Yosemite 2012

“Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of Nature’s darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energies, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” – John Muir, Acclaimed Naturalist

In late July and early August of 2012, Scouts and leaders from Troop 344, Pemberville, Ohio, hiked the trails, saw the grandeur, and together, experienced Yosemite... Our travels took us to the sentinels of Half Dome, El Capitan, Mt. Hoffman, Tuolumne Peak and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. We drank and refreshed ourselves in the flowing streams and lakes. We encountered both amazing flora and fauna including the eternal Sequoia trees, sage brush, wild bears and rattlesnakes. Yet, amongst all of its majesty the greatest gift that Yosemite presented to us was the journey itself. With every step we shared our lives, helped each other, and together, in the true spirit of Scouting, gained a deeper understanding – not only of Yosemite – but what it truly means to be a Boy Scout.