In 1997 I made my final backpacking trip to Philmont Scout Ranch.  I had hiked Philmont five times in four different decades (1968, 1976, 1989, 1993 and 1997), but with the youngest of my five children turning 18 years ago, and after four knee surgery’s, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to make the trip again. 

My brother, who had hiked with me in 1993 and 1997, reminded me that I would have to make one more high adventure trip with my Godson Zach, his youngest son, when he was old enough to do so. While I wanted to hike Philmont at least one more time, I would be 58 when Zach turned 14 and I didn’t think that my knee would hold up on another trip.  As my wife Judith pointed out, at my age, and with my bum knee, if the trek didn’t kill me, she would.

Anyway, I have been active in Scouts since I was eight years old, and when my kids aged out of Scouting, I turned to different volunteer jobs at the District and Council level to keep my foot in the door.  While serving as the District Training Chair, District Chairman and Council Outdoor Program Chair, I continued to keep my registration with my troop of 27 years, Troop 44 out of Glen Ellyn , IL . I even went on two additional high adventure trips with them to the Boundary Waters, Atikoken , Ontario , Canada . Judith even joined me on the 2002 trek.  In either case, I never figured that I would get the opportunity to attend a high adventure trek with Zach.  That all changed in February of this year when I got a call from my brother Tom. 

His troop, Troop 572 out of Potomac Falls , VA , was planning a trip to Sea Base and needed another adult (Tom had started the troop years earlier when his oldest Son Joey was just getting started and was lucky enough to be able to pick out his own troop number. My two younger brothers and I (Tom and Jim) had grown up in Troop 572 in Detroit , MI .  Our Father even served as Scoutmaster for a number of years. We were the first three Eagles in Troop 572. As such, Tom picked 572 as his troop number.)  Oops, I’m getting sidetracked.  Anyway, one of the Fathers had to drop out and Tom wanted to know if I would like to join his crew, which of course included Zach.  It didn’t take long for me to say “Yes.”  I would be able to go on a high adventure trek with Zach, and while it wouldn’t be to Philmont, which would keep my wife from killing me, it would allow me to keep a commitment. Further, this was right up my alley.  I am a retired Coast Guard Captain and still hold a valid Merchant Mariner’s Third Mate’s License, Oceans, Unlimited Tonnage.

Having sailed around the world in my younger days, I was looking forward to five days of sailing on a schooner and snorkeling in the Keys.  As a nice aside, it would also allow me to earn my Triple Crown award (Triple Crown awards are given to those completing treks at Philmont, Northern Tier and Sea Base.  It is sponsored by the Sommers Alumni Association out of Ely , MN ).

The following pages are my account of our adventure at Sea.