Hope’s Scout Troop 5 and Texarkana’s Crew 8 camped at Pioneer Campgrounds near Mena, Arkansas and some members hiked the 14 miles to the top of Rich Mountain to the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge.  The 6 hour hike is a tradition started in 1969 at Camp Pioneer and preserved by Troop 5.  Each hiker that finishes the entire trek earns a rare 50 Year Anniversary Patch with a gold border.

Hikers that completed the entire trail were Riley Golden, Melody Martinez,

Drake Mathis, Dakota Greer, Donnie Golden, Gus Kisselburg, Jacob Rush and

Ethan Horn. Other participants were Kody O’Brien, Mary Martinez, Amanda

Greer, Betty Wright, Emma Wright and Makenzie Golden.

And more Scouts on the campout were D’Aunna Golden, Senior Patrol leader;

Robert Wright, William Greer, Andrew Golden,  Karen Smith, Ed Flagg, Joe

Rush, Dr. Lester Sitzes III and some other adults from Texarkana.

Ed Flagg donated pork loins. Donnie Golden and Robert Wright cooked them on Donnie’s big smoker. They were excellent plus all the food that was prepared by the Scouts.

Troop 5 and Crew 8 would like to thank Pioneer Campgrounds owner Matt Foust for his gracious hospitality.