Welcome to the Troop 317 web page! We're a boy-led troop of about 30 Scouts in five patrols (Flaming Arrows, Ravens, Scorpions, Wolverines, and the new-Scout Bigfoot Patrol). We camp once a month, all year, from the Valley floor to the snow. If a family is thinking about joining, come visit any Monday night. No sign-up needed. Just walk in and find the loudest table.

I'm Gary Waldron, one of the Assistant Scoutmasters and, since my son volunteered me, the troop's "web guy." I'll post the calendar and trip reports here. If something on the page doesn't match what the Scouts announced at the meeting, trust the Scouts. They plan it; I just type it up.

Who went: 11 Scouts, 4 adults (Mr. Salinas, Mr. Oduya, Mr. Brandt, and me).

We left the church at 5:30 Friday, stopped for burgers in Oakhurst, and pulled into the backpackers' campground late. Nobody slept much. Saturday morning we picked up our wilderness permit and hit the trail off Tioga Road about 9:30. It's about four miles in, mostly up through the lodgepole pines, and then all of a sudden you come out into the meadow and there's Cathedral Peak standing over the lower lake. Every one of the new Scouts stopped dead and said "whoa." I did too.

Highlights, as reported by the Scouts at Monday's meeting:

• Kenji caught (and released) a trout about as long as a pencil. Nobody else caught anything, and he has mentioned it several times.
• Eli's bear canister would not close until Kenji sat on it. Rule for next time: the canister gets packed before the Pringles get opened.
• Frost on the tents Saturday night. The Bigfoot Patrol learned why we check sleeping bag ratings. Luis, our Senior Patrol Leader, gave up his spare fleece and didn't say one word about it. That's leadership.
• Danny led the Sunday morning Scouts' Own service on the rocks by the water. Short and good.
• Nobody got hurt, nobody got lost, and we packed out every scrap. Leave No Trace, guys. Proud of you.

Film is at the drugstore. When I get the pictures back my wife says she can scan a few at her office, so look for them here in a couple of weeks.

Congratulations to these Scouts who passed boards of review in August and September! Badges will be presented at the Court of Honor on Nov. 22.

Merit badge counselors: we are short on counselors for Personal Management and Citizenship in the World. If you're a parent with a background in money or current events, please talk to Mrs. Kessler, our advancement chair. It's a few evenings a year and you'll have a lot of fun.

• Two-deep leadership, always. Every outing has at least two registered adult leaders, and all our adults have taken Youth Protection training.
• Permission slips and medical forms have to be in hand before we leave. No slip, no trip. It's not personal.
• Campout fees usually run $15 to $20 and cover food and gas money for drivers. If money is tight, see Mr. Salinas quietly. No Scout has ever stayed home because of a campout fee and none ever will.
• Uniforms: Class A (the tan shirt) for meetings and travel, troop T-shirt in camp.
• Drivers needed for Pinnacles. Seat belts for everyone, no exceptions.