Courtesy photo The Lumberjacks Patrol of T-400, Manistique, poses for a photo with the first place Gerber Trophy they earned at this year’s Red Buck Sub-District Klondike Derby.

RAPID RIVER — The Red Buck Sub-District Klondike Derby/Cub-O-Ree was held on Feb. 26 at the head of the Grand Island Trail, just north of Rapid River. Over 130 Scouts and Webelos, with their adult leaders, took part in the annual outdoor fun. The theme of this year’s derby was “Klondike,” and the Scouts and Webelos were challenged with events brought back from historic times up in the Yukon.

Each Scout was asked to bring two cans of soup as part of their registration. One can of soup was for the “Big” pot for lunch, which was prepared and served by the Order of the Axe. The second can of soup went into the cooler for donation to the Salvation Army food pantry. The Scouts of Red Buck have donated can goods to the local food pantry for about the last 10 years. The Order of the Axe typically cooks up about 15 gallons of soup, 144 hotdogs, and two gallons of hot chocolate on site for the boys and leaders out in the cold.

The first activity the Scouts encountered the Official Sled Check, which was handled by Assistant Scoutmaster Pete Dzanbozoff of Troop 466. To assist the boys with the challenges they were to face in the events throughout the day, the Scouts were given a detailed list of required sled equipment to be carried. Each sled was checked for the completeness and scored accordingly.

After the Sled Check, the Scouts had other events to further challenge them, including a snowshoe obstacle event, fire building, wolf attack-first aid, knots and lashings, shelter building, and the big foot team skis.

The Lumberjacks Patrol of T-400 Manistique came in first, Cowboy Dragons of T-408 Escanaba came in second and Rising Phoenix Patrol of T-410 Escanaba (girls unit) was third.

The Cub Scouts also held events along with the Scouts. The Cub event’s first place winners were: Giant Jenga Pack 411, Maze Race Pack 445, Pipeline Pack 408, Atomic Drop Pack 402, Snow Snakes Pack 411, Snowshoe Race Pack 411, Snow (Buddy) Skis Pack 471.

After the events the culmination of the day was the Sled Race, where the Scouts were the “dogs” pulling the sled, which proved challenging in the deep snow.

The Blackhawk Patrol of T-411 Escanaba took First in the Klondike Sled race; the Webelos of P-402 took first for the Webelos.

This year, the Scouts were assisted with the events by Kiwanis members.

The Red Buck Scouts are looking forward to the Spring Camporee, where the Kiwanis members are already volunteering to help. The Red Buck Spring Camporee will be held at the head of the Grand Island Trail, with a compass, maps, and orienteering the theme.

For info about Scouting, contact Mark Rose, Red Buck Sub-District commissioner, at 1-906-630-1864 or mrose1@chartermi.net.