A new Spring event occurred on April 6, 2002! It was an unusually cold day for April but that did not daunt our intrepid hounds from entering the fray to find the elusive Harriman foxes. Webelos and Scouts entered the hunt on the Dunderberg and White Bar trails in Southern Harriman Park. There were five foxes let loose in advance of the boys and they were within the confines of the Foxes Den. Each patrol was equipped with a map, a compass and an Family Service Radio with a loose definition of where to find the foxes. The hunting ground covered five square miles and challenged the boy's skills in locating the sly creatures. Each patrol was transported to a remote site and left off to find the foxes and their way back to the base camp

The temperature hung in the mid thirties but with the thrill of the hunt and challenge of the trail everyone kept warm. There were several snow squalls and participants of this years Iditarod made comment that they should have had this weather in February. While it was very difficult to find the foxes they managed to find other wild life, on the list were Deer, raccoons (SCAT), and some even found the beaver lodge. One of the parents gathered nature items for their class, Hickory nuts, Shag bark, Lichen and other interesting items for their science class

Troop 391 (Mahwah) took first place for Scouts, just barely besting Troop 157 (Midland Park) for the honor. Webelos with a and their fathers from Pack 88 (Waldwick) took first place, Webelos and they finished hours before any of the other Webelos arrived. The average trail length was five miles and while it was cold, it was a wonderful day to been in the woods. The pluses were, it was to hot to hike and there were no bugs. We did surprise a few hikers with boys loose in the woods, but they all smiled as the boys passed. In all everyone had a great day and surprisingly everyone made it back in the allotted time

The day was a success, we did not lose any boys in the wilderness, nor did we have to search for any. While some lost the scent, they quickly realized the were off the path and back tracked to the place where they needed to be. At the end of the day everyone was tired and we probably made a lot of parents happy by tiring them out just before Daylight Savings Time occurred. I imagine they all went to bed early and rousting them up for church on Sunday morning was less of a chore. I know I nodded off early while seated in my comfortable chair that night!