received his Outdoor Activity Award and got another step closer to getting his Leave No Trace Awareness Award during the hike. (Photos by Cherri Crockett)

RUMFORD/ANDOVER- Heavy rains left water cascading down the ledge-lined trail of White Cap Mountain recently, but that didn’t deter Colby Frisbie from wanting to join his mom and friends on a gorgeous morning hike. Besides, by participating, Colby could receive his Outdoor Activity Award and come one step closer to receiving his Leave No Trace Awareness Award in his local Tiger Cub Scout Troop 580.

“I love it,” yelled an excited Colby as he lead the way up the first section of steep, wide trail. “We’re not there yet, right? Because this is so cool. Mom, can I sit and get a drink for a minute?”

Colby was on his first hike up White Cap Mountain, loving every minute of it, pointing to various features of the trail and chattering away like the chipmunks in the forest. He even found the perfect walking stick for this reporter.

Colby has been on hikes before, but this one was special. He was the leader of three women and was enjoying helping us over streams, encouraging us to run barefoot in the water that submerged the trail and picking the wild blueberries near the summit. Not to mention, taking a look at every pile of animal feces littering the trail and trying to identify it.

As a member of the scouts, each child is expected to follow their handbook and complete the tasks within to better prepare themselves to become a responsible citizen. Colby needed to participate in a nature hike in his local area and observe nature to complete his Outdoor Activity assignment and he needed to begin his first of three outings to practice the frontcountry guidelines to Leave No Trace.

As Colby made his way up the trail he learned how to safely follow the trail markings, which came in the form of orange ribbons or stone cairns set out by the Mahoosuc Land Trust and other groups responsible for trail maintenance.

White Cap has a well-maintained, well-respected trail, and the little trash we did find, was picked up and disposed of properly. Colby was sure to pick up sticks and branches in the way and toss them to the side, but was also very careful not to trample the tender ground coverings.

Colby felt the soft, white-green plant that is reindeer moss and learned that it is a slow-growing lichen and can take up to 30 years to regrow if it’s trampled down.

With the trail being saturated in various places due to the recent heavy rains Colby led our small group barefoot over the rocks and through the moist patches of moss.

As we made our way to the top and the views became more visible, Colby realized he would see the Record Hill wind towers that he had recently toured, as well as the Spruce Mountain towers in Woodstock.

“This is the coolest day ever! Mom, isn’t this the greatest!”

Colby was ecstatic to be at the top, even though we never heard a complaint out of him the whole way. He was anxious and anticipating the whole adventure.

Once on top, we sat for some lunch and Colby made an exciting phone call to his dad and brother back at home. He couldn’t wait to share with them all the fun he was having and that he wished they would have been able to join him.

“You put Colby in the outdoors and he’s happy,” noted mom, Sandra. “He’s definitely a happy camper today.”

During our descent to the parking lot it was obvious that Colby was getting a little weary, but his excitement never wavered. He requested of his mom, “When we get home can I lay in your bed and rest?”

Definitely a well-earned award for this young man’s morning of a two-mile hike to the summit and making it the two miles back without so much as a complaint.

To learn more about how your child can become a scout, please contact Cubmaster Dan Bernard by calling 418-8560 or email bernarda@cmhc.org.

There will be a recruiting night held at the Rumford American Legion on September 17 beginning at 6 p.m.